21st Century U.S. 21st Century U.S. International Education International Education

ImperativesImperatives

H. Stephen StraightH. Stephen StraightProfessor of Anthropology & of LinguisticsProfessor of Anthropology & of Linguistics

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education & International Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education & International AffairsAffairs

International Education WeekInternational Education Week

November 2008November 2008

Committee for Economic Committee for Economic Development, 2006Development, 2006

► Our education system must be strengthened to … Our education system must be strengthened to … instill in all students a more in-depth, sophisticated, instill in all students a more in-depth, sophisticated, and profound understanding of America’s place in and profound understanding of America’s place in the world, of the issues and cultures of other the world, of the issues and cultures of other regions of the world, and of the international forces regions of the world, and of the international forces that affect their lives and livelihood.that affect their lives and livelihood.

  ► CED believes that the international studies and CED believes that the international studies and

foreign language of all of our students must be foreign language of all of our students must be strengthened to prepare today’s students to strengthened to prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s global leaders.become tomorrow’s global leaders.

Credit Where It’s DueCredit Where It’s Due

► All of the text that is All of the text that is underlined underlined is from a is from a presentation given by JoAnn McCarthy at the presentation given by JoAnn McCarthy at the 2008 meeting of Region X (NY & NJ) of 2008 meeting of Region X (NY & NJ) of NAFSA: Association of International NAFSA: Association of International Educators held on 10 November in Brooklyn.Educators held on 10 November in Brooklyn.

► The present talk expands upon a The present talk expands upon a “respondent” comment on Dr. McCarthy’s “respondent” comment on Dr. McCarthy’s presentation invited by session organizer Dr. presentation invited by session organizer Dr. David Austell.David Austell.

What I’m Going to SayWhat I’m Going to Say

►Global MegatrendsGlobal Megatrends and Associated and Associated Student Learning OutcomesStudent Learning Outcomes

►Critical IssuesCritical Issues and Associated and Associated Student Learning OutcomesStudent Learning Outcomes

►Global Trends in Higher Education Global Trends in Higher Education and U.S. Institutional Responsesand U.S. Institutional Responses

Global MegatrendsGlobal Megatrends and Associated and Associated Student Learning Outcomes – 1/3Student Learning Outcomes – 1/3

► Rise of AsiaRise of Asia Knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding Knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding

Chinese, Indian, and other cultures and Chinese, Indian, and other cultures and languages of Asialanguages of Asia

Simultaneous expansion of coverage of Simultaneous expansion of coverage of African, [new] European, Latin American, and African, [new] European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern culturesMiddle Eastern cultures

► Impact of globalizationImpact of globalization Study of ecological and sociocultural as well Study of ecological and sociocultural as well

as economic effects of the new “flat” (Thomas as economic effects of the new “flat” (Thomas Friedman), “Post-American” (Fareed Zakaria) Friedman), “Post-American” (Fareed Zakaria) worldworld

Global MegatrendsGlobal Megatrends and Associated and Associated Student Learning Outcomes – 2/3Student Learning Outcomes – 2/3

► Challenges to governmentsChallenges to governments Study of the origins, current status, and future Study of the origins, current status, and future

prospects of nation-states of varied political prospects of nation-states of varied political typestypes►democracies, monarchies, plutocracies, theocraciesdemocracies, monarchies, plutocracies, theocracies

Study of the transnational movements that Study of the transnational movements that counteract (or sometimes exacerbate) the counteract (or sometimes exacerbate) the frequent inadequacies and abuses of the above frequent inadequacies and abuses of the above governmental “actors”governmental “actors”

Global MegatrendsGlobal Megatrends and Associated and Associated Student Learning Outcomes – 3/3Student Learning Outcomes – 3/3

► Pervasive economic, political, and cultural Pervasive economic, political, and cultural insecurity exacerbated by global disparities in insecurity exacerbated by global disparities in income and accessincome and access Study of the history of industrial development and Study of the history of industrial development and

its transformation in the late 20its transformation in the late 20thth and early 21 and early 21stst centuriescenturies►Rise of multinational corporations and worldwide Rise of multinational corporations and worldwide

technology transfer along with unstoppable and growing technology transfer along with unstoppable and growing global interdependenciesglobal interdependencies

► The knowledge-based global economyThe knowledge-based global economy Study of the shift toward science and technology Study of the shift toward science and technology

as the primary “products” of human laboras the primary “products” of human labor

Critical IssuesCritical Issues and Associated and Associated Student Learning Outcomes – 1/2Student Learning Outcomes – 1/2

► Environmental degradation Environmental degradation Study of the causes and possible treatments of Study of the causes and possible treatments of

samesame► Rapid urbanization and the need for Rapid urbanization and the need for

infrastructureinfrastructure Study of this global crisis and ways to meet itStudy of this global crisis and ways to meet it

► Literacy and access to educationLiteracy and access to education Study, including service learning, in this essential Study, including service learning, in this essential

ingredient to deal with many of the other issues ingredient to deal with many of the other issues at handat hand

Critical IssuesCritical Issues and Associated and Associated Student Learning Outcomes – 2/2Student Learning Outcomes – 2/2

► Aging populationsAging populations Study of how to avoid worldwide enslavement Study of how to avoid worldwide enslavement

and impoverishment of the young by the oldand impoverishment of the young by the old►Global health issuesGlobal health issues

Study of the ways in which preventive health Study of the ways in which preventive health care and nutrition can complement treatment care and nutrition can complement treatment and quarantine in the improvement and and quarantine in the improvement and protection of global healthprotection of global health

Global Trends in Higher Education Global Trends in Higher Education and U.S. Institutional Responsesand U.S. Institutional Responses – –

1/31/3

► Shifting Demand and CapacityShifting Demand and Capacity Recruit more international studentsRecruit more international students Engage in more exchange and study abroadEngage in more exchange and study abroad Establish more international dual-degree Establish more international dual-degree

partnershipspartnerships Ride the Anglicization and Americanization Ride the Anglicization and Americanization

waves (see below)waves (see below)

Global Trends in Higher Education Global Trends in Higher Education and U.S. Institutional Responsesand U.S. Institutional Responses – –

2/32/3►Widening Gap Between Developing and Widening Gap Between Developing and

Developed NationsDeveloped Nations Seek ways to support students and faculty from Seek ways to support students and faculty from

developing nations developing nations ► First of all by means of ubiquitous Internet connectivityFirst of all by means of ubiquitous Internet connectivity

► Explosion of KnowledgeExplosion of Knowledge Move toward e-publication and away from Move toward e-publication and away from

(expensive, slow-moving) print (expensive, slow-moving) print ► Make scholarship available everywhere and at low costMake scholarship available everywhere and at low cost

► Lifelong LearningLifelong Learning See above two itemsSee above two items

Global Trends in Higher Education Global Trends in Higher Education and U.S. Institutional Responsesand U.S. Institutional Responses – –

3/33/3► Anglicization Anglicization

Let English become a world possession, with full Let English become a world possession, with full acceptance that native speakers no longer control it acceptance that native speakers no longer control it (TOEFL beware!)(TOEFL beware!)► But respect and support national and indigenous languagesBut respect and support national and indigenous languages

► AmericanizationAmericanization Make this a multi-connective, interactive process, as it Make this a multi-connective, interactive process, as it

has historically been, and we may all benefit has historically been, and we may all benefit ► Americans may be forced to live up to their professed idealsAmericans may be forced to live up to their professed ideals

►Multinationalization, Privatization, and For-Profit Multinationalization, Privatization, and For-Profit EnterprisesEnterprises Proceed, as long as all nations benefit and need-based Proceed, as long as all nations benefit and need-based

aid provides access to the economically disadvantagedaid provides access to the economically disadvantaged

What I’ve SaidWhat I’ve Said

►Global MegatrendsGlobal Megatrends and Associated and Associated Student Learning OutcomesStudent Learning Outcomes Globalization, Discontent, Knowledge EconomyGlobalization, Discontent, Knowledge Economy

►Critical IssuesCritical Issues and Associated Student and Associated Student Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes Ecology, Culture, DemographyEcology, Culture, Demography

►Global Trends in Higher Education and Global Trends in Higher Education and U.S. Institutional ResponsesU.S. Institutional Responses Interdependency, Convergence, CompetitionInterdependency, Convergence, Competition

H.G. Wells, The Outline of History H.G. Wells, The Outline of History (1920)(1920)

►““Human history is more and more a Human history is more and more a race between education and race between education and catastrophe.catastrophe. ......

► ... Yet, clumsily or smoothly, the world, ... Yet, clumsily or smoothly, the world, it seems, progresses and will it seems, progresses and will progress.”progress.”