Global Learning and Development as an Engagement Strategy for Christian Higher Education: A Macro Study

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this research was to better understand the variety of student and faculty global learning and development programs by member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), and what motivated the creation of these types of programs. Although various forms of global engagement programming were examined, the scope of the study primarily focused on mutually beneficial long-term programs that had been designed to reduce poverty, alleviate social problems, and promote other forms of social progress. Data were collected over a seven-month period in 2014 from interviews with 19 faculty and global learning and development leaders who represented 13 CCCU member institutions. The findings documented a wide variety of CCCU-sponsored global programs and partnerships, the motives and faith foundations for these global initiatives, and various levels of institutional support for global programming.