London 2024

9:00 - 10:15 AM | GIC Leadership Plenary: Bridging the gap between HED and Employers

Location: Tower Suite
In recent years, the disconnect between universities and employers on whether higher education institutions are doing an adequate job of preparing students for the workforce has continued to widen. Yet, with global labor and skills shortages becoming a growing concern, what can be done to bridge this gap? In this session, leaders from higher education and industry will discuss why this disconnect exists, new models that institutions are putting in place to help bridge this gap, and whether current initiatives are sufficient to move the needle on this issue.

Speakers:

• Piers Linney, Former Dragons’ Den Investor and Co-Founder, Implement AI

• Kerry McKittrick, Co-Director, Harvard Project on Workforce

• Dr. Swati Mujumdar, Pro Chancellor, Symbiosis Skills and Professional University

• Dr. Mary Papazian, Executive Vice President, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)

• Tony Munroe, President, Borough of Manhattan Community College

10:15 - 10:45 AM | Global Internship Industry Partner Award Ceremony
Location: Tower Suite

10:45 - 11:00 AM | Coffee Break
Location: Tower Foyer
Light refreshments will be provided.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | GIC Ideation Roundtables Concurrent Sessions

Aligning Career Services and International Offices to Support Global Talent Development and Mobility

In this interactive, facilitated discussion, participants will be able to explore opportunities to better align the work of career services and international offices to support global talent mobility and development. Career Services advisors are charged with helping students successfully navigate into the workplace and have a clear understanding of what employers seek. On the other hand, international advisors are the experts on navigating programs, identifying global opportunities, and compliance. Greater collaboration between the two groups ultimately benefits students but also contributes towards solving critical talent and skills shortage issues globally. Participants will walk away with concrete ideas on how to better collaborate with colleagues who are working toward the same goals.

Speakers:

• Joann Ng Hartmann, Senior Impact Officer, NAFSA

• Mihaela Metianu, Assistant Provost for Global Engagement, Florida Atlantic University

• Dave Anguish, Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County

Working with a New Generation of Talent

Coming to work in a T-shirt and sweats, clocking out at 3 pm for an Uber run during rush hour only to clock back in at 7 pm, traversing the world while working a full-time job, finding a new job every other year, this is Gen Z.

Globally, there has been a lot of discussion on the disconnect between how well employers think universities are doing to equip students with the skills needed to successfully transition into the workplace and how well universities think they are doing. This debate has often focused on hard and “soft” skills needed to do the job. What is also increasingly changing and creating disconnects between employers and the new generation of workers is workplace behaviors. Is there an opportunity for higher education institutions and employers to better collaborate on both understanding the expectations of Gen Zers so employers know what’s coming and for higher education institutions to teach students about workplace behaviors and norms.

Using a facilitated discussion format, participants will discuss the differing expectations between the new generation of GenZ workers and employers, higher ed role in helping bridge that gap, and solutions for bridging that gap.

Babel: Global Approaches to Language of DEI, EDI, JEDI

Just like Guiness, DEI doesn't travel (or translate) well or the same. Although DEI, JEDI, or EDI has faced some backlash in recent years. No matter what you name it, the ideas of diversity, equity, equality, belonging, and inclusion have become even more important globally and the approaches are vast. In this facilitated roundtable discussion, facilitators share examples and will lead an honest open discussion about the complexities of how we talk about DEI, how DEI changes depending on global context and location, and how we ensure that “DEI” initiatives are empowering, inclusive, and effective.

Speaker:

• Malaika Serrano, VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Guild Education

12:00 - 1:30 PM | Conference Attendee Lunch
Location: Tower Foyer

1:30 - 2:30 PM | Host Company & University Networking

Location: More London Suite
In this informal and fun networking event, educators and host companies will be able to engage and build valuable connections!

2:30 - 3:45 PM | Concurrent Sessions

AI’s Impact on the Future of Work

Since ChatGPT's introduction in November 2022, generative AI has swiftly transitioned from emerging technology to mainstream tool, reshaping our discussions about the future. In less than 18 months, its influence has permeated various sectors, prompting businesses to explore AI adoption strategies, governments to develop policies nurturing AI talent and governance, and educators to rethink skill development methodologies for the new digital landscape.

This session will delve into generative AI's transformative effect on the workplace, exploring both the immense opportunities it presents and the challenges it poses. Discussions will encompass the evolving role of universities in equipping students with necessary skills for AI-enhanced career landscapes, the ethical dilemmas arising from AI advancements, and the potential for job displacement, which could disproportionately affect students from less advantaged backgrounds.

Speakers:

• Sarah Neo Bao Ling, Head of Career Development, Singapore University of Social Sciences (Moderator)

• Colleen McNamee, Assistant Director, Career Services and Experiential Learning, University of Michigan

• Jane Hallett, Managing Director, Practera

• Piers Collins, Co-Founder, Hundo

• Professor B. Mairéad Pratschke, Professor and Chair in Digital Education, University of Manchester

Global Talent & Immigration Policies – Will They Ever Align?

Developed countries around the world are experiencing demographic shifts leading to labor shortages that are expected to only get worse. In recent years, accessing global talent pipelines has become a priority for many companies. However, immigration policies don’t always support these goals. For example, recent announcements from Canada and the Netherlands to cap the number of international students, new UK immigration rules to restrict international students from bringing their families, and the recent introduction of legislation in Spain to require all students doing internships in the country to register and contribute to social security. On the other hand, countries like Singapore, Japan, Germany, and even the US are either introducing new policies or using existing policies to attract more foreign-born talent to fill critical skills gaps, particularly in STEM sectors, including promising permanent residency for highly skilled professionals.

In this session, we will explore this conundrum further by looking at how different countries are approaching this issue and how higher education institutions that are helping students transition into global careers are navigating these challenges and opportunities.

Speakers:

• Jeet Joshi, Associate Vice President, Office of Int'l Education and Global Engagement, California State University, Long Beach (Moderator)

• Pina Mistry, Senior Manager, Fragomen

• Colin Blackburn, Director and Founder of The European Student Placement Agency

Successful Global Experiences: Preparing Students & Companies for Inclusive Experiences

A key benefit of global experiential learning is stepping outside of one’s comfort zone to gain insight and appreciation for the broader world. However, what happens when expectations between a student’s cultural understanding and norms clash with the cultural and company norms of the organization where the student is interning? In this session, speakers will discuss the role of culture in global experiences. Specifically, the importance of ensuring students and companies are prepared to manage cultural differences both for the success of the individual experience, but also in preparation for success in increasingly global workplaces.

Speakers:

• Nick Gozik, Dean of Global Education, Elon University

• Johanna Molina, Co-Founder & Head of Impact, The Intern Group

• Daniel Nivern, CEO, Virtual Internships

• Juliana Gutiérrez Aristizábal, Jefe Talento, EAFIT

• Essam Sharaf, Director, Enpact

3:45 - 4:15 PM | Coffee Break
Location: Tower Foyer

4:15 - 5:15 PM | WorldCafe Sessions

4:15 - 5:00 PM | Managing Global Interns
Location: More London Suite
Join us for an in-depth discussion on best practices for maximizing the potential of international interns. Learn how our host partners create life-altering professional experiences for young people from diverse backgrounds as part of their ongoing commitment to foster cultural exchange through internships. This 45-minute session will provide attendees with tangible resources they can utilize to establish global internships at their organization while bringing global perspectives to their teams.

6:30 - 8:30 PM | CIEE London Garden Reception

Location: CIEE London Center
Let us whisk you away to the heart of London for this special event! You'll be transported to the private Montague Gardens, seamlessly connected to our center. It promises to be a delightful evening surrounded by nature in this secluded oasis. Upon arrival, we invite you to explore our London Center following a brief welcome from our team. Be sure to secure your spot for the tour in advance!

The reception draws inspiration from iconic British garden parties, featuring delights such as Pimm’s, soft ice cream in cones, fish and chips, and more!

The venue is easily accessible by tube, with a journey time of approximately 25 minutes. For those unable to take the tube, we will also provide limited coach spaces. However, please note that travel by coach may take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, depending on city traffic.