School Counselors in International Dialogue

A collaboration with counseling counterparts at Fontys University in The Netherlands was established in early 2003.  This venture has now grown to include School Counseling, Special Education, and Science Education at Purdue in a variety of dimensions, including exchanges, research, and joint projects. 

The focus of this School Counseling dimension is on student and faculty Maymester exchanges, with Dutch professionals and Purdue graduate students alternating years with two-week experiences abroad.  This program is a rather unique grassroots endeavor which developed through cross-national professional relationships.  Rather than simply transporting a course abroad, foreign guests interact with educators and students in various schools and agencies in the host country, are involved in seminars with school professionals, and live with host families involved with Rotary International.  The purpose of the program is to nudge professionals toward "thinking outside of the box" through an in-depth experience in a national educational system which differs considerably from the system in the home country.  This immersion in a new system may initially unsettle Purdue students, since the Dutch conceptualize both school counseling and special education differently from how these areas are conceptualized in the United States. Purdue students and the Dutch professionals then begin to consider how educational systems reflect the history and culture of countries, and how international dialogue generates new perspectives on how to promote students' academic, social, and emotional development.  Prior to departure from the United States, the Purdue students study Dutch art history, colonial history, World War II history, geography of The Netherlands, European geography, and educational systems in order to be able to enter the foreign culture smoothly and to enhance the cultural experience.  Host families involve their guests in family and community life.  The Maymester central location in The Netherlands in 2004 was Hengelo; the 2006 site was Nijmegen. The 2008 site has not yet been determined.  The deadline for commitment to participate is usually prior to the end of fall semester.

2004

• Amsterdam canal
• Arrival in Amsterdam, Maymester
• Dutch sky and scene
• Maymester Group and Program Coordinators

2005

• Dutch delegation taking a break in downtown Lafayette
• Farewell to Dutch delegation

2006

• Community Agency
• Dutch School

2007

• Dutch Delegation of Educators and Counselors
• Two collaborating Dutch scholars

2008

• School Counseling Student Travelers