Global Awareness Program

Florida International University

College of Education

FLORIDA ICONS

International Communications and Negotiation Simulation

The International Communications and Negotiation Simulation (ICONS) Project offers students the opportunity to put theory into practice. Initiated by the Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland, ICONS is a worldwide, multi-institutional, computer-assisted simulation that thrusts students into the world of high-powered international negotiations.


ICONS Regional Negotiation Centers

The ICONS Regional Negotiation Centers program is based on the idea that schools within a limited geographic region have common curricular or substantive needs. These needs can be addressed by adapting the ICONS simulation to focus on this regional issues. This tailoring of issues establishes concrete links between the students' real-world environment and the simulation experience. The result is the active involvement of students in their own learning. Each of the four Regional Negotiation Centers has a unique focus that is explored against the backdrop of the contemporary international system.

Florida

The Florida Regional Negotiation Center became operational in Fall 1993, and is housed in the Global Awareness Program of Florida International University (FIU). In the 1995-96 academic year, ICONS was supported by a grant from the Roblee Foundation. The focus of this simulation is on countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the topics addressed include immigration, human rights, international trade, and the environment---issues of special concern to the population of South Florida. Recently, the ICONS program has expanded to address global issues in Asian-Pacific rim. This program is specifically directed toward enhancing English language skills for bilingual students.

For more information about Florida ICONS Regional Center, contact: