Global Challenges: Promise and Peril in the 21st Century
This program was created as part of AASCU’s National Blended Course Consortium (NBCC) to address three pressing issues in higher education—cost, access, and quality—through the development and dissemination of technology-enhanced, interdisciplinary courses for first-year undergraduates.
What are the key challenges we face now and through the next 25-40 years?
This complete online course, developed by a cohort of AASCU institutions, works to identify these problems and their solutions. The initiative created curricular and co-curricular approaches to help students build an understanding of their role in effecting change in an increasingly interdependent global society. Developed with support from ADP, the course is open and available to faculty at any campus.
Global Challenges is part of the National Blended Course Consortium (NBCC.)
Access the Course.
About NBCC.
Program impact
74%
Six-year graduation rate compared to 50% for those who did not take the course.
75%
Students that reported much or extensive growth in deep thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving, empathy for people, media literacy, initiative and self-direction.
89%
Second-year retention rate compared to 78% for those who did not take the course.
93%
First-year retention rate compared to 80% for those who did not take the course.
Program development
This program was created as part of AASCU’s National Blended Course Consortium (NBCC), which aimed to address three pressing issues in higher education—cost, access, and quality—through the development and dissemination of technology-enhanced, interdisciplinary courses for first-year undergraduates.
NBCC courses were:
- Developed collaboratively by teams of faculty
- Focused on complex, real-world civic issues
- Delivered in a blended format (in-person and online)
- Designed to be scalable, flexible, and self-sustaining
Each of the NBCC courses has a distinct set of learning objectives, while also sharing a common focus on developing students’ civic engagement, critical thinking and communication skills. For more information about this initiative and to preview some of our interactive online modules, please visit this website.
Supporting Organizations
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