Abstract
The current globalization wake requires countries to cope with their deficiencies in international competencies to become credible political actors and sustained economic players (Stiglitz, 2003). They must develop expertise on foreign policies, emphasize functional knowledge, and make concerted efforts to narrow technological gaps to successfully unleash global competitiveness (McGrew, 2005). There is a high correlation between the level of global competence acquired by U.S. students during their undergraduate and graduate education and the success of the country as a key international player (American Council of Education, 1995). U.S. higher education institutions are compelled to increase their stature by constantly seeking ways to expand their network of partnerships with foreign counterparts. Any steps into that direction will broaden and strengthen the internationalization of their curriculum to facilitate and improve students’ understanding of the world.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Campus Internationalization: A strategically integrated process of adequately funded actions, projects, and programs related to international student services, international educational exchanges, international language institutes, and overseas technical cooperation projects implemented into the teaching, research, and service functions of academic departments and colleges.
Affiliated Institution: Institution with academic expectations, accreditation curricula, and quality standards similar to the ones offered in the home country. It also becomes the in situ facility to receive students, faculty, and scholars to use a broad range of delivery models to offer a foreign language of choice, discuss issues of certain countries, and engage into collaborative research.
Chief International Officers: Worldly experienced, functionally knowledgeable, and culturally sensitive individuals entrusted with primary responsibilities related to strategically serve the mission of administering the internationalization of higher education institutions.
Curriculum Internationalization: Institutional efforts made by faculty members and administrators, especially at general education courses, to develop, include, and/or enhance international elements into the curriculum. It requires a careful planning and implementation and needs to be crafted through strong leadership to effectively raise the quality of higher education
International Education: A conscious and orchestrated initiative undertaken by higher education institutions to offer academic, extracurricular, and nontraditional activities related to the social, legal, economic, political, and technological aspects of countries around the world to greatly enhance the knowledge and productivity of college graduates.
Study Abroad Initiative: Summer, semester, or year-long academic and/or practical experience undertaken by undergraduate or graduate college students overseas to enhance and expand their formal education. Terrorism threats, health issues, political instability, and immigration restrains hinder such opportunities despite institutional efforts to raise awareness about their importance.
Globalization: An ongoing process understood as the increasing flow of expertise, information, productive factors, and technology leading to the interrelatedness and interconnectedness of countries around the world and explained by lower trade and investment barriers and technology advances.