Global Partnerships: Positioning Technical Communication Programs in the Context of Globalization

Doreen Starke-Meyerring ; Ann Hill Duin University of Minnesota System ; Talene Palvetzian McGill University

Abstract

Globalization is radically transforming technical communication (TC) both in the workplace and in higher education. This article examines these changes and the ways in which TC programs position themselves amid globalization, in particular the ways in which they use emerging global partnerships to prepare students for global work and citizenship. For this purpose, the authors report on a Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication-supported exploratory study of current partnership initiatives in TC programs. The study indicated a high level of activity, planning, and interest in global partnerships and revealed a range of creative and innovative partnerships that systematically integrate new opportunities for experiential learning, collaborative international research, and civic engagement in a global context into programs and their curricula. Partnerships also emphasize cultural sensitivity, equal partner contribution, and mutual benefit, thus offering alternatives to emerging global trade visions of higher education. The article also identifies key challenges that partnerships face, suggesting implications for programs and the field as a whole to facilitate successful partnerships.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2007-04-01
DOI
10.1207/s15427625tcq1602_1
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly

References (36) · 2 in this index

  1. 10.1023/B:TEAM.0000012239.55136.4b
  2. 10.1080/00091380409604964
    Change  
  3. American Council on Education. (2004). GATS-General Agreement on Trade in Services. U.S. update on GATS. Retr…
  4. Appadurai, A. (2001). Grassroots globalization and the research imagination. In A. Appadurai (Ed.), Globaliza…
  5. Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, American Council on Education, European University Associ…
Show all 36 →
  1. Bernhardt, S. (1999).Using technology to support global drug-development teams. In C. R. Lovitt & D. Goswami …
  2. Cargile Cook, K. & Grant-Davie, K. (2005). Introduction. In K. Cargile Cook & K. Grant-Davie (Eds.), Online e…
  3. Carr-Chellman, A. A. (Ed.). (2004). Global perspectives on e-learning: Rhetoric and reality. Thousand Oaks, C…
  4. Duin, A. H., Baer, L. & Starke-Meyerring, D. (2001). Partnering in the learning marketspace. San Francisco, C…
  5. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  6. Faber, B. & Johnson-Eilola, J. (2005). Knowledge politics: Open sourcing education. In K. Cargile Cook & K. G…
  7. Technical Communication
  8. Hawisher, G. E. & Selfe, C. (1999). Global literacies and the World-Wide Web. London: Routledge.
  9. Hennig, J. & Tjarks-Sobhani, M. (Eds.). (2004). Technical communication-international. Stuttgart, Germany: Ve…
  10. Herrington, T. & Tretyakov, Y. (2005). The Global Classroom Project: Troublemaking and troubleshooting. In K.…
  11. Huckin, T. (2002, October). Globalization and critical consciousness in technical and professional communicat…
  12. Institute for Policy Studies. (2000). Top 200: The rise of corporate global power. Retrieved January 25, 2005…
  13. Jenson, J. & Papillon, M. (2001). The changing boundaries of citizenship: A review and research agenda. Canad…
  14. 10.1177/102831530263002
  15. 10.1111/j.1468-2273.2004.00263.x
  16. 10.1080/13621020220118759
  17. Ougaard, M. (2004). Political globalization: State, power and social forces. Houndmills, England: Palgrave Ma…
  18. Rupert,M.(2000).Ideologiesofglobalization:Contendingvisionsofanewworldorder. London: Routledge.
  19. 10.1177/1080569904268051
  20. 10.1080/1476772032000141799
  21. Social Investment Forum. (2003). 2003 report on socially responsible investing trends in the United States. R…
  22. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  23. Stiglitz, J. E. (2002). Globalization and its discontents. New York: Norton.
  24. Stromquist, N. P. (2002). Education in a globalized world: The connectivity of power, technology, and knowled…
  25. Suarez-Orozco, M. M. & Qin-Hilliard, D. B. (2004). Globalization: Culture and education in the new millennium…
  26. Tapscott, D. & Ticoll, D. (2003). The naked corporation. New York: Free Press.
  27. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2004). World investment report 2004: The shift towards s…
  28. U.S. Department of State. (2000). Higher (tertiary) education, adult education, and training. Washington, DC:…
  29. Wahlstrom, B. & Clemens, L. (2005). Extreme pedagogies: When technical communication vaults institutional bar…
  30. Ward, D. (2003, March 7). Letter to U.S. Trade Representative. ACE's Eye on Washington. Retrieved May 23, 200…
  31. World Trade Organization. (1994). General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Retrieved March 20, 2003, fr…