Global Trends in Higher Education A presentation to the Association of Pacific Rim Universities March 10, 2006 Gordon W. Earle

What is globalization of higher education? Greater international content in teaching a research Increasing international collaboration Growing trend in online learning Greater student representation and exchanges Expanding reach through sophisticated communications

Yale President Rick Levin Asian travels ( ) –University of Tokyo –Fudan University –Mumbai, India –University President’s Forum –Peking University

Harvard President Larry Summers 2005 Commencement Address: –“I want to address what I think is perhaps the defining development of our time….I refer to the growing integration between the developing world and the developed world, and the rising importance of the developing world in shaping human history.”

College News Services Yale Bulletin & Calendar –“Summer Program Will Send Students to Singapore” –“Grant Will Promote Yale-India Environmental Ties” –“Yale Acts To Divest In Response To Darfur Genocide” Duke University News & Communications –“Duke Agrees To Reduce The Number Of Factories Producing Duke Merchandise”

Major Conferences Institute of International Education –Seminar Title “Lead Your Campus To The Top: Best Practices In Internationalizing The Campus” –Seminar Topics “Making ‘International’ Part Of Your Mission” “Building International Partnerships” “Broadening Participation In Study Abroad

Teaching, Research & Collaboration

Online Learning

Students & Scholars

Worrisome Trends Travel restrictions Leveling off of overall international student enrollments Failure of some programs/All Learn Concerns about the “value” of higher education Fears about globalization and internationalization…recurring isolationism

Positive Signs Association of International Educators Survey –90% believe it is “important” or “very important” to prepare future generations for a global society –92% agree that knowledge of other languages will give future generations a competitive advantage in career opportunities –77% feel it is important for future generations to participate in study abroad programs in college –86% believe it is important for their children or grandchildren to attend a college where they can interact with students from other countries

Communications

Summary Colleges and universities are powerful vehicles for solving global problems and advancing the human race The most successful programs will: –be interdisciplinary –include substantial international content and collaboration –encourage student exchanges to prepare the next generation of leaders –have a “solutions” focus to global problems

Summary Successful globalization will take both private and public money -- and lots of it Communications will be critically important in delivering the message Online learning will play an increasingly important role Asia represents a major opportunity for U.S. colleges and universities