Preparing for a Global Workforce: How IWU Equips Students for International Careers
Whether you plan to pursue leadership positions in the United States or hope to go abroad and work in another country, multicultural competence is in high demand in today's workforce. Students who are pursuing undergraduate degree programs will graduate and likely enter a job market that requires them to be culturally aware and culturally responsive — which is where the importance of global leadership development in education comes into play.
At Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), we provide students with an opportunity to earn an academic degree in a learning environment that is anchored by faith and enhanced by a global perspective. No matter the degree program you choose, you will find that you have opportunities for global internships, international exchange programs and other cultural immersion opportunities that allow you to enhance your education and improve your cross-cultural adaptability.
The Need for Global Readiness in Today’s Workforce
The global economy defines business operations around the world, requiring professionals of all levels and industries to become more culturally aware and culturally responsive. By actively working to connect with individuals from diverse cultural perspectives and backgrounds, professionals are able to more effectively tackle the complex problems facing the world today.
Why Global Skills Matter
Global competence is becoming increasingly crucial in the current economic landscape. Those who focus on improving their cross-cultural communication skills and problem-solving skills will be able to better navigate the dynamic professional realm across all industries. Most professionals, regardless of their expertise or industry focus, will have to interact with people from other countries, cultures and backgrounds — highlighting the importance of developing global skills throughout your undergraduate education.
The Challenges of a Globalized Workforce
The global economy ushers in a vast range of new opportunities and experiences that enable professionals to connect with one another to solve the world’s most challenging issues. However, it is not without its challenges. Some of the greatest challenges of a globalized workforce include:
- Understanding and accommodating cultural sensitivities.
- Global language barriers.
- Being aware of differences in business practices around the world.
How IWU Equips Students for International Careers
At Indiana Wesleyan University, we take an intentional approach to global skill development by offering students a variety of opportunities and experiences that will prepare them for international careers.
Regardless of the program in which you are most interested or your personal and professional goals, you can develop your global skills through:
Comprehensive Study Abroad Programs
IWU is proud to offer education abroad programs that allow students to immerse themselves in another culture while developing the skills required for their field of study. Our study abroad opportunities at IWU allow students a chance to both learn from professors around the world as well as give back to communities in need across the globe. We have designed our education abroad programs so that all students who participate may foster a global mindset, become more culturally aware and responsive and develop the skills needed to navigate a global marketplace.
Language Learning and Cultural Competency
Given that language barriers are some of the most common challenges faced by professionals in a global economy, we have worked to provide students with foreign language studies programs that allow them to become fluent in an additional language. These programs not only teach students to read, write and speak in another language, but they also introduce them to the culture of those who speak that language to help improve their overall cultural competency.
International Partnerships and Collaborations
At IWU, we have actively worked to forge partnerships and create collaborations that allow our students to be exposed to other cultures and ways of life, plus develop the cultural competency skills for the global workforce. Our global engagement programs include:
· Study abroad opportunities.
· Cultural immersion programs that bring international students to the heart of the IWU campus.
· Bridge programs that allow international students to focus on developing their English language skills.
Academic Programs With a Global Focus
In addition to offering international exchange programs and other global engagement initiatives, we have also developed academic programs with a global focus. Keeping in mind that our graduates (no matter their field of study) will be entering a global workforce, we know that it's essential to offer a global, faith-based perspective within every academic program that we offer.
Global Business and International Studies
Students with their sights set on an international career in business will appreciate that we offer a global business studies program and international studies program — both of which emphasize cultural awareness and cross-cultural adaptability. Additionally, our global ministries bachelor's degree program equips students with the skills needed to preach and serve in locations around the world.
Interdisciplinary Approaches
Many of our degree programs offer an interdisciplinary approach, allowing students to benefit from exposure to a range of topics and subject areas. This unique interdisciplinary approach helps foster the connections between the topics being discussed in the classroom and their application in the real world.
Faculty With Global Expertise
At IWU, we have actively worked to attract and retain top faculty members, and many of our professors and instructors have global expertise they are able to pass on to their students. When students have the opportunity to learn from and interact with faculty members from around the world, they become more culturally aware and responsive in their own interactions, both on a personal and professional level.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
Along with providing coursework with a global focus, we also give our students opportunities to enjoy experiential learning opportunities (such as cultural immersion programs). Through experiential learning, students are better able to navigate cultural differences and develop the global skills to interact with people from various backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives.
Some of the experiential learning opportunities available at IWU include:
Internships With International Organizations
Students at IWU have the opportunity to pursue global internships through which they are able to work directly with international organizations in their chosen field of study. Global internship programs allow students to develop the business acumen required to navigate the complex global economy as well as the cross-cultural communication skills to effectively collaborate with people from numerous backgrounds.
Global Service Projects
As part of our mission to provide all students with a Christ-centered education, we also encourage those in our campus community to engage in global service projects. Many of our students who enroll in study abroad programs also serve in the areas where they are studying — connecting with the needs of that community and recognizing the impact they can have on the world around them.
Virtual Global Experiences
Even those who choose not to study abroad or pursue global internship programs can prioritize multicultural competence at IWU. The virtual global experiences available to IWU students allow students to connect with professionals and thought leaders from around the globe. These innovative, technology-driven experiences improve accessibility to cultural immersion programs and allow our students to focus on developing the global skills the modern workforce demands.
Success Stories: IWU Alumni in the Global Workforce
We are proud of the fact that many of our IWU alumni go on to work for international organizations and serve abroad after graduation. As a direct result of our commitment to cultural competency in education, many of our graduates are prepared to effortlessly navigate the global economy.
Alumni Achievements in International Careers
Our alumni have been recognized around the world for their professional accomplishments and commitment to serving those around them — demonstrating the effectiveness of IWU’s global workforce preparation efforts.
Lessons Learned From IWU Alumni
IWU alumni repeatedly come back to campus sharing their stories of success and triumph. Time and again, we hear from our graduates that our commitment to cultural immersion and multicultural competence prepared them for success in today's interconnected, global economy.
The Future of Global Career Preparation at IWU
Global career preparation for students will continue to be a high priority on the IWU campus, particularly as technology reshapes the professional landscape across all fields. At IWU, we will continue to prioritize global readiness in higher education by:
Expanding International Partnerships
We are actively working to expand our international partnerships at IWU. As we invest in these partnerships and collaborate with organizations from around the world, our students will benefit from greater access to study abroad programs, global service opportunities and global internships.
Investing in Technology for Global Education
We are making a continued effort to invest in the latest technology, too, in turn enabling us to increase the number of virtual global experiences at IWU. We know that technology is the bridge to the future and will continue to play a pivotal part in global career preparation for students.
Prioritizing Cultural Awareness in Education, IWU Prepares You for the Global Economy
At Indiana Wesleyan University, we offer a range of degree programs, all of which are anchored by faith while promoting a global perspective in education. Regardless of your chosen field of study, you can enjoy a rigorous academic curriculum that equips you with the skills and knowledge needed for professional success. In addition, cultural immersion programs allow you to become a more aware, understanding and empathetic individual — ultimately helping you gain the confidence needed to navigate the ever-complex global landscape.
Find your program today and learn more about our commitment to cultural competency in education at IWU.
Sources
https://www.indwes.edu/academics/colleges-schools
https://www.indwes.edu/academics/cas/education-abroad/
https://www.indwes.edu/about/offices/global-engagement/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10637906/
https://asiasociety.org/education/five-reasons-why-global-competence-matters
