Volunteering for Academic Without Borders (AWB) had always been a dream for Jill Grose, past Director of Brock's Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CPI).
The Canadian non-profit organization strives to strengthen universities in low- and middle-income countries through volunteer-led projects that focus research and local training initiatives that advance national development.
Jill Grose (front row, second from right), past Director of Brock's Centre for Pedagogical Innovation, travelled to Ghana in 2025 to deliver the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) program for nine faculty members at the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies. She will share her experiences as an Academic Without Borders volunteer during an online seminar taking place Monday, March 23 from 11 a.m. to noon as part of SDG Month at Brock.
As an AWB volunteer, Grose spent two weeks in 2025 helping to deliver the first-ever Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) program at the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) as part of an AWB project.
The initiative aimed to equip educators with practical, teaching strategies that support student learning and the facilitation skills required to help develop those same strategies in their peers.
Grose has extensive experience delivering the ISW program, which has been offered by CPI for several decades. As co-chair of the International ISW Network, she has also supported the leadership and professional development of ISW Facilitators and Trainers around the world.
"Through ISW, we work with small groups in a safe learning environment. During sessions, faculty teach lessons to their peers and receive feedback in various forms. It's very intensive and, for many, transformative," she says.
Working with fellow Trainer Cynthia Korpan, Grose introduced nine UBIDS faculty members to the four-day ISW program. Those faculty members then participated in the five-day Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW).
"The idea was to create institutional capacity by training a cohort of ISW Facilitators who could offer this teaching program to all instructors at UBIDS," she says. "The amazingly dedicated team was so committed to the work. We had a pretty intense schedule but watching how many of the values and principles of this Canadian program translate into the context and culture of Ghana's academic system was a highlight of my time. "
Grose and Korpan continue to support the facilitator team in Ghana, which recently received institutional funding to roll out the program for 30 faculty in the next few months.
"The ISW program values experiential learning, diversity of learning approaches and student centeredness. If more faculty adopt these principles, they begin to share a common language around pedagogy. This can shift institutional culture and result in a deeper educational experience for students," she says.
Grose will share her experiences during an online seminar taking place Monday, March 23 from 11 a.m. to noon as part of SDG Month at Brock.
Hosted by Brock International and CPI, the event will also welcome Corrie Young, AWB's Associate Executive Director of Projects and Networks, to share insight into the organization's mission and the significant role volunteers play in building sustainable higher education capacity around the world.
Brock is a member of AWB's network of Canadian institutions, which allows its faculty and staff to propose and participate in AWB's worldwide capacity-building volunteer projects.
Brock International shares calls for volunteers and project proposals with Faculties and departments throughout the year, which is how Grose learned about the opportunity to work in Ghana.
Looking back, she says the experience has helped her better understand the differences and similarities between education systems around the world.
"The challenges faculty face there are very similar to our own. Time spent on teaching development can be undervalued compared to research, for example, so getting institutional buy in is critical. That takes time."
The opportunity also allowed her to stay engaged with her field after retiring.
"Working in Ghana allowed me to create new collaborations and make a contribution to something I value highly," says Grose, who continues to share her expertise by leading workshops at Brock. "It was also a wonderful adventure. I learned a great deal and that helps keeps me young. I'm very grateful to AWB for this opportunity."
Anyone interested in learning more about AWB can contact Cecilia Garcia Vega, Project Officer at Brock International, or visit the Academics Without Borders website.
