International Education and Culture: An overview of a Transnational Leader
By: Diana Wilson
Introduction
Education is a formal systematic observation that expands and nurtures human minds through a variety of experiences in an environment as set by educational institutions at various levels. By educational institutions I mean, both internal and external faculty who are involved through planning in a world of possibilities to build up learners’ general power of mind, so that they can operate in a variety of ways. It is this planning which aims to prepare learners for a better future.
Distributed Leadership and Social Justice
To ensure that educational planning is set with the expected outcomes of its goals; it is important that leadership roles are distributed across the school. These roles will ensure the smooth running of the system and will assist in further planning on a regular basis along and beyond achievement. That being said, distributed leadership also requires close monitoring, demand accountability by making a less hierarchical structure where social justice and human capital prevails for an equal and equitable inclusive educational opportunity for all.
Empathetic and Cultural Approach in Education
For overall development of learners, emphasis on physical, emotional, spiritual, and social growth is necessary in relation with traditions of learning in languages, humanities, art, mathematics, and subjects of sciences. The reason to call such learning as a crucial part of curriculum planning, I believe, is linked to rapid mass movement from rural to urban in local contexts, while internationally across countries. In both cases, understanding the cultures of others becomes extremely vital to maintain peace at all levels, which makes the purpose of education unlimited in accepting cultural differences. Exposure to a variety of cultures through literature is significant to the need to support and respect human rights. This open mindedness is essential to understand the cultural differences and perspectives behind the existence of such differences so that respect and tolerance is cultivated for sustainability of peace.
In order to achieve life-long learning, significance to planning around curriculum is teaching and learning experiences that could be implemented in a continuum for a whole person development, starting from primary school and leading up to senior level. About this continuum, careful planning is required in teaching of various disciplines with focus towards engaging in rich experiences that promote equity, diversity and inclusion as part of global citizenship education. In addition to this, cultural diversity needs learners to engage in inquiry-based learning, problem solving and teamwork across disciplines drawn towards international education.
Thus, collaborative planning within and across disciplines is necessary in achieving the basic aim of education. Subsequently, careful, and systematic arrangements for educational support, educational institution’s reflective attitude to model values and behaviour in learners is optimal to the very goals of making the world a better and peaceful place.
*Transnational leaders establish broad consistencies across all of the global responsibilities, while respecting, embracing, and leveraging local cultural differences toward better performance, teamwork, employee satisfaction, and results.
About the Author:
Diana Wilson is a leader and educator with over 20 years of experience in education in the MENA Region. She is a collaborative presenter and writes for knowledge exchange.