IHEC Blog readers who are interested in international student mobility trends in higher education will find the following three recently published/released reports to be of interest. Please note that much of the data in the reports does not focus on higher education or student mobility across borders.
Trends in Global Higher Education: Tracking an Academic Revolution (Executive Summary)
A Report Prepared for the UNESCO 2009 World Conference on Higher Education
by Philip G. Altbach, Liz Reisberg and Laura E. Rumbley
Download the report here
Global Education Digest 2009
Comparing Education Statistics Across the World
By UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Download the report here
Wissenschaft weltoffen 2009
Facts and Figures on the International nature of Studies and Research in Germany
by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Access data and other information here
I’m pleased to announce that my colleague Louis Berends from the Illinois Institute of Technology is the third guest blogger here at IHEC Blog. His blog post on the ‘Iraqi Education Initiative’ follows:
Earlier last month, a colleague of mine visited Iraq in conjunction with the "Iraqi Education Initiative". Representatives from various U.S. higher education institutions took part in the visit, whereby they had the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri Kamel al-Maliki. Several countries, in addition to the U.S., were involved in the "Symposium on International Education" including, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Fellow international educators may remember first hearing about the Initiative at last years NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference, held in Washington, D.C. The main purpose of the Initiative is to enhance the capacity for scientific knowledge of a nation decimated by the ongoing conflict and subsequent displacement of many of its citizens and scholars. The Initiative will offer 10,000 scholarships over a period of five years to students studying in the science, technology, and engineering fields (among others). To be sure, the democratization process has created a "vacuum" in Iraq's higher education institutions, which presents many challenges for the Minister of Education, Khundayr al-Khuzai. The challenges are many, but there are viable solutions. In short, Iraq's ongoing "transition" to a democracy cannot do so successfully without the help of the international community, and more importantly, higher education initiatives. Similarly, UNESCO's International University Network for Iraq (IUNI) highlights the importance of educational borrowing and transfer through the collaboration of higher education institutions and non-government organizations. In doing so, knowledge production increases by facilitating the exchange of ideas and persons throughout the world to and from Iraq. Building an educational foundation in Iraq (that lasts) rests on the educational cooperation of many nations. However, the ultimate responsibility, or dare I say duty, rests on the conscientious and decisive action of U.S. higher education institutions to pursue the many avenues of rebuilding a nation-state in an increasingly inter-dependent world.
For more information, visit the following links:
http://tinyurl.com/d7r777http://tinyurl.com/dcmnyt
The fellowship is intended for American college/university students who express an interest in international collaboration but as of yet had not been afforded many opportunities to travel abroad. The length of time for the travel is expected to be between 4 and 6 weeks and should include interaction with individuals from other nations. During his/her travel, the recipient should be willing to participate in public diplomacy events arranged with the pertinent U.S. State Department Consulate, Mission, and/or Embassy. Following the travel, the recipient agrees to submit a report describing experiences and analyzing objectives achieved; share his/her experiences with others; and be available to make a presentation at the Annual Meeting of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.
Funding:Funding for this fellowship has generously come from private donations.
Eligibility:
Must be a U.S. Citizen eligible for foreign travel
Must be at least 18 years old and not older than 25 at the time of application
Must be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university in the United States
Call for Applications:
The United States believes that peace depends upon building strong foundations of knowledge that bridge nations, enlarge freedoms, and promote democracy. The U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship was established in 2008 to enlist young Americans to work toward this end. The Fellowship provides supplemental funding for applicant designed proposals to conduct brief activities in a foreign country related to the mandate of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – using education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and/or communication and information to build strong ties among nations.
On September 12, 2002, President George W. Bush addressed the United Nations General Assembly and announced the intention of the United States to return to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), ending nearly a twenty-year absence from the organization, to further help build these foundations. In February 2003, First Lady Laura Bush was designated by UNESCO as an honorary ambassador, and seven months later Mrs. Bush led the ceremony raising the United States flag at the 32nd UNESCO General Conference, officially marking the return of the United States to UNESCO membership. It was in the spirit of this dedication to international issues and to furthering human dignity that the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship was created.
The Fellowship is intended for American college/university students who express an interest in international collaboration but as of yet have not been afforded many opportunities to travel abroad. The length of time for the travel is expected to be between 4 and 6 weeks and should include interaction with individuals from other nations. Thus far, U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellows have traveled to and conducted meaningful work in: Honduras, Guatemala, India, Afghanistan, Dominican Republic, and Kyrgyzstan.
The Commission has opened the next call for the Spring/Summer 2009 round of applications for the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship for those traveling between May and August 2009. The deadline for applications will be March 1, 2009 (5:00pm EST). Eligibility and details about the application process are posted at: http://www.state.gov/p/io/unesco/c25426.htm
