Global Partners in Education Journal – Special Edition   February 2020, Vol. 8, No. 1  
http://www.gpejournal.org/   ISSN 2163-758X 

Introduction to the Global Issues Conference 4 - Selected Papers 

 

Christopher Brighton 

Coordinator of Global Understanding, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA 

 

When I started the Global Issues Conference in 2014, I envisaged a forum where students 

could share their work in an international environment. The idea was to allow students to 

gain experience of academic discussion and to see how their peers in other global 

institutions were exploring similar topics and themes. Over the four conferences I have 

organized, the conference has grown to accept papers from faculty, yet it still provides a 

forum for students to share their research and to build worldwide connections. 

The current journal is a selection of articles from the Global Issues Conference 4 in March 

2019. The papers illustrate the variety of global issues being researched in member 

institutions of the Global Partners in Education organization: education, immigration and 

literature. 

The papers on Education demonstrates the benefits of the Global Understanding program 

for student learning outcomes and vocational or employability skills. Rossini and Tippin 

(ESAN in Peru) discuss the cultural learning outcomes of their students using the 

Hofstede dimensions. Alvarez et al. (IESFR in Spain) present how their institution has 

integrated the goals of Global Understanding within the framework of the Spanish Ministry 

of Education and the goals of vocational learning. Rossini and Tippin, further illustrate the 

outcomes of Global Understanding with their paper showing the practical skills students 

develop which increase their employability in Peru.  

Aidara (UTG in The Gambia) presents an in-depth analysis of migration and the 

psychological factors that migrants take into consideration when considering returning to 

the Gambia or staying abroad. Yujing Liu (SNNU in China) explores the authenticity of 

Chinese cuisine in the USA from the perspective of a Chinese visitor or migrant. Chun 

Yan Lu’s paper of famine in Shaanxi explores the consequences of forced migration of 

women (trafficking) in the 1920s in China.  

The literature papers display two contrasting discussions. The first paper by Szot and 

Warchoł (KSC in Poland) illustrates the stories behind the fairy tale myths popularized in 

Western culture. In contrast, Yuqian Liu (BTTC in China) discusses the philosophy of the 

Chinese author Zhuangzi Zhou, from the 4th century BCE. 

I would like to thank the authors for their participation and dedication to the conference 

goals and aims. The papers reflect the global nature of the GPE organization, in the way 

the authors approach their subject as well as their use of global English language and 

style. 

http://www.gpejournal.org/