International Faculty Development Partnerships

International faculty development partnerships are motivated by a desire to achieve mutual goals. They are also a response to the globalization of health professions education, research, and practice. For participating institutions, partnerships may build global awareness, improve recruitment, and provide resources for students, faculty members, and alumni. Well-functioning partnerships allow faculty exposure to methods of teaching and learning, opportunities for research, and clinical contexts, materials, and methods that they may not encounter locally. Partnerships allow faculty to expand their networks of collaborators and the communities of scholarship in which they work. This chapter will describe various examples of international faculty development programs. We will also discuss facilitators of success for international partnerships, including the need for cultural competence, shared values, and mutual support.