The New York Times recognizes Conn for innovation in education abroad

The New York Times and The Forum on Education Abroad have awarded Connecticut College’s Otto and Fran Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement with the second annual New York Times inEducation Award for Innovation in Education Abroad. The award recognizes the most innovative incorporation of The New York Times into an education abroad curriculum. 

Amy Dooling, associate dean of global initiatives and director of the Walter Commons, and Lauren O’Leary, Walter Commons coordinator, were honored for a new, intentional social media initiative to promote awareness of The New York Times coverage of the specific world regions and countries where Conn students study abroad. All Connecticut College students have free access to The New York Times.  

“The rise of social media and the culture of sharing content online with friends and personal networks present, in our view, a huge opportunity to promote awareness of local issues and current events in the diverse world in which our students are living and learning,” said Dooling and O’Leary, who noted that in 2019, Conn students studied abroad in more than three dozen countries.

“Our goal in launching this campaign is to help students become more engaged participants in their host countries by increasing their knowledge of global current events. By bringing content to students on a platform they are comfortable and familiar with, we hope to encourage a sense of global awareness both on and off campus.”

The #CamelsAbroad campaign, which primarily targets students approved to study abroad in an upcoming semester, began earlier this month on the @GlobalAtConn Instagram page. The New York Times content curated by Conn’s study abroad staff and faculty is posted and tagged with relevant countries and world regions, along with the hashtag #CamelsAbroad. Each post includes a link to the article.  

“Our hope is that students eager to become more informed about economic, political and social life in their future host countries will incorporate world news and international headlines as a regular feature of preparing for study abroad and, ultimately, for globally-engaged lives and careers,” Dooling and O’Leary said.