Reflections on the NAFSA IE Competencies: Leadership
Editor’s note: This is the first article in a new series for 2023 that explores one of the 12 International Education Professional Competencies 2.0 in each issue of International Educator. Written by NAFSA members, each article covers how that competency is critical to the future of the field and what it looks like in practice.
As NAFSA celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, we reflect on the core competencies and skills that have led us into 2023, starting with leadership. International educators are innovative and resilient navigators, who will strengthen the field for years to come.
If there is one truth we have learned in recent years, it is that change is constant in our field. The pace of transformation is undeniably fast-moving, unpredictable, and likely to pervade our activities in the years ahead. Strong leadership skills are necessary tools to manage ambiguity and conflict in higher education settings.
Leaders as Navigators
Leadership in today’s environment undoubtedly assumes a new character in our evolving world. It is no longer the leadership of hierarchical structures and one-dimensional organizations. Today, an effective leader needs to possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a navigator who can transcend boundaries. One who can see the big picture with an eye for inclusive excellence opportunities.
A navigator scans their surroundings, listens to the markers on the path, utilizes key resources and tools of the trade, and provides a way forward—not only for the navigator, but for the followers and those leaders who
