The Rev. Dr. Thomas V. Wolfe, IAMSCU President, has called a series of meetings in preparation for the Winter meeting of the IAMSCU Board of Directors, to be held on February 1, 2022. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic, IAMSCU has promoted a series of virtual meetings and activities because meeting in person has become difficult in many countries. With this reality, IAMSCU has actually increased its meetings, activities, and initiatives, especially because virtual meetings via internet have made it possible for people to meet without having to travel, stay at hotels, or expose themselves at in-person gatherings. This new modality has also led to savings and increased effectiveness.
In January, IAMSCU has been promoting several meetings:
- On January 13, 2022 the IAMSCU Strategic Committee is scheduled to meet to review its priorities for 2022-2023 in light of the shifting realities experienced by Methodist education worldwide. The committee includes three subcommittees: Wesleyan Heritage, Collaborations, and Funding Strategic Initiatives. Among the topics for discussion, the Committee and its subcommittees are engaged in matters such as preparing IAMSCU for the future, defining and implementing priorities, rethinking the timeframe for development in a post-pandemic world, and securing resources for programs and initiatives involving students, faculty, staff, and communities related to Methodist education worldwide.
- On January 18, 2022 the IAMSCU Executive Committee meets to prepare the IAMSCU Board of Directors meeting, evaluate reports and the development of the association, and discuss the next activities in 2022, which will prepare the association for its Joint International Conference in 2023. IAMSCU has scheduled its next conference for April 25-30, 2023 at Kingswood School, the first Methodist school founded by John Wesley in 1748. The school will be celebrating its 275th anniversary and will host Methodist educators from around the world to mark this special occasion and work together on future projects.
- On January 20, 2022, the Methodist International Student Exchange Network (MISEN) scheduled two meetings: the monthly gathering of the MISEN Executive Board and the quarterly meeting of the MISEN Advisory Board. The Executive Board coordinates student exchanges, virtual programs, and activities such as Café Alive (a virtual program involving students from five continents). The Advisory Board serves as a strategic body that promotes future-oriented approaches, provides oversight for the exchange programs, and serves as a link between MISEN and the IAMSCU Board of Directors.
These groups will be reporting to the IAMSCU Board of Directors at its meeting on February 1st, 2022.