Marina Falasca
Country Director for Argentina
Marina Falasca, an accomplished educator with an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Adult and Higher Education from South Dakota State University, and a Masters in Area Studies from Virginia Tech University, currently serves as a full-time Lecturer at a major university in Buenos Aires (UTN) in Argentina. With a background as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant of Spanish and a full-time instructor, Marina’s teaching focus spans TEFL Methods, Curriculum Design, English for Specific Purposes, Multimedia Learning, Discourse Analysis, and Introduction to Educational Research. Additionally, she lectures on Didactics in Higher Education at a prestigious teacher training college in Buenos Aires. Marina’s commitment extends beyond teaching, as she is deeply passionate about research and global/intercultural projects, rooted in her Fulbright experience. As the new Country Director for Argentina, Marina aims to advance global education and foster intercultural exchanges through virtual workshops, forums, and ongoing support initiatives. Her dedication to these pursuits has already earned her the Presidential Award of distinction as a culmination of the STAR-certified training.
In our ongoing tradition of recognizing outstanding contributions within the STAR Scholars Network, we turn our spotlight to the exceptional work of Marina Falasca, our dedicated Country Director for Argentina. Her passion for education and commitment to fostering academic collaboration have been instrumental in strengthening the STAR community’s global presence.
Q1: What inspired you to become a part of the STAR Scholars Network as the Country Director for Argentina?
Marina: “I found out about STAR through a like-minded friend and scholar, Dr Mousumi Mukherjee. Per her recommendation, I decided to apply for the Country Director position, which I was granted after having successfully completed the STAR Certified Research Training. This training was a transformative experience, where I learned about STAR’s mission and vision while I also gained invaluable research and leadership skills. In particular, I was deeply inspired by STAR’s mission to connect scholars, researchers, and educators worldwide. I saw this as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on higher education in Argentina and beyond. I truly value being part of a network that fosters international collaboration and knowledge sharing. It aligns perfectly with my own professional goals.”
Q2: Can you share some highlights of your activities as the Country Director of Argentina for the STAR Scholars Network over the past year?
Marina: “Certainly! Over the past year, we’ve made significant strides in strengthening STAR’s presence in Argentina. One of our key achievements was organizing a successful international webinar on ‘Diversifying Learning Activities in the Classroom: Fostering Lifelong Learning in Higher Education.’ This event was facilitated by Dr Shyam Sharma and it brought together scholars and educators from Canada and different provinces across Argentina. Through insightful discussions and hands-on tasks, the participants were equipped with numerous activities and strategies to make class meetings more student-centered in higher education.”
Q3: How have you promoted academic collaboration and networking among scholars in Argentina and globally?
Marina: “To foster academic collaboration, we initiated a series of virtual networking sessions and workshops, providing scholars in Argentina with opportunities to connect with peers from around the world. Our most successful initiative was a workshop on “Using Design Thinking to Foster Global Competence”, which was facilitated by Dr Karina Baum and Mr Gustavo Carrera. This event involved educators and teacher trainers from Colombia, Argentina and the U.S. and it was co-hosted with Dr Andrea Lee, STAR Country Director for USA. We’ve also actively engaged with local universities and institutions to promote partnerships and research collaborations, ensuring that Argentina remains an integral part of the global higher education community.”
Q4: What initiatives have you led or been involved in during your tenure as the Country Director?
Marina: “As part of our commitment to academic excellence, we conducted the first STAR training in Argentina, which I designed and developed based on the STAR Certified Research Training model in an attempt to help educators across the country to advance global education locally and internationally. Additionally, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to STAR’s initiatives, including the preliminary planning and design of an asynchronous training for upcoming Country Directors, where they will be given the opportunity to learn about the organization’s overarching mission as well as to acquire practical tools and strategies to devise a roadmap for their 2-year position in alignment with the network’s global vision”.
Q5: What message would you like to convey to fellow members of the STAR Scholars Network and aspiring scholars in Argentina?
Marina: “I would like to encourage everyone to actively engage with STAR and take advantage of the incredible opportunities it offers, including international forums and publications to provide educational solutions. Whether you’re a seasoned scholar or just starting your academic journey, STAR gives you the possibility to sponsor, host, and/or participate in events and activities that contribute to the global higher education community. Together, we can make a positive impact on the future of education through innovative initiatives and inspiring partnerships.”
As we celebrate Marina’s remarkable achievements, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her unwavering dedication to advancing higher education in Argentina and for her valuable contributions to the STAR Scholars Network. Her passion and commitment exemplify the spirit of STAR, and we look forward to witnessing even greater accomplishments in the future.
If you would like to connect with Marina or learn more about the initiatives in Argentina, please feel free to reach out to her at marinafalasca@gmail.com.
This feature story was developed by Dr. Bo Zhang, STAR Director of Communications, on the basis of information shared by Marina Falasca, the STAR Country Director of Argentina. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the STAR Scholars Network, where we continue to shine a spotlight on excellence in academia and international education.