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Sport as a Vehicle for Cross-Cultural Education Alliance for International Education Doha, Qatar October 2012 R. Baker, C. Esherick , Ahmed AL Emadi , & P. Baker. Sport is. A universal language A valuable vehicle for nations and societies to build relationships
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Sport as a Vehicle for Cross-Cultural EducationAlliance for International EducationDoha, QatarOctober 2012R. Baker, C. Esherick, Ahmed AL Emadi, & P. Baker
Sport is • A universal language • A valuable vehicle for nations and societies to build relationships • A vehicle for individuals from diverse cultures to engage with one another • A vehicle to promote cross-cultural understanding
The purpose of this session is fourfold: • to examine the foundations of the use of sport for socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational purposes; • to provide examples of successful use of sport toward these ends, • to identify strategies through which sport can be a valuable mechanism in enhancing cross-cultural understanding, and • to address the assessment of social, economic, diplomatic, and/or educational objectives of sport-based initiatives.
The foundations of the use of sport for socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational purpose • Sport is a valuable & visible contributor to the global economy (Fort 2003; Plunkett 2010). • Sport is also a social institution that can influence society on a large scale (Coakley, 2007). • Given its structural power and universality, sport is useful in promoting socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational objectives (Wolf, 1990). • Top-down social, economic, diplomatic, or educational initiatives are common, and receive the majority of resources and attention, but the bottom-up tact is essential in humanizing stakeholders and building mutual understanding (Beer & Nohria, 2000)
The foundations of the use of sport for socioeconomic, diplomatic, and educational purpose • Top-down change might have a more immediate economic upside; whereas bottom-up change may be more costly but yield sustainable results. • Facilitating direct contact via sport among diverse groups can lessen hostility, break down stereotypes, remove fear, increase knowledge. and foster more tolerant attitudes (Allport 1954). • The very nature of sports creates close proximity, promotes common objectives, and requires joint contributions for success. • On a local level, sport is an arena for individual engagement and exchange.
Sports are an ice breaker • they permit us to have conversationswith people we don't like or don't know or don't trust • those conversations lead to world trade or to peace or to education or to opportunity
Examples of successful use of sport for cross-cultural understanding
Strategies utilizing sport to facilitate cross-cultural understanding
Assessing social, economic, diplomatic, and/or educational objectives of sport-based initiatives • Consider Mixed Methods Approach • Quantitative Pre- Post- Survey • Qualitative Analysis of Comments • Video Analysis • Conduct Follow On • Action Plan Implementation • Surveys • Social Media
Questions? *Dr. Robert E. Baker rbaker2@gmu.edu George Mason University *Mr. Craig Esherickcesheric@gmu.edu George Mason University *Dr. Ahmed AL Emadiahmed1963@hotmail.com Qatar University *Dr. Pamela Baker pbaker5@gmu.edu George Mason University