Vision

The purpose of building International Partnerships in the Bonner Network is to develop sustainable internationally-focused partnerships and to supplement existing international service programs within the Bonner Network with more coordinated support and resources. Doing so will increase impact on the student experience, individual campus internationalization initiatives, and the international communities partnered with our institutions.

This vision grows out the Bonner Program’s common commitment to international perspective, which seeks to cultivate global citizens that:

•  embrace cultural diversity
•  understand the nature of global interdependence
•  examine issues in their local and global contexts
•  consider the accuracy, relevancy and influence of their worldview
•  explore and respect the views and values of others

Ultimately, we envision a "Bonner Global Village Network" to form through a network of partnerships, offering Bonners a series of options for connecting their international service experience in a strategic way. Some existing partnerships to this effect include:

• International Partner Directory
•  an opportunity for Bonners to serve with sites that other Bonners have served with in the past
• Bonner Village Network
•  an opportunity for Bonners to serve with a series of campus-community relationships maintained by Bonner schools and facilitated by our partner organization, Peacework
• SIT-Bonner Study Abroad Programs
•  an opportunity for Bonners to pursue SIT study abroad programs at a reduced rate through the SIT-Bonner grant program 

Value of International Partnerships (Statistical Data)

Current surveys of Bonner Scholars indicate that in several institutions where study abroad programs are strong, nearly 75% of Bonner Scholars are participating. Some work with key Bonner Partners, such as Peacework (see below), and others are working to establish sustained multi-year non-profit partnerships in particular countries that they will return to each year. (This is true, for example, at Davidson College, Defiance College, Siena College, and Stetson University).

Diversity and encounters with "otherness" has been found, through the evaluation of the Bonner Program, to be one of the greatest contributors to the program's effectiveness; in fact this is closely related to students developing an interpretation and commitment to social justice. Opportunities to understand an issue (such as poverty) in both local and global contexts, as well as direct experiences, extend this learning. Because of the newness of this area, we do not have as much direct data on the impact of international perspective and experiences, but one key finding is that Bonner Scholar students' skills and commitment to social justice increases in key ways between junior and senior year. The third and fourth year typically involve more challenging service experiences, including in international contexts.

International Perspective: A Bonner Common Commitment

• Introduction to the Common Commitment International Perspective
• International Perspective as a Common Commitment (Student Handbook Live)  

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