Source: Universidad de la Sabana

About Universidad La Sabana

Since 2007, the International School of Economic and Administrative Sciences of Universidad La Sabana (Colombia, South America) has developed the International Summer and Winter Schools each year, with the aim to deliver courses taught by highly qualified international professors on topics articulated to the global trends and priorities, as an internationalization at home opportunity to train students with global vision. The courses, of 36 to 42 hours, are delivered in online and face-to-face formats for Colombian students.

My Experience – Dr. Lisa Bosman

During Winter 2023, associate professor, Dr. Lisa Bosman (Purdue Polytechnic Institute) had the opportunity to teach a class virtually to 38 graduate students at the Universidad de La Sabana (Chía, Colombia).

The course, titled, “Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development” included theoretical skill development (Week 1: 20 hours) and applied group work (Week 2: 20 hours). For the theoretical skill development, students completed pre-class activities (reading, watching, listening, reflecting) and during class time participated in online discussions sharing their synthesis of learning, opinions, and thoughts in a critical and creative manner. For the applied group work, students worked in small groups (2-3 people), using a Google Slide link setup by the instructor, to conduct evidence-based decision making to identify opportunities for improvement, research current efforts (and gaps) in place to combat the problem, and brainstorm solutions to overcome the gaps while responding to the identified problem.

Given the virtual nature of the class, many online tools were integrated into the Moodle learning management system and class activities including meeting with students via the Zoom video conferencing platform, leveraging the online discussion platform, a YouTube introduction video, Google Slides (so the instructor could provide immediate feedback to the small working groups), and Our World in Data (which offers a Sustainable Development Goals tracker for countries throughout the world).

The support provided by Maria Carolina Alvarez Guzman (Head of Internationalization, Universidad de La Sabana) and Catalina Cordoba Garcia (Undergraduate Student and Teaching Assistant, Universidad de La Sabana) laid the foundation for an ideal teaching experience. But it was working individually with small groups, providing feedback and mentoring that was the most rewarding. The Universidad La Sabana students were knowledgeable, eager to learn, and displayed professionalism throughout the course.

Source: Universidad de la Sabana

Why Students Enroll in These Courses

For students at the Universidad La Sabana, these courses represent an opportunity, not only to broaden their knowledge in topics that are shaping the present and the future of business, but also to connect with international faculty, improve their language skills, and be exposed to an intercultural environment, while at the same time they are validating credits from their curriculum.

Paula Vasquez, undergraduate student at the Universidad La Sabana reflected “is a great opportunity to participate in internationalization at home activities and learn about innovative topics related to our fields of study. In addition, very enriching courses are taught thanks to the profile of the international professors, their experience and trajectory in the industry”.

Invite for Other Faculty to Get Involved

For the Universidad La Sabana, it will always be a pleasure to welcome professors like Dr. Lisa Bosman who, in addition to sharing her extensive academic and professional experience with the students, has also invited them to assume responsibility as future managers to find solutions that positively impact our society and our planet. The Universidad La Sabana invites faculty members from Purdue University to participate in the upcoming call for professors for the International Summer School 2024. Teaching opportunities can be virtual or in-person (which includes experiencing the Colombian culture and spending quality time with researchers, allowing opportunities on collaborate on future research and academic projects.

If you are interested in teaching at Universidad La Sabana, please reach out to Juan Diego Velásquez de Bedout, Director of the Colombia Purdue Partnership. For more information on this teaching experience, please reach out to Dr. Lisa Bosman: lbosman@purdue.edu.