Announcing…
35th International Seminar on the Integration of Faith and Learning
Hong Kong Adventist College, March 11-23, 2007
Sponsors. The 35th Faith and Learning Seminar is co-sponsored by the Institute for Christian Teaching (a service of the General Conference Department of Education) and the Education Department of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, with additional support from The Foundation for Adventist Education. It will be offered on the campus of Hong Kong Adventist College, March 11-23, 2007.
Participants. This interdisciplinary seminar is open to educational leaders as well as to administrators, teachers, and researchers from Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities who hold a minimum of a master’s degree and can communicate in English. Participants will be selected on the basis of an essay proposal submitted with the application, with preference given to college/university administrators and education directors.
Background. More than 600 Adventist educators have participated in the 34 previous seminars of the Institute for Christian Teaching, which have been held in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, England, France, Ghana, Germany, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States. Over 600 essays on the integration of faith with various academic and professional fields, prepared by seminar participants, along with many relevant articles, have been published in the Christ in the Classroom collection, which now includes 33 volumes. Sets of this collection are available in the libraries of Adventist colleges and universities worldwide. A selection of these essays can be downloaded free from the Institute’s website: http://ict.adventist.org.
Objectives. The main objectives of this interdisciplinary seminar are:
· To provide participants an opportunity and a context for focused study, reflection, and discussion of the essentials of Seventh-day Adventist educational philosophy and their implications for teaching, learning, administration, and research.
· To familiarize participants with the basic concepts of the integration of faith, values, learning, and profession, its bibliography, and their application in educational settings.
· To assist participants in the refinement of a publishable essay that will bring to bear on his or her area of activity the essentials of Adventist educational philosophy and the concepts of faith and learning integration.
· To enable participants to become initiators or supporters of the process of integrating faith, values, teaching, learning, and administration among their colleagues in their respective educational contexts.
Program. The theme of the seminar will be “Conveying Biblical Beliefs and Christian Values Through Adventist Education.” Participants selected will receive a set of basic books to read in advance of the seminar. During the first week of the program, lecturers and participants will review the major worldviews and educational philosophies, and examine their implications for Christian educators, administrators, and researchers. The second week will be devoted to a review of the integration of faith, values, and learning in academic and professional areas. In the meantime, each participant will expand an essay in his or her academic/professional field, which will then be presented in draft form to the group during the closing sessions. Above all, participants will enjoy the time for concentrated reading and reflection, as well as the stimulating exchanges among colleagues and guest lecturers from various cultural backgrounds.
Finances. The financing of this seminar will be undertaken as follows:
· Each employing organization is expected to continue the salary of the educators selected and provide for their travel and the cost of the meals while he or she attends the seminar. The three daily meals on campus will cost US$15.00.
· Hong Kong Adventist College will provide local transportation, will house the participants in the campus residences free of charge, and will make available the meeting facilities as well as library access and computer use.
· The seminar co-sponsors will contract the lecturers, cover the cost of the basic books and duplicating on campus, and provide travel assistance as follows: US$150.00 to participants coming to Hong Kong from within the Northern Asia-Pacific Division; $300.00 to those coming from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division or the South Pacific Division; and $450.00 to participants from other divisions.
Applications. Adventist teachers, administrators, and educational leaders who hold a graduate degree are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Printed application forms may be secured from academic administrators on each campus, from Dr. Chek-Yat Phoon (), or from Mrs. Linda Torske at the General Conference Education Department () Application forms may also be downloaded from the Institute website, http://ict.adventist.org.
Application forms must be submitted to Mrs. Linda Torske as attachments to an e-mail message or via fax: 301-622-9627. The deadline for receiving the completed application at the General Conference Education Department is November 15, 2006.
Selection. The Selection Committee will take into account the originality and relevance of the essay proposal submitted, while maintaining a balance among the institutions and disciplines represented. It is expected that 25 participants will be chosen.
Before applying, interested individuals are urged to review the latest volume in the Christ in the Classroom series (available at all Adventist college and university libraries) in order to acquaint themselves with the subjects and format, and to avoid submitting proposals for topics already covered. The preliminary pages of the latest volume contain a comprehensive "Subject Index to the Essays." This index can also be obtained by requesting a free copy of the ICT Catalogue from the General Conference Education Department. A selection of these essays may be downloaded free from the Institute’s website: http://ict.adventist.org.
Notification. Candidates selected will be notified by December 1, 2006, and will be given one week to accept or decline the appointment. Alternates will also be notified by the same date and will be contacted immediately in the event that any first-round candidate declines the invitation. It is expected that the final roster will be confirmed by December 15, 2006.
Honorarium. The Institute will grant an honorarium of US$200.00 to participants who, two months after the seminar, submit a publishable essay to be included in the next volume of the Christ in the Classroom series, which will be made available free to the authors as well as to the libraries of Adventist colleges and universities worldwide.