Global Classrooms

Why Global Classrooms?

The University of Manchester (UoM) aspires to be recognised globally for the excellence of our people, research, learning and innovation, and for the benefits we bring to society and the environment. Through building collaborative partnerships, we combine our research expertise with that of colleagues from around the world to find answers to global challenges.

The Global Classrooms initiative mirrors this collaborative approach within teaching and learning to provide our students with an international education that ensures academic excellence, diversity and global engagement.

While some students are able to participate in undergraduate exchange programmes, unfortunately not all are able to do so. Global Classrooms gives more students access to an international educational experience, fostering global perspectives, regardless of their ability to travel. Moreover, with the use of e-learning technologies, Global Classrooms can offer that international educational experience while being mindful of our environmental footprint and commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The aims of Global Classrooms are:

to enhance the international experience, global awareness and intercultural growth of all our students;
to encourage global networked learning opportunities with institutional partners;
to facilitate world-leading, research-led learning
to achieve these goals in accordance with our social responsibility and environmental goals.

What are Global Classrooms?

The Global Classrooms initiative encourages colleagues to incorporate expertise from our partner institutions into the learning environment. Global Classrooms may take several forms depending on the partnership and the needs of the specific course unit or programme. Broadly speaking, collaborations fall into three possible categories:

Introductory
Engaged
Integrated

1. Introductory

Guest lectures or panels (synchronous or asynchronous).
Student discussion boards.

At its most familiar, a Global Classroom is similar to inviting a visiting expert to give a guest lecture for your course unit. The colleague from a partner institution could offer a live lecture or a recording of lecture from their own course unit. UoM academics integrate that lecture into their course unit but continue to provide most of the content, including lectures, tutorials, and marking assessments.

Working in partnership, UoM academics and partnership colleagues could set up student discussion boards around particular topics to encourage students from the different institutions to learn from each other.

Example:

With the 2022/23 ‘soft launch’ of Global Classrooms, there are various examples of this introductory approach emerging across the Faculty. For example, colleagues in the Manchester Museum and Sociology are providing input for a course unit on repatriation at the University of Melbourne; colleagues at Indiana University have been invited to speak with students in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (SALC), the School of Social Sciences (SoSS) and Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS). In many cases, these teaching collaborations emerged from research collaborations and were naturally integrated into course unit environments for undergraduates or post-graduates.

2. Engaged

Optional course units designed together by UoM academics and partnership colleagues with a joint delivery of a few (not more than half) of the lectures by partnership colleagues either synchronously or asynchronously.
Assignments or group projects shared by both groups of students.
Student discussion boards.

You may wish to engage with colleagues at a partner institution to design a whole course unit and share the teaching, including shared student assignments/projects. Students can work together on projects and presentations providing that assessments are marked separately and according to each institution’s own assessment requirements. UoM student assignments are to be marked by UoM staff only and according to UoM guidelines. If you would like to opt for this engaged option, complete the form and then contact the Faculty Teaching and Learning Officer to discuss process and the next steps.

Example:

In 2023/24 semester two, Dr Andreja Zevnik and Professor Himadeep Muppidi of Vassar College will deliver the MA course unit, 'Critical Approaches', jointly designed and co-delivered. Professor Muppidi will deliver around one-third of the lectures, some in person and some asynchronously. The assessment has been jointly designed, and UoM and Vassar students will have the opportunity to discuss these together. The assessments are separate, independent assignments for UoM students and will be marked by Dr Zevnick according to UoM procedures.

3. Integrated

Integrated, shared degrees or programmes of study, designed and delivered by partner institutions.

The Faculty of Humanities Faculty Teaching and Learning teams and the University of Manchester Transnational Education team provide a range of support to facilitate the creation, approval, implementation and marketing of degrees or programmes of study collaboratively produced by colleagues at UoM and our partner institutions that reflect Faculty and University T&L development priorities. These teams are there to guide colleagues through any operational processes at both institutions.

Examples:

AMBS has a long history of joint programme delivery with partner institutions. One excellent example is the Global MBA with Indiana University’s Kelley Business School.
UoM and the University of Melbourne offer a joint MA in Leadership for Development.

What technical knowledge is needed?

The technical supports on offer are likely already familiar tools. Through Blackboard, Zoom, MS Teams, Piazza etc, you can find the right technology for the collaboration you want to create. For course unit collaborations, please visit our Faculty e-learning website. For the more integrated programme collaboration, the TNE e-learning team provides a range of support.

What are the next steps?

Below are some important points to keep in mind when developing a Global Classroom experience. In the first instance, you should fill out the Global Classrooms Expression of Interest form. In addition, if you are interested in collaborating at the integrated level please contact the Faculty Teaching and Learning Officer (EDPPP) to learn more about the process for approval of collaborative activity.

Who are our University, Faculty or School partners? How do I find the right person to collaborate with?

UoM and the Faculty of Humanities engage in a number of different partnerships with leading institutions around the globe: University of Melbourne; University of Toronto; Chinese University Hong Kong; Tel Aviv University; Stockholm University; KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Heidelberg University; Bordeaux University; Indiana University; Vassar College; Xavier University (New Orleans); and Spelman College.

The Faculty Internationalisation team is happy to play match-maker! Working closely with our counterparts at our partner institutions, we can provide you with the contact details for the relevant colleague in your field. Most of our University or Faculty partners are aware of the Global Classroom initiative and have similar at their institutions, making it easier to find the perfect collaboration partner.

If you would like some advice or assistance in making connections, send us an email with the UoM course unit title, the area of expertise, and the institution you would like to work with, and we will get to work. If you are considering the engaged route, please note that the planning process may take longer so you will need to have plenty of time to meet, discuss collaboration expertise and plan the course unit and ensuring institutional approval procedures.

What internal procedures do I have to follow?

At the introductory level, inviting a guest lecture from a partner institution or setting up a joint student discussion board, you should fill out the Global Classrooms Expression of Interest form. The aim of the form is to ensure that the Faculty Internationalisation team is aware of Global Classroom activity and can assist if needed. This is not a regulatory process – it is simply so we are aware of the range of activity happening across the Faculty in order to facilitate learning from each other and sharing good practice. It will also help us if you decide to develop or increase the level of engagement in the future and to know how many colleagues are working with which institutions so we can support the overall partnership effectively. Ideally, you will complete the form before the guest lecture or student discussions take place.

If you would like to invite a guest lecture at a non-partner institution, e.g. research colleagues at other HE institutions globally or external agencies, a formal partnership agreement (MoU) is not necessarily needed. However, if you are making use of student discussions boards or inviting external student discussions, then we do have a duty of care to students. The e-Learning team can provide you with technical support (e.g. with risk management in Piazza) and advice regarding your duty of care to UoM students.

At the engaged level, jointly designing and teaching a course unit, you should first fill out the Global Classrooms Expressions of Interest form. This will enable the internationalisation team to assist you with initial operational requirements. As you would with any significant course unit change for the coming year, you will need to complete the major amendment process taking into account the Humanities Policy and Procedure for Collaborative Activity and contact the Faculty Teaching and Learning Officer (EDPPP).

Just as you would normally, any significant change you make for the coming year involves thinking about aims, teaching methods, assessment practices, etc. Keep in mind that the engaged course units can have students working together on assessments such as presentations or projects provided they are marked separately and according to each institutional requirements (e.g. UoM students to be marked by UoM staff and according to UoM guidelines). It is therefore vital to engage with faculty office as soon as possible to ensure that the right stakeholders are involved with the with the course unit changes.

At the integrated level, developing a joint programme between collaborative partners, you will need to follow the Faculty of Humanities process for approval of collaborative activity. Interested staff should contact their Faculty Teaching and Learning Officer (EDPPP) to discuss the steps and process for approval. All new programme developments are required to be approved by the Faculty Size and Shape project board before work on the development commences. You also can find out more about how to work directly with the University of Manchester Transnational Education team here.

What if I have more questions?

The Faculty Internationalisation team is here to help! Please contact the team by email: humsinternational@manchester.ac.uk.

Tips to keep in mind:

Time zone differences – our duty of care to UoM students is to ensure that any required course unit engagement fits within the student’s normal course unit timetable. Optional or asynchronous input may be more suitable for collaborations across time zones. When planning synchronous activity across time zones, you will have to plan ahead by working with colleagues in course unit time-tabling or room bookings.
Reliable access to internet – think about speed and access to internet facilities for all potential users as this may impact your decision to opt for synchronous or asynchronous engagement.
Language barriers or cultural differences – to encourage cross-cultural understanding, think about intentionally building activities into course units such as ice-breakers and discussion topics to allow students to get to know one another. The nature and frequency of these activities will vary depending on the level of course unit collaboration.
IP Copyright considerations – some institutions hold copyright of course lectures or course material. It is important to discuss this with your collaborator and have written assurances that this has been given due consideration in advance. The Faculty Internationalisation team can help with any questions on this point.
Different institutional procedures - if you are thinking about an engaged course unit and will need approval by both institutions, you will need to work with your collaborator to ensure the course unit approval procedures for both institutions have been met. The Faculty Internationalisation team can help with any questions on this point.