2024 Summer Institute in Bangkok Creates a Community of Learning

Each year, students from across the world gather for the COE’s two-week Global Programs Summer Institute. This year, masters and certificate students in the International School Counseling (INCO) and College Admissions Counseling programs gathered at Thammasat University in Bangkok. The 2024 Summer Institute saw the largest number of students attending so far, and the program’s first time in Asia. 

“The fact that COE Global Programs has innovated to bring the Summer Institute right where international educators are...is remarkable, forward thinking, and truly relevant for those of us in international education.” 

-Lorelei Loveridge, 2024 Summer Institute student

“We discuss counseling through the lenses of multicultural competencies, and further relate that back to our own contexts [making the] learning practical from the start,” says Loveridge. 

Students in COE’s Global Programs complete online and hybrid degrees and certificates with asynchronous and synchronous courses that are offered during the school year and during school breaks. All of the programs are built for full-time teachers, counselors, and administrators and allow for the student to set their own pace through the sequence of the courses in their program. The mixed-format options provide students with flexible online course content and immersive in-person learning. 

Julia Aughenbaugh serves as the program manager and begins planning each Summer Institute one year in advance. “None of this would have been possible without Julia's hard work,” says Chris Liang, Chair, Department of Education & Human Services and a faculty member for the program. “Huge kudos to Julia and our partners at Thammasat for their hospitality.” 

Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles” and participants in the Summer Institute came away with many happy memories and stronger connections. “[The Institute is] an opportunity for us to bring our students together but also build community, which we feel strongly about,” says Liang. It's what sets us apart from other programs—we have the rigor, we have the science to practice, but we also make sure to demonstrate our care.” For Liang and Aughenbaugh, Thailand felt like a great fit because it is a culture with similar beliefs about community and building connection.

Faculty recognize that youth mental health issues are a concern all across the world, including in international schools. Part of learning how to better support students, no matter what country they're in is learning about and respecting cultural differences. “In some countries, the stigma for seeking mental health is so much greater than it is here in the U. S.,” Liang explains. “And so when INCO students come to our program, they're learning helping skills to support a number of students’ issues, in a culturally responsive way.” 

Evidence-based practice is the cornerstone of Lehigh’s College of Education. “Evidence-based decision making that includes the voices of participants at all levels matters to me,” says Loveridge. “Having learned from some of the absolute best professionals in counseling and special education, ethics, and more, I feel very much a part of the profession now, as I move closer and closer to securing my first official role in counseling in an international school.” 

The Institute faculty encourage and facilitate students learning from each other. Cross pollination of ideas between students coming from a variety of countries and experiences, also makes the program unique. “We provide some structure, the science, and the evidence behind the learning, but then we make sure that students have ample opportunity to share ideas because that's where we all grow,” says Liang.

Aughenbaugh is hard at work planning next year’s Summer Institute in a yet-to-be-announced European location. Learn more about COE’s Global Programs.
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