Local connections, global perspectives

Higher education institutions are increasingly focused on facilitating agentic, outward-looking, globally minded graduates. International mobility experiences are often viewed as a key tool in developing these qualities; however, not all students have the inclination, resources, or support to enable them to participate in an international experience. Student surveys reveal that the top barriers to international intercultural learning experiences are outside of the influence of educators; that is time, finances, work, and family commitments. This is backed up by broader research, which shows that only one in seven students will take up an international mobility experience. In this context, educators need to look to the opportunities afforded through both local and international experiences to engage and promote agency in diverse student cohorts. Pedagogical approaches such as service learning have been found to enable students to explore democratic action in a local space, learning and reflecting on these experiences within a framework that accounts for global perspectives. Drawing on the findings of six local and international case studies, this chapter explores the curriculum and pedagogical frameworks that facilitate global perspectives through community-based learning experiences, whether they occur in local or international environments