With China’s President Hu Jintao in Washington for a State Visit, First Lady Michelle Obama used the occasion as an opportunity to encourage American high school, community college and university students to pursue study abroad. Speaking at Howard University, Mrs. Obama pressed the importance of American students pursuing study abroad as a whole, and specifically study abroad in China.
“Studying abroad isn’t just an important part of a well rounded educational experience,” Mrs. Obama said. “It’s also becoming increasingly important for success in the modern global economy.” She also emphasized that study abroad does not just help individual students, but also the United States as a whole. “Studying in countries like China is about so much more than improving your own prospects in the global market… When you study abroad you’re actually helping to make America stronger.”
While the First Lady did an excellent job in highlighting the individual student and national benefits to study abroad, she was also keenly aware of the challenges we face in increasing the number and diversity of students studying in China. “There are too many students here in the United States that don’t have that chance (to study abroad) and some that do are reluctant to seize it. Maybe they feel that study abroad is something only rich kids do or maybe kids who go to certain colleges.” The Diversity Network agrees with the Obama administration that not only is study abroad to China important, but also that it is essential that diverse and underrepresented students take advantage of international education opportunities to China and other countries.
Reaching the goals of the “100,000 Strong Initiative” to increase the number and diversity of students studying in China will require that we as international educators accept the challenge and work to be more effective in recruiting and advising underserved students for study abroad to China. To be successful in this endeavor, we must do a better job in communicating to diverse students and their parents the positive impact a study abroad experience can have on their future academic and career goals. Reaching the 100,000 Strong goals will also require the nation’s Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities to increase capacity to provide more of their students with international education opportunities to China.
The 100,000 Strong Initiative’s goal to increase the number and diversity of American students studying in China is exciting. To fully realize this goal will require innovative approaches for reaching underserved students who traditionally have not taken advantage of international education opportunities. The Diversity Network and its members are committed to supporting the 100,000 Strong Initiative and any other initiative, which aims at diversifying the locations and the students who pursue international education.
Andrew Gordon is the founder and president of Diversity Abroad. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco, where he studied business, economics and Spanish. He has studied, traveled and worked throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and South America. He started Diversity Abroad in 2006 with the focus of increasing global awareness and engagement among students and young people with an emphasis on diverse and under-served populations.
Tags: 100000 Strong Initiative, China, Diversity, First Lady Michelle Obama, HBCU, Howard University, HSI, Study Abroad
The 100,000 Strong Initiative is excellent, but we must ensure underserved students take advantage.
Any program to increase an understanding of other cultures is a great opportunity for students. I wonder why this is only for China and not other countries? Could our students not learn alot from India, Chilie, Lebanon? I think that limiting to just one country is closing our eyes to the rest of the world.
I love the thought of more students having the chance to study abroad. I know that it is something that I would have liked to do when I was younger. I agree with kkhill39 though, why not open up the chance for students to study in countries other than China?
I agree that the geographical scope of American underserved students study abroad should not be focused on China, but open to other areas of the world. It seems that having China “featured” as a focal country is tied to overarching political agendas which I think is intrinsically inappropriate for an education endeavor.
Moreover, as an approach to getting students interested, educators may wish to point to the cultural connections that these experiences provide to second, third, fourth, etc… generation Americans whose immediate and distant ancestry or originates in other countries. I believe it students are offered the perspective that study abroad also offers the opportunity to learn about themselves through an educational experience in a country that they have ancestral ties to, it will make the prospective of study abroad even more meaningful.
This issue of connecting the students in the U.S. to the resources which allow the stduying of abroad ae critical in that education will become the new ‘currency’ of the future. This currency will call for greater understanding of how we all fit in to the global diversity landscape of cooperation, understanding and togetherness. Students in the U.S. undoubtedly are under the impression that opportunities such as ‘studying abroad’ are for the priviledged few and in many instances cannot fathom the pospect of cultural enlightenment of others. But while China is an important player in the global game, it would prove beneficial if individuals were provided an opportunity to connect with their ancestry as well as the ancestry of others. This would speak to tolerance and understanding. We often speak of embracing cultural diversity in the country but opportunities like this are cultural diversity on steroids.
What a great initiative, how better to bridge the gap that divides us than by better understanding each other. It has to start with our youth, all youth, not just the gifted or the outstanding students, but the average students as well. I’m reminded of something Dr. Hong from the Dandolin School once said, by nourishing a child’s soul through diverse education the wold will will be better.
This is so true, each one should have to teach one. I recently attended a conference on mentoring students that are in high school and the positive choices that they should and could make about life choices. As they say, trouble is easy to get into and hard to get out of. i was pleased recently to see the extreme amount of diversity at my nephews high school today where students come from all walks of life but get along extrodinarily well. This is a great sign that diversity is working and students are learning to overcome adversity by respecting one another. I think that this is where we begin to nourish our children by teaching them respect for one another.
Respect is very important to teaching youth and adults about the diverse backgrounds of others. Once respect is developed, there is the opportunity for individuals to learn about the beliefs and traditions of all cultures. To bridge the gap between cultures, I think we can teach people how we are alike people that come from different backgrounds!
What are the essential things that students need to do to prepare for study abroad?
Should they know how to speak the language of the people where they are traveling?
At what age should they begin preparations in order to be a success?
I agree that students studying abroad would be great for this country. It would provide future leaders with very important experience in the new world economy and the globalization of the economy. This is hard to receive at local Schools based out of your local area. There is not any depth or exposure to the world economy on a first hand basis.