Demystifying Outcomes Assessment for International Educators

“Few words strike fear in the hearts of post-secondary teachers more than 'assessment'. Darla K. Deardorff provides relief from this fear by removing the mystery from the process of assessment. She places it within the healthy context of enabling teachers to see if their work is actually accomplishing what they intend for it to accomplish, and, on a broader scale, if the overall mission of the institution is being achieved. Deardorff takes time to define all of the technical terms so that even those who feel like novices in this domain understand the issues, making it an easy read. The second half of the book is comprised entirely of appendices, full of succinct guidelines on how to create and implement an assessment plan along with examples of tools and processes used at various schools.”

Reflective Teaching (Wabash Center)

“Darla Deardorff is uniquely qualified to contribute an important text on outcomes assessment for international educators. Her introduction to this volume is an essential beginning for readers interested in finding an overview of purpose and content. This book is aimed at international educators who have no background in assessment but understand that they must engage in providing credible evidence of the effectiveness of their work and need an accessible introduction to the application of evaluation techniques in their field.

For international educators seeking a primer on outcomes assessment in their field, Darla Deardorff has provided an excellent resource. In future years we can anticipate additional significant contributions to the assessment literature from this competent scholar.”

Trudy W. Banta, Professor of Higher Education and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Academic Planning and Evaluation

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

"In the service of international outcomes assessment, this book provides an accessible introduction to the uninitiated, reassurance to the intimidated, and new insights to the accustomed practitioner. An indispensable book for international educators who recognize the value in demonstrating the transformative results of their work to their campus constituencies."

Dr. Harvey Charles, President

Association of International Education Administrators

"Dr. Deardorff's book is an invaluable resource for institutional leaders concerned with assessing global competencies, an increasingly critical area of learning for students in the twenty-first century."

Dr. Jenifer Cushman, President-Elect

Association of International Education Administrators

"Without outcomes assessment is very difficult to make a more compelling case in favor of international education. The new publication authored by Darla Deardorff provides a comprehensive, easy to read, and refreshing view on this important topic. A necessary reading for international education practitioners."

Francisco Marmolejo, Tertiary Education Coordinator

Education Global Practice, The World Bank

“Strategic internationalization has rapidly become one of the most significant trends within higher education. With precision and purpose, Dr. Deardorff provides a rigorous and flexible model to measure, evaluate and showcase key student-based outcomes associated with international education initiatives. With its focus on inputs and approach, her work helps us measure outcomes and impact (what counts in international education), and makes an invaluable contribution to the community.”

Clay Hensley, Senior Director

International Strategy & Outreach, The College Board

“This is a terrific book that will be enormously useful to international education professionals who are involved in the important work of assessing student learning outcomes.”

Brian Whalen, CEO

Forum on Education Abroad

"This will be an enormously useful book for international educators. Thoroughly grounded in the literature and in good practice, it addresses the imperative of assessment in a clear user-friendly and practical manner."

Madeleine F. Green, Senior Fellow

International Association of Universities and NAFSA: The Association of International Educators

"It is certainly time to pay more attention to the impact of internationalization on student learning outcomes in universities and colleges. The practical resources and guidance presented in this book will be welcomed by many working the field."

Professor Betty Leask, Pro Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning

La Trobe University, Australia

“Internationalization of Higher Education is evolving and is becoming a definite academic field. To develop it further in an academic discipline a book like this, written by one of the most experienced researchers in the field of assessment of higher education internationalization, will guide future studies by practitioners and other researchers. It could synchronize the outcomes of future studies that in turn should influence the development of philosophies that will guide higher education internationalization.”

Prof. Nico Jooste

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

"As educational study-abroad programs have become more diverse, it has become more challenging for international educators to ensure quality and assess student learning outcomes. In this important book, Darla Deardorff stresses the importance of well-designed and fully-equipped assessment programs, and she provides critical reference material for us to use as a basis for our assessments."

Prof. Shingo Ashizawa

Toyo University, Japan

"Assessing outcomes and impacts from internationalizing higher education, especially those related to student learning, is essential to demonstrating payoffs from investing scarce time, money and effort in international education. This book is timely in presenting a number of salient issues needing attention in order to produce valid and useful assessment results about international education."

Prof. John K. Hudzik

Michigan State University

"Globalization is changing the way the world works, and colleges and universities around the world must prepare their students to be successful in a global economy. This excellent new publication provides practical and valuable advice on how to measure the impact and outcomes of campus-based international education initiatives."

Daniel Obst, Deputy Vice President

Institute of International Education (IIE)

"With characteristic practical bend, Darla Deadorff reviews current work on assessment of student learning and applies it to intercultural education. The book is of interest to professionals in international education interested in familiarizing themselves with assessment and intercultural learning.”

Veronica Boix-Mansilla

Harvard University

"Deardorff takes what can be a burdensome, albeit necessary process for any education abroad office and breaks it down into practical, practicable chunks. For those who have long wanted a roadmap for outcomes assessment in international education, this book is a must-have resource."

Amanda Toler Kelso, Global Education

Duke University