The International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange Launches White Paper on the Need for Global Exchanges

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The education sector has been hard hit by the pandemic. Curriculums have been restructured and the virtual classroom has become the new normal. In such a scenario, the International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange has asked the United States to create programs and policies that support the ambitious goals for international education and exchange.

Details of the White Paper

The International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange highlighted the following arenas that the U.S needed to work on:

• Doubling the number of international students and exchange visitors (from over one million) who study, work, intern, and train in America by 2025, to learn about American values and our ways of life and return to their countries with a more positive view of our country, our culture and our citizens.
• Doubling the number of high need Americans who study abroad by 2025, to develop the intercultural skills and competencies to compete in the global economy and contribute to solving global challenges.
• Doubling the number of U.S. students studying science and technology abroad by 2025, to return to the US with knowledge and networks that America needs to remain the leader in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM programs), business ventures and discoveries.
• Increasing resources and opportunities for U.S. students traditionally underrepresented in education abroad: doubling the number of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, first generation college students and increasing the number of LGBTQ+ that study abroad by 2025.

Need of the Hour

A diversified education is the basis of a better future. Although this is recognized by most as the gospel truth, very seldom do we witness initiatives to bring about a concrete change in reality. Melissa Torres, President and CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad and co-founder of the Coalition stated, “While these four goals are robust and will require maximum effort, we know that international education and exchange programs can and should be the cornerstone to reunite and reignite the world with peace and prosperity.” She added that this was a plea to the educational leaders in the US to ideate a national strategy and dedicate resources to build a better foundation for a more peaceful world.