Conference Season Requires Strategic Planning

Kerry Geffert
Product Evangelist, Terra Dotta

Regardless of the number of years in international education, all IE professionals look for opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge base. We might seek job-specific information regarding immigration procedures for international or study abroad students, or updates on a country’s educational system. Or we may look for more general training on advising skills, software or how to be a better manager. We do these things through methods such as training sessions, professional publications, webinars, and of course, professional meetings or conferences.

At one time there were only a few conferences specifically geared toward international education. They were staples of our annual calendars and budgets, most notably the NAFSA, CIEE and SIETAR conferences. Depending upon our roles, we might attend the conferences of “sister organizations” – organizations with different missions, but who acknowledged the needs of international education through special commissions or committees, or in cross-organizational sessions. These included (and still do) the likes of AACRAO, ACPA, NACAC, NASPA and NACADA.

These meetings were almost all U.S. based. Then as international education grew, technology changed and international travel became more commonplace, so too, conference opportunities grew. We began to attend conferences of overseas organizations while new organizations and conferences attracted us at home. Joint conferences between U.S. and overseas organizations were held, and U.S. organizations took their conferences abroad – even if it was across our northern border to Canada. Professional development in international education became…..international.

Today one could spend the better part of several months attending conferences at locations around the world. To provide an idea of the abundance of opportunities available, this chart lists a selection of the major conferences being held using data from their respective websites. There are undoubtedly additional groups convening.

March, October and November appear to be the most popular months for conferences. However, scheduled among these larger conferences are many smaller meetings. There are additional regional conferences and workshops, and state meetings which often provide excellent training opportunities for junior-level or newer staff. Then there are the ad hoc local meetings that provide networking opportunities in addition to updates on select topics. More and more symposia are being sponsored by institutions in the U.S. and abroad to address specific subjects. And finally are the meetings, workshops and mini-conferences of private organizations arranged for their constituents to deliver organizational updates as well as professional development. Think TDU!

Yes, one can spend much of one’s time off campus at a professional meeting. At Terra Dotta, we attend upwards of 50 different conferences each year. That is almost one each week! Fortunately we have multiple staff available to spread out the attendance; you may not have that flexibility. So how does one decide where to spend limited budget and time resources when it comes to professional development? Here are a few questions to consider:

• If you were to attend only one major conference each year, what would it be? How would you justify your attendance to your supervisor?
• What budget amount is available for professional training through conferences and meetings? Figure that attendance at a major conference will cost around $1,000 (if not more) for registration, housing and meals. Transportation is likely extra. Regional and local meetings cost less and may provide opportunities for the attendance of several persons.
• Are there additional institutional funds available for professional development for you or your staff?
• What are your personal professional development goals? How will a conference help you achieve those goals? Conference planners like to tempt us with alluring destinations, but is your intent to visit that destination or make yourself a better employee and professional?
• What are your professional development goals for your staff? What is the add-on to bring someone with you to a larger conference? Are there smaller meetings or training sessions closer to home that would allow more staff to obtain training?
• Are you more likely to receiving funding for a meeting if you are sharing your expertise? Someone has to provide the sessions. Is your institution more supportive of attendance (i.e., likely to make funds available) when you are a presenter and bringing recognition for your institution? Is there another campus office or department with which you can collaborate and share costs?
• Are there institutional strategic goals that make your attendance imperative? How will your attendance at a meeting advance your institution’s goals? If there is a goal to increase relationships with institutions in a part of the world, how will your attendance help achieve that goal? Might there be additional funds available?

These and other questions can help you weed through the conference announcements to determine the best ones for you, your staff and your institution. With international education continuing to grow, the number of opportunities is unlikely to diminish. The wise IE professional, therefore, will develop a strategic plan that takes into consideration the various training and meeting options in conjunction with the budget, and connects them with personal training needs and the training needs of the staff.

And while you are creating that strategic plan, remember that one of the hallmarks of this profession has been the collaboration and “giving back” of its members. Those who have gained from previous leaders in the field now have the opportunity to share knowledge and expertise with those entering the field. As you formulate your plan for conferences, consider how you might gain by giving. Be a presenter, take a leadership role, be a mentor, advance the field. Providing professional development for others can be professional development for you.

Resources (Full Chart of Below Information):

International-Education-Conferences.xlsx