Focal Points

  • Global Learning
  • International Research and Experiences
  • International Community Engagement
  • International Student Support and Learning
  • Transformative Campus Internationalization

Vision Statement

ACES International will be a regional and internationally prominent resource in innovative educational global engagement.

Mission Statement

ACES International is committed to developing international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary competencies for students and educators. AI sustains these competencies through innovative experiential learning, collaborative projects, partnerships, research, creative activity, and community engagement on a national and international level.

Preamble

The Strategic Plan for ACES internationalization was developed by a committee facilitated by Director, Jason Hiruo; a collective of committed ACES educators; community stakeholders; Yale-China Association; and the City of New Haven. This committee, AI for Global Engagement, prioritized selective investment in high-impact areas of educational internationalization. This plan is intended to focus internationalization activity at ACES Educational Center for the Arts, the schools of ACES, the partner districts of ACES, and international partners throughout the world. This is accomplished by promoting deliberate and strategic decision-making among all institutional stakeholders that benefit learning through a global context and lens. This work provides a set of thematic goals and measurable objectives for advancing the international vision and mission of ACES International via documented outcomes and developed benchmarks according to specific international agreements.

The Strategic Plan for Internationalization is intended to guide internationalization activity for the entire AI initiative and its network, therefore building directly upon the broader goals and objectives of the ACES International Strategic Plan. While AI will play an important leadership role in implementing the Strategic Plan for Internationalization, it also supports and shares this leadership role for internationalization with colleagues in the field, colleges, bureaus of education, and related international offices relevant to international networks relevant to AI. The Strategic Plan for Internationalization is intended to guide international initiatives abroad, but it is also intended to increase local opportunities for global engagement on the ACES ECA campus and throughout the ACES agency as a RESC and LEA. Indeed, the plan conceives of internationalization and multiculturalism as two complimentary facets, aiming to promote these perspectives through both local and global opportunities for teaching, learning, real-world experience, and service.

Goal 1: Education Abroad and Exchange

Provide innovation and leadership in education abroad to increase student and professional participation through improved program quality, variety, credentialing, and opportunities for multicultural learning.

  • Objective 1: Increase the number and disciplinary variety of students (and educators) participating in education abroad programs overall
    • Metric 1: Number and disciplinary variety of students participating in education abroad programs
    • Metric 2: Rankings by AI for the number and nature of students who participate in study abroad programs each year according to program pursuits and relevant learning agendas
    • Metric 3: Total funding allocated for education abroad programming
    • Metric 4: Average cost per student per program/project for each format of education abroad programming
    • Metric 5: Number and academic profiles of students participating in education abroad programs within each project
      • Example Initiative(s): Developing targeted advertising/promotion of education abroad opportunities for students enrolled in schools/districts with low levels of education abroad participation; increasing the number and variety of low-cost options for education abroad opportunities.
  • Objective 2: Increase the variety of education abroad and exchange programs to include more international internships/practicums, community learning opportunities and alternatives to faculty-led program formats in order to facilitate multicultural learning.
    • Metric 1: Number of new service-learning and AI team-led or facilitated programs, respectively in AI or through AI collaborative work with outside organizations
    • Metric 2: Evaluations of student learning in different education abroad program formats
    • Metric 3: AI peer review and/or feedback on the variety and formats of education abroad programming
      • Example Initiative(s): Working with Shaanxi Normal University to develop opportunities for individual and/or small cohorts of students to engage in directed study and/or internships under the supervision of local staff abroad.
  • Objective 3: Improve quality of education abroad by developing formal assessment and evaluation mechanisms alongside recommendations for improving outcomes.
  • Metric 1: AI Review Committee evaluations of program quality during program approval process
  • Metric 2: Feedback on overall program quality and academic learning outcomes specifically
  • Metric 3: Review Committee evaluations of education abroad program quality
    • Example Initiative(s): Developing an independent online survey to administer to students, faculty and international partners after every education abroad program; gathering and evaluating course materials produced by students during education abroad.
  • Objective 4: Support targeted and sustainable international partnerships and exchanges that advance education abroad and/or domestic program opportunities and formats according to student needs
    • Metric 1: Number and nature of active and sustainable international partnership agreements that support education abroad programming
    • Metric 2: Evaluative feedback on international partnerships for education abroad
      • Example Initiative(s): Leveraging international partnerships – such as the Ningbo Foreign Affairs Cultural Arts School and Ningbo Education Bureau International Relations – to develop new education abroad formats in which local faculty at these international partner institutions lead programs for Connecticut students on behalf of AI and/or in cooperation with ACES ECA faculty.
      • Objective 5: Increase the number and disciplinary variety of student applicants and recipients of Global Service Certificates
    • Metric 1: Number and profiles of students applying for and receiving Global Service Certificates
    • Metric 2: Number and profiles of students who have completed the education abroad requirement for Global Service Certificates but who have not pursued further advancement
      • Example Initiative(s): Working directly with administrators or project managers – especially in low-applicant schools – to promote Global Service Projects generally and alternative paths to global engagement via local community and district engagement specifically.

Goal 2: International Research, Experience, and Collaboration

Provide innovation and leadership to support international research, scholarly visits, and creative activity through targeted and sustainable international partnerships and collaborations.

  • Objective 1: Facilitate targeted and sustainable international partnerships and collaborations that advance faculty and student research, scholarly experience, and creative activity in significant ways.
    • Metric 1: Total number and length of active and sustainable international partnership agreements that support educators, professionals, student learning, research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity.
    • Metric 2: Number and profiles of educators, professionals in the field, and students engaged in international partnerships or collaborations that advance their research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity
    • Metric 3: Total number and profiles of international visiting scholars who engage in research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity with local professionals and colleagues
    • Metric 4: Total amount of funding in direct support of international partnerships that advance research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity
    • Metric 5: Total number and nature of supportive funds and external funding dollars in direct support of international partnerships that advance research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity
      • Example Initiative(s): Developing fund sourcing to leverage AI’s international partnership with the Yali Group of Changsha to develop opportunities for faculty and students to conduct training, experiential learning, and field research in international classroom sharing, research, methodology, and cultural arts.
  • Objective 2: Promote local educators and student research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity that is international in focus, design or scope
    • Metric 1: Number and profiles of participants who tag their research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity as ‘Global Engagement’ within the framework of a professional or learning portfolio
    • Metric 2: Feedback on institutional support for international research, scholarly visits, and creative activity
    • Metric 3: Total amount of funding in direct support of international research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity
    • Metric 4: Number and nature of projects and external funding dollars in direct support of international research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity
  • Example Initiative(s): Coordinating and implementing funding proposals in support of international research and scholarly initiatives within AI initiatives or partner organizations such as Yale-China, Asia Society, Japan Society.
  • Objective 3: Support educator and student research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity that significantly contributes to the internationalization of the regional ACES community
    • Metric 1: Number and significance of AI publications, promotional projects, and creative work in direct support of internal internationalization efforts
    • Metric 2: Total amount of funding in direct support of international research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity that contributes directly to the internationalization of the local and surrounding community of ACES ECA
    • Metric 3: Number and nature of projects and external funding dollars in direct support of international research, scholarly experiences, and creative activity that contributes directly to the internationalization of the regional ACES community
      • Example Initiative(s): Offering targeted funding to local artists via the Arts Council of Greater New Haven Grants for the 2019 ITAC initiative to support international research, performances, and creative work among the public community (April 2019).

Goal 3: Internationalizing the Classroom and Curriculum

Provide innovation and leadership in the promotion of international, intercultural and interdisciplinary competency within academic curricula and intercultural arts.

  • Objective 1: Develop internationally focused instructional resources, course relevance, and/or collaborative programs to support international, intercultural and interdisciplinary competency within public schools
    • Metric 1: Number and impact of educational resources developed through new and existing internationalization initiatives
    • Metric 2: Number and impact of new projects emphasizing specific international, intercultural and interdisciplinary competencies
    • Metric 3: Number and nature of students and programs impacted by internationally focused resources or projects
    • Metric 4: Intercultural sensitivity gains demonstrated by students through instruments such as the Global Perspectives Inventory, Intercultural Development Index, global arts projects, etc. during a time of cultural preparation and experiential learning
  • Example Initiative(s): Developing pre-departure coursework for students preparing to study/exchange abroad; developing instructional materials focused on intercultural competency and content relevance to be integrated into one’s program experience abroad.
  • Objective 2: Facilitate educational seminars, exhibits, performances, workshops, and discussions for students, parents, professionals, partners, and staff when AI hosts distinguished international visitors.
    • Metric 1: Number and nature of international visitors (scholars, diplomats, public figures, etc.) and corresponding opportunities for students and stakeholders to interact with these visitors
    • Metric 2: Number of students, parents, professionals, partners, and staff who participate in international visitor engagement opportunities
    • Metric 3: Feedback on impact of these visits and educational activities for stakeholders and the broader community
    • Metric 4: Feedback from international visitors on the impact of their educational activities
      • Example Initiative(s): Developing the ACES International Visitors Hosting Team within AI to facilitate broad access to distinguished international visitors to AI and ACES through a standardized process.
  • Objective 3: Promote AI Team Members, professional partners, and students as valuable contributors to the internationalization of AI through collegial sharing; classroom, co-curricular, and collegial discussions.
    • Metric 1: Feedback from international students and colleagues on climate and project engagement in international discussions
    • Metric 2: Feedback from domestic students on attitudes towards international professionals and students’ contributions to internationalization
    • Metric 3: Number and disciplinary nature of international professionals and students participating in co-curricular internationalization activities/events each year
      • Example Initiative(s): Developing a workshop to help international teachers to effectively incorporate their own multicultural, multinational and/or multilingual perspectives and experiences into their teaching and facilitation of student discussions.

Goal 4: Global Community Engagement

Provide innovation, leadership, and service to increase multicultural, multinational and multilingual engagement through increased opportunities for global-to-local and local-to-global community engagement

  • Objective 1: Support reciprocal and meaningful community engagement and/or service-learning opportunities as a component of all global projects and internationalization projects and technology-mediated cultural exchanges, as appropriate.
    • Metric 1: Number and nature of education abroad programs with an explicit community engagement component
    • Metric 2: Number and profiles of students participating in education abroad programs with an explicit community project or service engagement component
    • Metric 3: Feedback and impact analysis from students, professionals, community stakeholders, and partners
    • Metric 4: Number and profiles of participants in community engagement projects and exchange
      • Example Initiative(s): Creating a template and resource materials to help professionals and administrators to develop meaningful and equitable opportunities for community engagement and service learning projects during education abroad programs.
  • Objective 2: Support community engagement with local international community organizations as an alternative path to education abroad for individuals who cannot participate at the highest level of participation and investment
    • Metric 1: Changes made to the AI Global Service Certificate criteria
    • Metric 2: Number and profiles of students who take advantage of the alternative community projects and engagement activities that are still on a path to the AI Global Service Certificate
    • Metric 3: Feedback and impact analysis from students and local community partners and international colleagues
      • Example Initiative(s): Working collaboratively with Connecticut Language Coordinators in Public School Districts to cultivate a list of contacts and structured opportunities for students to engage in service learning with local international community organizations abroad.
  • Objective 3: Promote community outreach to share ACES International’s globally focused learning activities to the region and Connecticut communities
    • Metric 1: Number and profiles of external attendees/participants at international activities, workshops, lectures, programs and project events
    • Metric 2: Number and nature of international events/activities that provide explicit outreach to local community stakeholders and school districts
    • Metric 3: Feedback and impact analysis from students and partners
      • Example Initiative(s): Hosting German Youth Orchestra performance events with public audiences that specifically target members of the local community, including local artists and regional musicians.
  • Objective 4: Increase interaction and collaboration with (Public Stakeholder organizations) the City of New Haven, Partner schools of ACES, and local/international business contacts
    • Metric 1: Number and nature of visits by consular staff, international organizational leaders, education bureaus, colleges and universities to the ACES ECA campus and AI Office each year
    • Metric 2: Number and nature of AI sponsored international visits/events involving members of stakeholder groups and local international business contacts
      • Example Initiative(s): Engaging consuls general, bureaus of education, and local international businesses in annual project development; partnering with the Asia Society or members of the international business community to offer joint-programs for community outreach and engagement.

Goal 5: International Student Recruitment and Support

Provide innovation and leadership to increase recruitment, exchange and support for learning communities, students, and educators throughout each school year.

  • Objective 1: Support strategically targeted international student recruitment in close collaboration with ACES partner districts, and ACES Schools and programs
    • Metric 1: Total number and profiles of international students recruited each year
    • Metric 2: Number and nature of articulated agreements for international student projects and collaborative programs; and number and nature of participating students
    • Metric 3: Feedback from pre- and post-program international/domestic students
      • Example Initiative(s): Developing an international student recruitment website and promotional video in consultation with ACES Public Relations Services; cost-share funding for international recruitment trips to targeted countries; student demographics for artists; professionals in the field; students aspiring to be future teachers.
  • Objective 2: Promote academic and acculturation support for international and domestic students before, during and after project participation
    • Metric 1: Feedback from pre- and post-participatory international students or professionals
    • Metric 2: Total funding allocated to international/ domestic student academic learning, and cultural support
    • Metric 3: Number and profiles of international students participating in targeted programs, activities or events (e.g. intn’l preparation, intn’l student clubs, language workshops, etc.)
      • Example Initiative(s): Developing a bridge program for students between sister school partnership programs to successfully transition between collaborative projects through one intended language.
  • Objective 3: Support coordination among ACES International that is directly involved in international student and professional recruitment and/or support (Global Admissions, Intensive Learning Summer Program, Language Study Center, etc.)
  • Metric 1: External review of organizational structures in support of international student recruitment and support
  • Metric 2: Feedback from international students and international stakeholders in relevant offices or project development
  • Metric 3: Organizational changes made to improve coordination among these stakeholders
  • Metric 4: Number and time allocation of international students or professionals involved in local community service activities
  •    Example Initiative(s): Developing a more cohesive international student support task force/office to coordinate all international student initiatives across ACES ECA campus

Goal 6: Strategic Profile Integrity Development

Provide innovation and leadership to increase the international profile of ACES and ACES International by recognizing success, promoting international accomplishments, and cultivating new resources to sustain future internationalization activities.

  • Objective 1: Support profile development initiatives/events that directly advance one or more strategic priorities for internationalization and build upon existing programs with a reputation for integrity, distinction, and excellence
  • Metric 1: Number and nature of public events and associated media coverage annually
  • Metric 2: Feedback from participants and stakeholders at public events
  • Metric 3: Impact measures (e.g. increases in inquiries, enrollment, etc.) for relevant programs/initiatives and AI as a whole
  • Metric 4: Feedback from institutional partners to assess profile raising impact in targeted (programmatic) areas
  • Example Initiative(s): Developing and hosting a public conference (on or

off-campus ACES ECA) on an area of exchange programming and online collaboration for ACES ECA, such as interdisciplinary exchange projects.

  • Objective 2: Appropriately recognize and support student, faculty and staff accomplishments that advance the ACES International Strategic Plan for internationalization
  • Metric 1: Number and nature of formal recognitions of AI Staff, ACES Staff and Students each year
  • Metric 2: Number and nature of public recognitions (via public forums, print or digital media) of AI, ACES staff and/or students each year
  • Metric 3: Feedback from the regional domestic and international community         
  • Example Initiative(s): Creating an annual awards event to formally recognize international activity and contributions to the strategic plan for internationalization by AI Staff, ACES Staff and Students.

Goal 7: Accountability and Sustainability

Provide innovation and leadership to ensure accountability and tracking of current internationalization activities while entrepreneurially cultivating new resources for ACES to sustain future internationalization activities, promote the brand of ACES, and model innovation in the State of Connecticut and internationally.

  • Objective 1: Develop new and additional internal controls to ensure that resources for internationalization are allocated in a transparent and strategically impactful manner.
  • Metric 1: Return on investment analysis/ratio for allocation of financial resources
  • Metric 2: Audit of internal fiscal controls for funding of internationalization           activities
  • Metric 3: Feedback from the Strategic Plan Committee and stakeholders on the     process and protocols intended to ensure transparency and strategic impact for        resource allocations
  • Example Initiative(s): Providing an annual account of internationalization resource allocations and outcomes in collaboration with ACES Fiscal to provide greater transparency and evidence of impact
  • Objective 2: Develop new metrics and data collection tools to track, assess and evaluate the outcomes associated with individual internationalization activities.
  • Metric 1: Number and scope of metrics to monitor quality assurance and impact     of internationalization activities
  • Metric 2: Feedback from AI Staff, community partners, and international partners             on impact and quality assurance measures
  • Example Initiative(s): Conducting annual or bi-annual assessments and       project evaluations of longitudinal internationalization initiatives to inform    decision making as it relates to future activities and/or resource allocations
  • Objective 3: Cultivate new fiscal models for sustaining existing and future international activity that directly advance one or more other strategic priorities for AI Services
  • Metric 1: Total amount of external funding raised for internationalization   activities in comparison to participant fees collected
  • Metric 2: Evaluative feedback from Strategic Plan Committee and selective           stakeholders that play an advisory role, on external fundraising
  • Example Initiative(s): Developing a summer program to host international students at ACES ECA to raise funds to subsidize international programming scholarships for Connecticut students.