Activity 2. Student Mobility

Critical reflection

Nowadays, international education is paramount to develop the global competencies that today’s workforce requires. Thus, it’s important that educational institutions develop foreign policies that facilitate international experiences. To do this, institutions need to understand their current status regarding internationalization and develop a strategic plan. International experiences carry many benefits, such as economic, academic and cultural. Also, they bring new perspectives, international insight and global competencies. Furthermore, the institutions benefit from greater influence and reputation in the world. All in all, incorporating international curricula, hosting and sending students and partnering with international institutions abroad is valuable and necessary in today’s globalized world.

Suggested article:

What Are the Benefits of International Education? by Bruce Pohlmann 

https://classroom.synonym.com/benefits-international-education-6029922.html

The relevance of the article

This article cites a definition of international education in which it is determined by an initiative that builds intercultural competency, knowledge of the international community and a sense of global citizenship. This definition encompasses really well what an international education experience provides to the people that go through it and why it’s becoming more and more important to encourage them.

Moreover, the article enlists the benefits that being part of an international education bring to both the students and the hosts and provider countries, which is something that is important to understand in order to see why it’s necessary to internationalize education as well as develop an international education strategic plan. This is something that benefits everyone involved in the process, and this article does a good job of explaining that because it divides the benefits in personal, academic, international relations and economic. Thus, it shows how international education is a well-rounded component that any educational institution should aim to have.

Conclusions

International mobility it’s an important experience that every educational institution should aim to offer, and every student should aim to have. We’ve discussed the benefits and the importance that this brings so there is no doubt that in today’s world, with globalization, the competencies that you develop in an international experience are indispensable to grow as a person and understand and participate in the world in a better, more knowledgeable and conscious way. Educational institutions are becoming aware of this, as we can see in the Institute of International Education brochure. In it, we learn that “student interest in study abroad remains high despite recent financial challenges” (p. 5). However, it is also true that institutions should “[make] sure that international opportunities remain accessible” (p. 5) in order to ensure that everyone is able to experience education abroad and is able to acquire global competencies. Finally, as the text suggests, “institutions of every size and type can commit themselves to welcoming international students on their campuses and preparing their […] students for global competency” (p. 7). Thus, there is no reason to not incorporate international mobility in educational programs, since the benefits are great for everyone involved.

 

Sources

Institute of International Education. (n.d.). International Education as an Institutional Priority: What Every College and University Trustee Should Know [Brochure]. New York, NY.

Pohlmann, B. (2017, November 21). What Are the Benefits of International Education? Retrieved from https://classroom.synonym.com/benefits-international-education-6029922.html