Public SoTL Scholarship ICWGs: 2025 Call for Co-Leaders

Overview

Structured as intentional collaborations that bring together ISSOTL members of all ranks and regions in focused inquiry, International Collaborative Writing Groups (ICWGs) embody both the spirit and the work of ISSOTL. ICWG-Public cohorts focus on writing for audiences beyond the educational community to produce public SoTL, or works of public scholarship informed by SoTL. 2025 brings our second offering of the ICWG Public track. This year, we are seeking co-leaders who are passionate about SoTL’s influence within the Society and beyond to build on the conference theme Exploring the Changing Landscapes of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

The public model of ICWGs spotlight the SoTL community’s potential for international, multidisciplinary advocacy within and beyond higher education in the service of SoTL as contributing to the public good of higher education. ICWG aims and outcomes include:

• Build the capacity of participants to innovate and work effectively in international collaborative groups,
• Promote the sharing of SoTL-based knowledge through alternative modes and venues,
• Develop effective examples of SoTL as public scholarship, extending its purpose toward advocacy, its audiences toward a broader public, its products toward more public forms of communication, and its influence beyond courses and academic programs.

Co-leaders for this effort will facilitate a collegial process that generates new work to share SoTL outside the boundaries of our Society and even outside the boundaries of academia, to bring new stakeholders and partners to an understanding of SoTL. For further information, view this collection of video interviews with former ICWG participants.

ISSOTL invites applications from current ISSOTL members to co-lead the Public SoTL ICWGs.  It is anticipated that two individuals will be selected as co-leaders. This is an exciting leadership opportunity for ISSOTL members who are:

• passionate about the field’s potential for broader influence,
• committed to collaborative SoTL,
• interested in (and perhaps experienced with) exploring how SoTL can be shared outside of traditional forms of scholarly publication, and 
• committed to working in international partnerships.

Co-Leaders’ Roles & Responsibilities

Co-leaders will organize the ISSOTL Public cohorts to meet the above aims and deadlines of the project. Partnering with ISSOTL Board members, the co-leaders will take the lead in doing the following:

Before the ICWG: 

• Organize the separate calls for group facilitators and participants (templates provided),
• Select the facilitators and participants for each group
• Plan and facilitate all aspects of the pre-conference face-to-face meeting with group facilitators and participants, including activities to develop these alternative forms of scholarship,
• Liaise with local conference organizers in Christchurch regarding the venue and resources for the face-to-face meeting before the ISSOTL conference

During the ICWG:

• Support the group facilitators in their work to prepare their groups for the pre-conference face-to-face working session
• Help facilitators and groups to think broadly and creatively about what Public SoTL might look like,
• Identify needed resources and expertise.

After ICWG @ ISSOTL25 Conference:

• Work with the group facilitators to support the continued development and completion of projects (including providing feedback on the project), and
• Report to and consult with ISSOTL Board members.

Selection Process and Criteria

The selected co-leaders, who will ideally represent different institutions and different countries, should demonstrate that between them they have the necessary experience and skills to lead this initiative to successful completion.  Potential co-leaders may apply as individuals or together; however, they do not need to identify a partner to apply to be a co-leader. Public ICWG co-leaders will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Evidence of a sustained or growing interest in SoTL outreach and advocacy,
• experience with or strong interest in exploring SoTL’s potential according to the vision of public SoTL,
• demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate and motivate group efforts, particularly diverse groups (ICWG groups will be made up of faculty, staff, and students from different nations, disciplines, identities/backgrounds),
• competence in organizational skills and time management, and
• enthusiasm for leading a new ISSOTL initiative.

Application requirements:

1. Cover letter outlining your interest and experience aligned with the criteria above
2. CV
3. Please email Amy.Dejaeger@umanitoba.ca by March 14, 2025. ISSOTL board members will recommend co-leaders, who will be approved by the board.

Relevant Resources for Envisioning the Public ICWGs 

• Mick Healey’s “Reflections on the Development of International Collaborative Writing Groups (ICWGs) about Teaching and Learning in Higher Education” in The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and  Learning: 8(3)
• Jennifer Friberg’s “Neil deGrasse Tyson and Community-Based SoTL Advocacy — Recommendations Inspired by a Popular Science Icon” post on The SoTL Advocate
• The ISSOTL Advocacy Committee’s work on SoTL’s “Grand Challenges”
• Nancy Chick’s closing plenary at the ISSOTL2019 conference (and her earlier blog post, “SoTL as Public Scholarship”)
• Brady Krien’s “Take Your Scholarship Public” and Diana Brazzell’s “Public Engagement and the Future of the University” from Inside Higher Education