Join Diversity Abroad at Boston University on April 5, 2011 for the Diversity Network Capacity Building Workshop. This innovative and interactive workshop will focus on increasing awareness and building capacity to support higher participation of diverse ethnic and racial student groups in education abroad. This daylong workshop is designed to provide higher education professional who are committed to increasing diversity in education abroad with the essential knowledge, skills, and awareness needed to broaden participation at their institutions or organizations.
Workshop topics include: student and institutional challenges to diversifying education abroad, success strategies, student support throughout the study abroad process, and development and implementation of an action plan. Participants will leave the workshop with specific tools and a cohesive strategy for increasing participation in education abroad among students from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Don’t miss out on this innovative professional development opportunity. Learn more about the workshop schedule and registration details here.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Bibliography of Select Articles & Resources to Help International Educators Establish a New Media Presence
I compiled the following bibliography for an upcoming presentation I'm doing on social media and international education and I thought I would post these select articles and resources here on IHEC Blog to assist international educators in navigating the social media waters.
Update: To Be Rescheduled Due To Weather Affecting Participation. One item to put on your radar is a NAFSA Collegial Conversation tomorrow (February 1st) at 2:00pm (EST) entitled “Optimizing Your Use of Social Media, A Live Collegial Conversation with Julie Schwietert Collazo from the Matador Network and Jeramy Johnson from API (Academic Programs International). You can access the conversation as well as the archived transcript here.
Articles
“A List of all the Free International Education Resources I Access” from IHEC at http://bit.ly/auYmCD
“A social media boom begins in Africa” from United Nations Africa Renewal Online at http://bit.ly/fqcUly
“Are you listening?” from IHEC Blog at http://bit.ly/cjo2Yv (listing of international offices/departments with Facebook and Twitter accounts)
“Are your students on Twitter?” from Manitou Heights at http://bit.ly/eFE74V
“Brazil’s nuts about social networking and Orkut best watch out, Facebook is on the rise.” from TNW at http://bit.ly/byGwAs
“Establishing Trust in the World of Social Media -- Relevance for U.S. Higher Education” from the Marketing EducationUSA blog at http://bit.ly/bcwjmd
“Facebook Grows In Popularity Around The World” from NPR at http://n.pr/ezqhJM (audio clip of segment also available)
“Facebook: Using Pages vs. Groups in international education” from Manitou Heights at http://bit.ly/pAR0L
“How can international educational exchange use social media?” from Manitou Heights at http://bit.ly/9O2XGz
“How Indian Students use Orkut to prepare for studying in the US” from the goSwoop Blog at http://bit.ly/gFEi2z
“Marketing U.S. Higher Education Abroad in the Social Media Milleu” from the Marketing EducationUSA blog at http://bit.ly/8FtACH
“Optimizing Your Use of Social Media, A NAFSA Collegial Conversation with Julie Schwietert Collazo from the Matador Network and Jeramy Johnson from API (Academic Programs International). Transcript from this February 1, 2011 conversation will be archived at http://bit.ly/gTCbiD
“Read API Materials Anywhere! QR Codes and Catalogs” from Academic Programs International Blog at http://bit.ly/eD5OOw
“Results of the IHEC Blog Poll ~ What is the Top New Media Tool You Use to Keep up to Date on the Field of International Education?” on IHEC at http://bit.ly/97sTs3
“Some good practices for Twitter in international education” from Manitou Heights at http://bit.ly/gvKu5M
“Social Media Strategy for International NGOS & Universities” free archived recording of the recent Webinar at http://bit.ly/dWDZud
"Social networks and study abroad--The case of Chinese visiting students in the US" in China Economic Review at http://bit.ly/gcgkq4
“The Facebooks of China” from Fast Company at http://bit.ly/heHI9u
“The most important way that International Education can use Facebook” from Manitou Heights at http://bit.ly/56MiL0
“The Use of Social Media in Higher Education for Marketing and Communications: A Guide for Professionals in Higher Education” from the .eduGuru blog at http://bit.ly/aSvYAY
“Why Can’t Facebook Get More Than 2 Percent of Japan’s Web Users?” at All Facebook at http://bit.ly/hTk81I
“You Don’t Have to Use it Yet; Just Be Open to Social Media” from the goSwoop Blog at http://bit.ly/R3puO
“50 Steps to Establishing a Consistent Social Media Practice” from ChrisBrogan.com at http://bit.ly/4pY4KV
A Few Helpful Resources
Directory of Universities and Colleges on Social Media at http://www.4icu.org/
ed Social Media at http://www.edsocialmedia.com/
International Education Blogs & News at http://internationaleducationblogs.blogspot.com/
IHEC Blog’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/IHECBlog (403subscriptions [links] to international education related channels)
Manitou Heights at http://manitouheights.com/
Mashable at http://mashable.com/
Marketing EducationUSA blog at http://marketingeducationusa.blogspot.com/
Social Media Examiner at http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/
Technology in International Education blog at http://www.intledtech.com/
Information To Help Your Students In Egypt
January 31st Update: A workaround to the disconnected internet in Egypt! Speak To Tweet on Twitter at @speak2tweet (http://twitter.com/#!/speak2tweet). Click the link in each tweet to hear a voice tweet from folks inside Egypt. Call +16504194196 or +390662207294 or +97316199855 to leave a tweet and hear tweets.
- The State Department [@StateDept on Twitter] posted the following to Twitter on Sunday evening:
U.S. citizens who wish to depart #Egypt via USG-chartered transportation should call 1-202-501-4444 or email EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov.
------------------------------
- Gary Rhodes of the SAFETI Clearinghouse has prepared a "Special Issue" of the SAFETI On-line Newsletter focused on the U.S. Department of State Travel Alert for Egypt, which you can find at: http://www.globaled.us/safeti/egypt.html
------------------------------
- Julie Friend, Education Abroad Health and Safety Subcommittee Chair posted the following helpful information and links to SECUSS-L and the NAFSA EAKC network on Sunday:
Sunday morning (Jan. 30), the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Warning for Egypt. The Warning states that " U.S. citizens in Egypt who require assistance, or those who are concerned that their U.S. citizen loved one in Egypt may require assistance, should contact the U.S. Department of State & the U.S. Embassy in Cairo at EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov, or at 1-202-501-4444." (Though I understand this phone number directs you to a web site). The toll-free number for American Citizen Services (DC office) is 1-888-407-4747. It looks like State Department is organizing a flight out of Cairo for Monday, Jan 31. The flight will go to Europe. Travelers must make their own arrangements to go elsewhere from there. Travelers will also be required to sign a promissory note to cover the cost of travel from Egypt to Europe. No other details (carrier, departure time, destination) are known to me at this time. The American University of Cairo (AUC) is organizing secure ground transport to the U.S. Embassy meeting point for AUC's students who are opting to leave the country. Contact their NY office for more information at 212-730-8800.
Three sources of information you may find helpful:
U.S. Embassy in Cairo (operational now) (for local updates follow Travel & Public Announcements, most recent posting is Warden Message #5)
http://egypt.usembassy.gov
American Citizens Services Twitter Feed:
http://mobile.twitter.com/TravelGov
State Department FAQ - Egypt (contains evacuation information under "What should I do if I am in Egypt and need to leave?" ):
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_egypt_faq.html
------------------------------
- Karin Fischer [@karinfischer on Twitter] who is the international education reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education posted the following to Twitter on Sunday:
Do you have students in #Egypt? DM me - @chronicle is gathering info!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Photographs of Doors
I was in Washington, D.C. all day Wednesday for a national scholarship final selection committee meeting as the snow fell. Flights out of D.C. were cancelled and it was an adventure getting back in to downtown to find a hotel room which I was quite fortunate to do. This provided me an entire day to roam the city yesterday and I chose to head to Georgetown to see the neighborhood and the University as I had never been before. Washington, D.C. is a great city and one I have traveled to frequently over the past 5 years for international education related business. By far, Georgetown is my favorite area/neighborhood. I decided to walk off the beaten path through the neighborhood's side streets so I could really get a feel of area and take some pictures of the snowy neighborhood. 
I have always liked photographs of doors and doorways and have taken many myself over the years. Embedded with this post are four of the best photographs of doors I took on my walk through Georgetown. I asked on IHEC Blog's Facebook page for followers to post any photos they have taken of unique and interesting doors during their travels to my page. A friend posted a great photograph she took of a door on her travels to Ankara, Turkey.
Have you taken a picture (or six) of a pretty door or doorway that you would like to share? If you have one on your phone or computer please consider sharing on IHEC Blog's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/IHECblog.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
My Scholarly Activities in 2010
Earlier this morning my dissertation adviser sent out a message to all students in the Cultural and Educational Policy Studies program (my concentration is Comparative and International Education) at Loyola University Chicago asking for a list of publications and presentations that students have made in 2010. He actively encourages students to become active researchers and scholars. Below is my list for 2010 (most work done in 2008 and 2009 but seeing light in 2010).
Book Chapters
Comp, D. & Merritt, M. (2010, March). Qualitative Standards and Learning Outcomes for Study Abroad. In W.W. Hoffa & S. DePaul (Eds.). A History of US Study Abroad: 1965 to Present. Carlisle, PA: The Forum on Education Abroad/Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad.
Stallman, E., Woodruff, G., Kasravi, J., & Comp, D. (2010, March). The Diversification of the Student Profile. In W.W. Hoffa & S. DePaul (Eds.). A History of US Study Abroad: 1965 to Present. Carlisle, PA: The Forum on Education Abroad/Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad.
Refereed Journal Articles
Comp, D. (accepted). Germany as a Study Abroad Destination of American Students in the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Fields. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad , Vol. XIX.
Miscellaneous Scholarly Projects
Comp, D. (2010, September). Comparative Data Tables on Race and Ethnicity in Education Abroad. Invited to compile comparative data tables for the Diversity in International Education Hands-On Workshop, National Press Club, Washington, D.C. Report available at http://www.aifsabroad.com/advisors/pdf/diversity_workshop_summary.pdf
Invited Talks and Presentations
Sutton, R., McAllister-Grande, B., Comp, D., & Denney, M. (2010, June). Advancing Internationalization on Our Campuses Through Research. Invited discussant to research seminar at the NAFSA Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO.
Boylan, S., Willard, J. & Comp, D. (2010, June). The U.S. Army Approach to Exchanges: A Dialogue with Colonel Steven Byolan. Invited discussant to session at the NAFSA Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO.
Bennett, M., Comp, D., Irons, J., Landon, M., & Lee, B. (2010, June). Blogging and Twitter for International Higher Education Consulting Blog. Invited presenter at the Technology Forum at the NAFSA Annual Conference, Kansas City, MO.
Hughes, S., & Comp, D. (2010, April). Tracking and Analyzing Research in International Education in the Digital Age. Invited discussant for the NAFSA Research & Scholarship Network online discussion forum dialogue.
Peer Reviewed Conference Presentations
Jon, J-E, Comp, D., & Berends, L. (2010, March). Comparative Perspectives on Measuring the Impact of Study Abroad: Life, Society, and Public Diplomacy Re-Imagined. Presentation at the 2010 Comparative & International Education Society Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
All in all, 2010 was a good year. I don't think my lists in 2011 or 2012 will be as long...
Monday, January 24, 2011
Read Academic Programs International (API) Materials Anywhere! QR Codes and Catalogs
When you see API at study abroad fairs this spring, you will have a new, high-tech option for taking reading material away. In addition to their print catalogs, they are now offering the ability to scan a QR code for each catalog of interest, which one can then view in electronic format as an e-book at their leisure! This not only cuts down on the number of catalogs that students take away from a study abroad fair, this presents a more environmentally-friendly way to digest all of the great API program information.
QR codes are a kind of bar code which allow you to access all types of information quickly and easily from a smartphone. To do this, you will need to download an app (application) to your smartphone that is capable of reading the codes (see below).
Some good (and FREE) examples include:
iPhone QR apps -
Android QR apps –
Blackberry QR apps -
When you scan one of the API catalog QR codes, you will be given a link to the PDF of that catalog on their website. Different phones handle this differently, but as long as your phone can read PDFs, you will be able to read their catalogs on your phone. Some of the above apps also allow you to open the catalog PDFs from your phone in more accessible reading programs such as Evernote and iBooks.
Link to original API Blog post "Read API Materials Anywhere! QR Codes and Catalogs"
Link to original API Blog post "Read API Materials Anywhere! QR Codes and Catalogs"
Friday, January 21, 2011
Michelle Obama has Advocated for Study, Service and Living Abroad Before
Yesterday, Michelle Obama received much attention for her 100,000 Strong Initiative speech and rightly so. This was not the first time, however, that she highlighted the value of study abroad. Watch Mrs. Obama's spring 2010 George Washington University commencement address where she highlighted the value of study, service & living abroad twelve times during her address. You can also read the transcript here.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Video of First Lady Michelle Obama's "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad Initiative Event
Those of you, like me, who missed the live webcast of Michelle Obama's 100,000 Strong China Study Abroad Initiative event at Howard University will be happy to know that you can watch the entire event below.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Remarks by the First Lady at the “100K strong” State Visit Event press release from The White House, Office of the First Lady
The White House
Office of the First Lady
For Immediate Release
January 19, 2011
Remarks by the First Lady at ther “100K strong” State Visit Event
Howard University
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
10:51 A.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA: Well, it is wonderful to be here. Thank you. Thank you so much. I am very excited.
I want to start by thanking President Ribeau for that very kind introduction but more importantly for his leadership here at one of my favorite universities. (Applause.)
And I also want to acknowledge my counterpart here at Howard, your First Lady -- (applause) -- Dr. Paula Whetsel-Ribeau. It is always nice to see her. And she’s looking pretty good today, too, I might add. (Laughter and applause.)
I also want to recognize Ambassador Chen and thank her for those wonderful remarks, the history of educational exchange between our countries. It’s important to know.
And I'd also like to acknowledge Mary Kaye Huntsman, the wife of our Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, for taking the time to join us here today. Let’s give them both a wonderful round of applause. (Applause.)
And finally, I want to thank all the folks here from the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center -- (applause) -- for all their work to promote international study and exchange here at Howard. So thank you all for the work you’re doing. You’re setting a tremendous example.
So we’ve had a pretty busy morning at the White House. As you know, we welcomed President Hu, the President of China, for an official state visit. We are so very pleased to have this chance to return the hospitality that President Hu showed my husband during his trip to China a little over a year ago.
Visits like these provide an important opportunity to strengthen ties, and to deepen bonds of understanding between our countries and our leaders. But as you all know, that work doesn’t just happen at the White House or within the walls of the U.N. It isn’t just about relationships between our governments and our presidents. It’s also about relationships between our people –- between our business leaders, and our scientists, our educators, and particularly between our young people.
That’s why, when we travel abroad, my husband and I just don’t visit palaces and parliaments. We always visit schools and universities and we meet with students just like all of you -- (applause) -- because we believe strongly that young people like you can play a vital role in strengthening ties between people and nations all around the world.
So the topic of today’s panel –- which is the importance of studying abroad, particularly in China –- you have to understand is a key component of this administration’s foreign policy agenda.
Through the wonders of modern technology, our world has grown increasingly interconnected. Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button. We can speak, and text, and email, and Skype, and all that other stuff you guys do with people in every corner of the globe. Companies here in America can do business –- and compete with –- companies all over the world.
And as a consequence, studying abroad isn’t just an important part of a well-rounded educational experience. It’s also becoming increasingly important for success in the modern global economy. Getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about the skills you bring from the classroom. It’s also about the experience you have with the world beyond our borders -- with people, and languages, and cultures that are very different from our own.
But let’s be clear: studying in countries like China is about so much more than just improving your own prospects in the global market.
The fact is, with every friendship you make, and every bond of trust you establish, you are shaping the image of America projected to the rest of the world. That is so important. So when you study abroad, you’re actually helping to make America stronger.
And these experiences also set the stage for young people all over the world to come together and work together to make our world stronger, because make no mistake about it, whether it’s climate change or terrorism, economic recovery or the spread of nuclear weapons, for the U.S. and China, the defining challenges of our time are shared challenges. Neither of our countries can confront these alone. The only way forward, the only way to solve these problems, is by working together.
That’s why it is so important for more of our young people to live and study in each other’s countries. That’s how, student by student, we develop that habit of cooperation, by immersing yourself in someone else’s culture, by sharing your stories and letting them share theirs, by taking the time to get past the stereotypes and misperceptions that too often divide us.
That’s how you build that familiarity that melts away mistrust. That’s how you begin to see yourselves in one another and realize how much we all share, no matter where we live.
So the question today is, how do we provide that opportunity for more of our young people?
Now, the good news is that we are headed in the right direction. In recent years, we’ve seen a 50 percent increase in students studying in China. And today, the highest number of exchange students in the U.S. are in China -- are from China.
But still, there are too many students here in the United States who don’t have that chance. And some that do are reluctant to seize it. Maybe they may feel like study abroad is something that only rich kids do, or maybe kids who go to certain colleges; they’re the only ones who do that. They may hear those voices of doubt in their heads -- you know, the ones that say that, “Kids like me don’t do things like that,” or “How will this really be relevant in my life?”
Now, I say this because I understand these feelings. I felt that same way back when I was in college. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, and the idea of spending time abroad just never registered with me. My brother and I were among the first in our families to go to college. So, trust me, we were way more focused on getting in, getting through, and getting out -- (laughter and applause) -- than we were with finding opportunities that would broaden our horizons.
And the truth is, with the high cost of college these days, many young people are struggling just to afford a regular semester of school -- (applause) -- let alone pay for the airline tickets and the living expenses to go halfway around the world.
So we know that it’s not enough for us to simply encourage more people to study abroad. We also need to make sure that they can actually afford it.
And that’s why, during this visit -- his visit to China, my husband announced the 100,000 Strong Initiative. This is a new initiative to increase both the number -- and the diversity -- of young people from the U.S. studying in China. And, today, we’re pleased to announce a series of new efforts that will bring us even closer to that goal.
To start, Secretary Clinton, who’s been a tireless champion for this program, has just launched a “Double the Numbers Challenge.” She’s asking college and university presidents to double the number of students who study in China. And we’re placing a special emphasis on reaching Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Howard. (Applause.)
To make it easier for students to meet this challenge, we’re launching a new Community College Mini-mester program, providing shorter-term, more affordable study abroad opportunities. And the Chinese government is offering -- listen to this -- 10,000 scholarships to cover all in-country costs for American students and teachers who study in China. (Applause.)
To give more high school students the opportunity, right here the DC Center of Global Education and Leadership is creating weekend and after-school Mandarin classes for DC public school students, and they’ll be offering new opportunities for these same students to study in China during the summer. That’s wonderful. (Applause.)
And, finally, to help oversee all these new programs and all these wonderful outreach efforts, the State Department has created a high-level federal advisory committee composed of prominent China experts and leaders in business, academic, and the non-profit worlds.
So, we’re making some very good progress. And I am proud of what we’re doing here because I know, I know, because of what I missed, the impact an opportunity like this can have on a young person’s life. I know the growth it can spur, the passion it can spark, the sense of direction and purpose it can provide.
When reflecting on his time in China, Jason Williams, a graduate of Seattle Pacific University, said -- and this is a quote -- “I’ve come to understand the world as more complex, more interconnected, and more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.”
Nina Robinson, who attended School without Walls right here in D.C., described the sense of independence she gained from learning a new language and navigating a new city all on her own. As she concluded simply -- and this is her quote -- “Not only was this trip an educational experience, but it was [a] life experience.”
And I can guarantee all of you that when you study abroad, you won’t just change your own life. You’ll change the lives of every single person you come in contact with.
President Kennedy once said about young people who come to study in the U.S. -- he said, “I think they teach more than they learn.” And I think that’s true as well for young Americans who study abroad.
As my husband once put it, “America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people.” You all are America’s true face to the world. You show the world our energy and our optimism. You show the world our decency and our openness and our compassion.
So, we need you. We need you out there taking some risks and doing some really hard things. And that’s certainly true for the four ambassadors that we have on today’s panel. These impressive young people have each spent time studying in China, and they have generously agreed to share their experiences with us today.
So, with that, I will happily turn things over to Ann Stock, our Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, who will be leading our discussion.
So I want to thank you all, as always. I love coming to Howard. (Applause.) I love seeing you all. (Applause.) I am proud of every single one of you who have stepped outside of this comfort zone into another country. Keep it up.
I want to thank our panelists for joining us. And I look forward to seeing many of you follow in their footsteps in the years ahead. So, keep working hard. Thank you all so much. (Applause.)
MRS. OBAMA: Well, it is wonderful to be here. Thank you. Thank you so much. I am very excited.
I want to start by thanking President Ribeau for that very kind introduction but more importantly for his leadership here at one of my favorite universities. (Applause.)
And I also want to acknowledge my counterpart here at Howard, your First Lady -- (applause) -- Dr. Paula Whetsel-Ribeau. It is always nice to see her. And she’s looking pretty good today, too, I might add. (Laughter and applause.)
I also want to recognize Ambassador Chen and thank her for those wonderful remarks, the history of educational exchange between our countries. It’s important to know.
And I'd also like to acknowledge Mary Kaye Huntsman, the wife of our Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, for taking the time to join us here today. Let’s give them both a wonderful round of applause. (Applause.)
And finally, I want to thank all the folks here from the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center -- (applause) -- for all their work to promote international study and exchange here at Howard. So thank you all for the work you’re doing. You’re setting a tremendous example.
So we’ve had a pretty busy morning at the White House. As you know, we welcomed President Hu, the President of China, for an official state visit. We are so very pleased to have this chance to return the hospitality that President Hu showed my husband during his trip to China a little over a year ago.
Visits like these provide an important opportunity to strengthen ties, and to deepen bonds of understanding between our countries and our leaders. But as you all know, that work doesn’t just happen at the White House or within the walls of the U.N. It isn’t just about relationships between our governments and our presidents. It’s also about relationships between our people –- between our business leaders, and our scientists, our educators, and particularly between our young people.
That’s why, when we travel abroad, my husband and I just don’t visit palaces and parliaments. We always visit schools and universities and we meet with students just like all of you -- (applause) -- because we believe strongly that young people like you can play a vital role in strengthening ties between people and nations all around the world.
So the topic of today’s panel –- which is the importance of studying abroad, particularly in China –- you have to understand is a key component of this administration’s foreign policy agenda.
Through the wonders of modern technology, our world has grown increasingly interconnected. Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button. We can speak, and text, and email, and Skype, and all that other stuff you guys do with people in every corner of the globe. Companies here in America can do business –- and compete with –- companies all over the world.
And as a consequence, studying abroad isn’t just an important part of a well-rounded educational experience. It’s also becoming increasingly important for success in the modern global economy. Getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about the skills you bring from the classroom. It’s also about the experience you have with the world beyond our borders -- with people, and languages, and cultures that are very different from our own.
But let’s be clear: studying in countries like China is about so much more than just improving your own prospects in the global market.
The fact is, with every friendship you make, and every bond of trust you establish, you are shaping the image of America projected to the rest of the world. That is so important. So when you study abroad, you’re actually helping to make America stronger.
And these experiences also set the stage for young people all over the world to come together and work together to make our world stronger, because make no mistake about it, whether it’s climate change or terrorism, economic recovery or the spread of nuclear weapons, for the U.S. and China, the defining challenges of our time are shared challenges. Neither of our countries can confront these alone. The only way forward, the only way to solve these problems, is by working together.
That’s why it is so important for more of our young people to live and study in each other’s countries. That’s how, student by student, we develop that habit of cooperation, by immersing yourself in someone else’s culture, by sharing your stories and letting them share theirs, by taking the time to get past the stereotypes and misperceptions that too often divide us.
That’s how you build that familiarity that melts away mistrust. That’s how you begin to see yourselves in one another and realize how much we all share, no matter where we live.
So the question today is, how do we provide that opportunity for more of our young people?
Now, the good news is that we are headed in the right direction. In recent years, we’ve seen a 50 percent increase in students studying in China. And today, the highest number of exchange students in the U.S. are in China -- are from China.
But still, there are too many students here in the United States who don’t have that chance. And some that do are reluctant to seize it. Maybe they may feel like study abroad is something that only rich kids do, or maybe kids who go to certain colleges; they’re the only ones who do that. They may hear those voices of doubt in their heads -- you know, the ones that say that, “Kids like me don’t do things like that,” or “How will this really be relevant in my life?”
Now, I say this because I understand these feelings. I felt that same way back when I was in college. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, and the idea of spending time abroad just never registered with me. My brother and I were among the first in our families to go to college. So, trust me, we were way more focused on getting in, getting through, and getting out -- (laughter and applause) -- than we were with finding opportunities that would broaden our horizons.
And the truth is, with the high cost of college these days, many young people are struggling just to afford a regular semester of school -- (applause) -- let alone pay for the airline tickets and the living expenses to go halfway around the world.
So we know that it’s not enough for us to simply encourage more people to study abroad. We also need to make sure that they can actually afford it.
And that’s why, during this visit -- his visit to China, my husband announced the 100,000 Strong Initiative. This is a new initiative to increase both the number -- and the diversity -- of young people from the U.S. studying in China. And, today, we’re pleased to announce a series of new efforts that will bring us even closer to that goal.
To start, Secretary Clinton, who’s been a tireless champion for this program, has just launched a “Double the Numbers Challenge.” She’s asking college and university presidents to double the number of students who study in China. And we’re placing a special emphasis on reaching Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Howard. (Applause.)
To make it easier for students to meet this challenge, we’re launching a new Community College Mini-mester program, providing shorter-term, more affordable study abroad opportunities. And the Chinese government is offering -- listen to this -- 10,000 scholarships to cover all in-country costs for American students and teachers who study in China. (Applause.)
To give more high school students the opportunity, right here the DC Center of Global Education and Leadership is creating weekend and after-school Mandarin classes for DC public school students, and they’ll be offering new opportunities for these same students to study in China during the summer. That’s wonderful. (Applause.)
And, finally, to help oversee all these new programs and all these wonderful outreach efforts, the State Department has created a high-level federal advisory committee composed of prominent China experts and leaders in business, academic, and the non-profit worlds.
So, we’re making some very good progress. And I am proud of what we’re doing here because I know, I know, because of what I missed, the impact an opportunity like this can have on a young person’s life. I know the growth it can spur, the passion it can spark, the sense of direction and purpose it can provide.
When reflecting on his time in China, Jason Williams, a graduate of Seattle Pacific University, said -- and this is a quote -- “I’ve come to understand the world as more complex, more interconnected, and more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.”
Nina Robinson, who attended School without Walls right here in D.C., described the sense of independence she gained from learning a new language and navigating a new city all on her own. As she concluded simply -- and this is her quote -- “Not only was this trip an educational experience, but it was [a] life experience.”
And I can guarantee all of you that when you study abroad, you won’t just change your own life. You’ll change the lives of every single person you come in contact with.
President Kennedy once said about young people who come to study in the U.S. -- he said, “I think they teach more than they learn.” And I think that’s true as well for young Americans who study abroad.
As my husband once put it, “America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people.” You all are America’s true face to the world. You show the world our energy and our optimism. You show the world our decency and our openness and our compassion.
So, we need you. We need you out there taking some risks and doing some really hard things. And that’s certainly true for the four ambassadors that we have on today’s panel. These impressive young people have each spent time studying in China, and they have generously agreed to share their experiences with us today.
So, with that, I will happily turn things over to Ann Stock, our Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, who will be leading our discussion.
So I want to thank you all, as always. I love coming to Howard. (Applause.) I love seeing you all. (Applause.) I am proud of every single one of you who have stepped outside of this comfort zone into another country. Keep it up.
I want to thank our panelists for joining us. And I look forward to seeing many of you follow in their footsteps in the years ahead. So, keep working hard. Thank you all so much. (Applause.)
END
11:04 A.M. EST
Vote in the Lexiophiles and bab.la Top 100 (International eXchange & eXperience 2011) blog competition
Lexiophiles and bab.la are again hosting their Top 100 International eXchange and eXperience (also known as IX) blog competition. Voting will be open to anyone until January 26, winners will be announced on January 28. You can vote for the best international exchange and experience blog here.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Live Webcast of First Lady Michelle Obama's "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad Initiative
Watch a live webcast with First Lady Michelle Obama about her "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad Initiative on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. EST on http://exchanges.state.gov/live-stream.html
International Education Books You May Want To Consider Adding To Your Library
Last night I was searching through my International Education Book Store as I received word form Amazon that they may need to close my account if the Illinois State Legislature passes some law (I don't know the specifics). I'll report on this here on IHEC Blog if this happens. Anyway...I thought I would simply post some book covers of recent international education books I think are of interest (you can click on the the individual book covers below to learn more about the book on Amazon) The following books are just a sampling of the nearly 230 books currently available in my international education book store.
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