Global Conversations
Global Conversations connects students around the world in engaging and open conversations about issues that matter to you.
Themes
Overview
From civil disobedience to gender-based violence and discrimination, human rights are a complex and important topic in the discussion of our world today. In this theme, we will discuss what being a human means and warrants, and how that definition of “human rights” is changed and shaped by the societies, governments, and cultures we live in today.
Student Leader
Rachael Fields (fieldsra@bc.edu)
Conversation Topics
- Advocacy around the world
- Self-expression
- Workers rights
- Migration/Refugee
- Drug Policy and Criminalization
Conversations
To join a conversation, register using this form. The theme leader will contact you with further details.
Questions? Email the BC coordinator listed under each Theme to ask questions or suggest new topics.
Overview
In this theme, we plan to discuss various global health and wellness topics including the Covid-19 Pandemic and other diseases such as Ebola, mental health, government sponsored health programs, healthcare, and more. We will discuss how politics and religion intertwined with health, specifically how politics and religion affects mental health and people's attitudes toward diseases.
Student Leader
Vincent Sablich (sablichv@bc.edu)
Conversation Topics
- Comparing attitudes and policies with respect to Ebola and Covid
- Mental health stigma and policies
- Catholic and Buddhist perspectives on mental health
- United States healthcare compared to other countries
Conversations
To join a conversation, register using this form. The theme leader will contact you with further details.
Questions? Email the BC coordinator listed under each Theme to ask questions or suggest new topics.
Overview
This theme will explore the global economic system, including all economic activities conducted both within and between nations. We will be discussing topics on production, consumption, economic management, work in general, exchange of financial values, and trade of goods and services. We will also compare different economic systems and their impact on the world.
Student Leader
Laura Bianchi (bianchil@bc.edu)
Conversation Topics
- Capitalism Under a Blacklight
- Inflation Around the World
- The Next Economic Power
- Economic Developments
- Unemployment Rate post COVID
- The Impact of the Ukrainian War on the World's Economy
Conversations
Conversations about the topics below have begun or are planned with partner universities around the world:
To join a conversation, register using this form. The theme leader will contact you with further details.
Questions? Email the BC coordinator listed under each theme to ask questions or suggest new topics.
Overview
We all have the right to an equitable and just experience of our Earth. However, malpractice and inconsideration have led to dreadful environmental conditions around the world. As millions continue to suffer the detriments of pollution and destruction to our resources, it is critical that we make our strongest efforts in upholding preservation. Whether developing renewable energy sources or regulating climate policies, environmental justice is a key issue of intersectionality that will define our era and we must continue to speak on it.
Student Leaders
Jane Paulson (paulsoja@bc.edu)
Conversation Topics
- Defending our Oceans – Acidification, Biodiversity Loss & Pollution
- Tourist Threat – Abusing Vulnerability
- COP 27 – The Future of Policy
Conversations
To join a conversation, register using this form. The theme leader will contact you with further details.
Questions? Email the BC coordinator listed under each theme to ask questions or suggest new topics.
Overview
The World Today is a well-rounded GC theme that encompasses a large variety of subjects. From political disputes to climate change to the global economy. The World Today aims to provide participants with different perspectives and understandings as to the state we are in. As global citizens, we do not stand aloof from events that are happening in the opposite side of the world; we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the various conflicts and injustices that threaten to devour our current, (seemingly) peaceful world order. All in all, we hope that participants who walk away from our conversations will do so upon learning a different perspective regarding the world we live in today.
Student Leaders
Rongwei Zhu (zhuut@bc.edu)
Conversation Topics
- Possibility of a future “world order?”
- Conflict in the Middle East and its implications
- Conflict in the Taiwan strait and its implications
- The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War
- Climate change and its lasting effects on humanity
- The UN: a success or failure?
- NATO: a success or failure?
Conversations
To join a conversation, register using this form. The theme leader will contact you with further details.
Questions? Email the BC coordinator listed under each theme to ask questions or suggest new topics.
Overview
How people around the world, despite differences in language or costumes, get connected with a common appreciation of each other’s cultural products such as food, music, literature, and so on. Our world is inextricably connected in many ways, impacting individuals and cultures. We'll engage in discussions of how interconnectedness has affected our lives such as study abroad experiences, sharing of culture (music, food, etc), and global citizenship.
Student Leaders
Neil Li (liaro@bc.edu)
Conversation Topics
- How and Why Should we Study Abroad?
- Cultural Exchange and Influence in the Arts
- Korean food, K-Drama
- Japanese martial art
- College in a Globalized Society (US & China)
Conversations
To join a conversation, register using this form. The theme leader will contact you with further details.
Questions? Email the BC coordinator listed under each theme to ask questions or suggest new topics.
Sign Up
Step 1: See what's planned
Review this spreadsheet to see conversations that are already scheduled.
Step 2: Sign up
- If you see a scheduled conversation (with a date) that includes the university you attend, sign up for scheduled conversations using this form.
- If you see a conversation that includes the university you attend, but it has no date or says "(TBD)," that means the conversation is still being planned. Register your interest in planned (but not scheduled) conversations using this form.
- If you don't see a conversation that includes your university, or you want to propose a new one, initiate your own conversation using this form.
Step 3: Make it happen
The Global Conversations committee will use the information from these forms to structure a conversation with BC students and non-BC students, and select student leaders for the conversation. Each conversation requires one student leader/facilitator from each university. (Read more here about student leaders.)
Student leaders take it from there.
- When there is a student leader on each side, these leaders will come together to set a date & time for the conversation, create a videoconference link, and come up with 3 main guiding questions plus a few background questions to facilitate the conversation. Sign-ups can begin during this stage.
- Student leaders make sure there are enough participants, and that each participant shows up at the proper time.
- When sign-ups are complete, the conversation will take place!
- Afterwards, leaders will share a post-conversation survey. Groups can keep in touch and decide to meet again, connecting via email or another preferred platform.
Global Conversations are reserved for student participants, but university faculty, staff, and administrators are crucial contributors to the project.
Here are a few ways faculty, staff and administrators can contribute to the project:
- Integrate Global Conversations into your class. We can help plan and organize the conversations!
- Recommend Global Conversations to a colleague, a student club, or students at your university.
- Share the idea with colleagues around the world.
Our contact info to share:
- web site: www.bc.edu/global-conversations
- email: global.conversations@bc.edu
- Instagram: @bcglobalconversations
Step 1: See what's planned
Review this spreadsheet to see conversations that are already scheduled.
Step 2: Sign up
- If you see a scheduled conversation (with a date) that includes the university you attend, sign up for scheduled conversations using this form.
- If you see a conversation that includes the university you attend, but it has no date or says "(TBD)," that means the conversation is still being planned. Register your interest in planned (but not scheduled) conversations using this form.
- If you don't see a conversation that includes your university, or you want to propose a new one, initiate your own conversation using this form.
Step 3: Make it happen
The Global Conversations committee will use the information from these forms to structure a conversation with BC students and non-BC students, and select student leaders for the conversation. Each conversation requires one student leader/facilitator from each university. (Read more here about student leaders.)
Student leaders take it from there.
- When there is a student leader on each side, these leaders will come together to set a date & time for the conversation, create a videoconference link, and come up with 3 main guiding questions plus a few background questions to facilitate the conversation. Sign-ups can begin during this stage.
- Student leaders make sure there are enough participants, and that each participant shows up at the proper time.
- When sign-ups are complete, the conversation will take place!
- Afterwards, leaders will share a post-conversation survey. Groups can keep in touch and decide to meet again, connecting via email or another preferred platform.
Be a Leader
Hear from some of our current student leaders.
If you are interested in meeting like-minded people around the world, being a conversation leader is the perfect role for you! As a Global Conversation student leader, you will have the opportunity to engage in discussions about present-day topics with students from all the over the world. From a range of topics -- Global Health, The World Today, Environmental Justice, Human Rights in the World, The Global Economy, and Cultural Connections -- you can actively engage with ideas and perspectives shared by international university students.
Hear testimonials from some of our current student leaders by watching our video, "Introducing Global Conversations."
Before the conversation:
Pick the conversation topic that you want to lead.
A theme leader from the leadership committee will notify you of the student leader at the other university you'll be speaking with.Collaborate with the student conversation leader(s) from the other university.
>> Set a date and time for your conversation
>> Brainstorm at least 3 main discussion questions for the conversationRecruit participants by spreading the word about the conversation.
>> Reach out to committee members for support
>> Email professors/ departments/programs/ clubs that might be interested in the conversationSend out sign-up confirmation emails 24 hours in advance.
During the conversation:
Introduce yourself and the topic, and invite others to introduce themselves
Facilitate an open, respectful environment
Enjoy the conversation!
Send out our post-conversation survey
After the conversation:
Let the theme leaders know how your conversation went!
>> Email us at global.conversations@bc.edu
FAQ
Each conversation has a student leader from each university who helps to plan and structure the conversation in coordination with one another. Student leaders are peers, not "experts" who lecture the group about a topic.
They correspond before the conversation to confirm the topics and plan a few questions for the session. Additionally, they are responsible for making sure students at their university attend the session they signed up for.
We need student leaders for every conversation, and we invite students to lead multiple sessions according to your interests, language skills, and availability.
Read more about becoming a student leader.
No, there is no fee or cost to participate.
The conversations are typically an informal, hour-long discussion with a group of 8 to 10 people (half BC students and half from another university). These conversations tend to be very casual, and students end up discussing what is most interesting to them about their topic, including jokes, personal anecdotes, and more! You can watch our informational video here, and check out our “Past Conversations” gallery to learn more!
To foster connectivity and solidarity during these particularly challenging times, the Global Conversations project provides a unique platform on which we connect students from around to world to engage on important and ethical topics of their choice. Beyond that, students who choose to lead conversations get a chance to hone their leadership and facilitation, intercultural communication, and event planning skills! For students that have an interest in international affairs, it serves as a wonderful chance to gain experience in multicultural exchange!
No, the conversations are reserved for students. This ensures peer-to-peer conversations that can be more open and equal, without worries about expertise or seniority getting in the way of direct conversation.
But we encourage faculty members to share information about Global Conversations with their peers and students, to recommend student leaders, and most importantly, to consider using Global Conversations as part of their class requirements or extra credit: these conversations build intercultural communication skills and can be a great way to hear new and diverse perspectives on the topics you're teaching.
The time between signing up to participate and actually joining a conversation can be days or weeks, depending on a variety of factors. There are many moving parts of this organization, not least of which is the need to work with students and faculty with busy schedules in scattered time zones around the world. We are also still scaling the project up; more help planning sessions and recruiting student participants will speed up the process.
To encourage the easy exchange of ideas and lower the barrier to participation, we discourage any assigning any "homework" before a conversation. However, if a conversation focuses on a particular event (e.g. a new climate accord) or document (e.g. a new papal encyclical), it might make sense to have a short shared reading. Discuss this with your co-leader while planning the conversation if it seems appropriate.
More broadly, these conversations generally do not presume knowledge about the schools, cities, or countries you'll connect with. Come with an open mind! If certain conversations are planned around deeper levels of analysis or pre-existing knowledge, this should be made clear when seeking student participants.
You can choose to schedule as many conversations and follow-up conversations as you like. There is no requirement to keep scheduling events, but it is a great way to maintain a relationship between our universities.
Partners
Ateneo de Manila (Manila, Philippines)
Beijing International Studies University (Beijing, China)
Lebanese American University (Beirut, Lebanon)
Ca' Foscari University (Venice, Italy)
IE University (Madrid, Spain)
Peace Culture Village (Hiroshima, Japan)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago, Chile)
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogota, Colombia)
Tallinn University (Talinn, Estonia)
Tor Vergata University (Rome, Italy)
Uganda Martyrs University (Nkozi, Uganda)
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy)
University of Insubria (Como, Italy)
University of Saint Joseph (Beirut, Lebanon)
[...and many more to come!]
Office of the Vice-Provost for Global Engagement
Center for Human Rights and International Justice
International Studies Program
International Studies Student Association
[...More to come!]
Zeyad Yousif
Administrative Chair
- International Studies major
- Minors in Environmental Studies and Arabic Studies
- Senior (Class of 2023)
- Languages: Arabic, Spanish, Italian
- Hometown: Astoria, NY
- email: anwarz@bc.edu
Mar Garcia
Outreach Chair
- International Studies (Conflict & Cooperation) and Economics double major
- Senior (Class of 2023)
- Language: Spanish, French, Italian
- Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
- email: garciauj@bc.edu
Rylie O'Neil
Secretary
- International Studies major
- Junior (Class of 2024)
- Languages:
- Hometown:
- email:oneilrf@bc.edu
Theme Leaders
- Vincent Sablich '24: Global Health
- Rongwei Zhu '24: The World Today
- Laura Bianchi '23: The Global Economy
- Neil Li '25: Cultural Connections
- Jane Paulson '24: Environmental Justice
- Rachael Fields '24: Human Rights in the World
Communication Team
- Lia Snyder '24: Content Creator and General Officer
- Daisy Patrick '24: Newsletter
- Aubrey Peterson '25: Social Media
Faculty Advisor
- Prof. Erik Owens
Director, International Studies Program
Professor or the Practice, Theology Department