GMercyU EdD Students Participate in Virtual Residency with MIC

Gwynedd Mercy University collaborated with Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in Limerick, Ireland to deliver online seminars as part of their Global Trends in Education 2021 Virtual Residency for their Executive Doctorate in Education: Leadership and Teaching & Learning.

This year, numerous speakers contributed to this closed event which offered presentations on the changing landscape of higher education during COVID-19, education for persons with disabilities, social justice in Ireland, and more.

"I greatly appreciate this partnership and I commend MIC for its contribution to our doctoral students' development as scholars," said Raymond Bandlow, PhD, GMercyU's Director of Doctoral Studies. "To provide GMercyU students with a valuable alternative experience without international travel this year, MIC conducted live virtual sessions with presentations by and discussions with leading faculty, administrators, and Irish government officials. I look forward to 2022 in hopes that we will once again be able to bring our students to MIC in person where we've enjoyed deep learning and most thoughtful hospitality."

Plans to conduct the usual in-person May residency in Ireland had to be postponed in 2020 and again this year, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Dr. Bandlow asked MIC's International Office if a virtual residency would be possible. Conscious of the solid, professional relationship that has been nurtured between MIC and the staff at GMercyU over the years, colleagues at MIC were happy to oblige.

"We at Mary Immaculate College really cherish the partnership that we have built with Dr. Bandlow and his colleagues over the past few years," said Holly Cowman, MIC's Director of International Engagement. "It has been a pleasure to host students and staff from GMercyU at our International Research Methods Summer School and we are so glad that a little thing like the Atlantic Ocean didn't keep us apart this year when travel was suspended."

Since 2016, Dr. Bandlow has brought numerous EdD students to MIC in May for their Global Education Residency. This usually involves taking part in MIC's International Research Methods Summer School (IRMSS), focusing on themes of leadership in schools, communities, and society. Most of the students are principals and educational leaders at primary, secondary, and tertiary level institutions. GMercyU plans to bring a large cohort to MIC in May 2022 for the International Research Methods Summer School (IRMSS).

Additionally, Dr. Bandlow will be a featured co-speaker on Inside Higher Ed's upcoming webcast event: Dissertation Support and Its Positive Effect on Grad Outcomes. The webcast will be taking place on Tuesday, May 25, at2:00 p.m. He will be presenting a powerful solution to a common problem that all doctoral stakeholders, students, and program administrators alike share: retention and graduation. To learn more about his presentation and register, click here.