Take 5: Core Competencies

This year, International Educator is bringing back a familiar favorite—our Take 5 column—but with a fresh approach. Each month, we pose a thought-provoking prompt to five members of the NAFSA community. These international educators, who represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives, respond with their insights, recommendations, and personal reflections on the myriad themes and questions that are facing the field.

What are the three NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0 (IE Competencies) you use most in your work?

Leadership, Relationship Cultivation, and Business Acumen

My work in this field relies on the majority of the IE Competencies, but I’ll highlight leadership, relationship cultivation, and business acumen. Aligning with institutional strategy, inspiring and motivating others, engaging a wide array of stakeholders, building consensus, writing grants, and budgeting—these are essential skills that support our overall work to enhance the institution’s capacity to facilitate global learning for faculty, staff, and students.

—Leslie A. Bozeman, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
 

Communications, Compliance Management, and Data Collection and Analysis

Communications: For international educators who provide immigration services to international students and scholars, there are multiple communication barriers to overcome when communicating to customers, colleagues, and other stakeholders, including representatives from various government agencies.

Compliance Management: In international student and scholar services, we have to understand policies, laws, and standards and also educate stakeholders on their complexity and the reasoning behind them.

Data Collection and Analysis: This is the best way to "know thyself" and others. If you can achieve more