Defining a global citizen
Amber Hughes
Issue date: 10/7/09 Section: News
Anne Gleason, the dean of students at Meredith, also said that they stress the importance of global understanding in their general education. She stated that Meredith has increased its support of study abroad programs for their students.
"We also offer many convocations, discussions and presentations that address diversity issues and cultural understanding for students, faculty and staff at Meredith," Gleason said.
East Carolina University (ECU), part of the University of North Carolina system, also has a similar goal.
"ECU's goal about globalization relates to preparing our students to compete in the global economy," said Lou McNamee, ECU's assistant to the chancellor.
An ECU publication, "ECU Tomorrow: A Vision for Leadership and Service," states: "We will be responsive to the changing demands of the economy, offering excellent undergraduate and graduate programs that provide the global skills and knowledge necessary for success in the 21st century."
The publication also stated that ECU will create a $5 million endowment to support global competencies.
Allen said that UNCW does a budget and funding for the global citizen goal, but he wasn't sure of the exact amount.
UNCW pushes education abroad and traveling abroad as the main ways to become a global citizen. The explanation of the global citizen strategic goal states: "UNCW is working to increase significantly the number of international students enrolled and to send more of our own students abroad, making it easy, natural, and affordable for them to make those transformative journeys to other lands."
Those who don't wish to study or travel abroad can still be global citizens, however.
"You can absolutely be a global citizen while staying on the UNCW campus," Pike said. "Students can get engaged with international students, teach English as a second language or volunteer for groups such as Amnesty International. Even just recycling, and being mindful that we're not the only ones on the planet."
Allen also said that students can be global citizens at home by getting to know international students. He added that by doing so, the student might get motivated to travel to other countries.
Pike and Allen both said that, although the global citizen goal is an ongoing process, UNCW is making great strides. They continue to make students more aware of studying abroad and other opportunities to become global citizens.
According to Pike, despite the recession, study abroad numbers continue to stay strong and the involvement is great. She also hopes to internationalize more of the curriculum to improve the global citizens goal.
"I encourage people to get immersed in the culture when they go abroad. A mistake many make is to look for familiar things like McDonald's," Allen said. "If they immerse themselves, when they come back home, they will have a better perspective. Personally, after being abroad, I was grateful for the U.S."
"We also offer many convocations, discussions and presentations that address diversity issues and cultural understanding for students, faculty and staff at Meredith," Gleason said.
East Carolina University (ECU), part of the University of North Carolina system, also has a similar goal.
"ECU's goal about globalization relates to preparing our students to compete in the global economy," said Lou McNamee, ECU's assistant to the chancellor.
An ECU publication, "ECU Tomorrow: A Vision for Leadership and Service," states: "We will be responsive to the changing demands of the economy, offering excellent undergraduate and graduate programs that provide the global skills and knowledge necessary for success in the 21st century."
The publication also stated that ECU will create a $5 million endowment to support global competencies.
Allen said that UNCW does a budget and funding for the global citizen goal, but he wasn't sure of the exact amount.
UNCW pushes education abroad and traveling abroad as the main ways to become a global citizen. The explanation of the global citizen strategic goal states: "UNCW is working to increase significantly the number of international students enrolled and to send more of our own students abroad, making it easy, natural, and affordable for them to make those transformative journeys to other lands."
Those who don't wish to study or travel abroad can still be global citizens, however.
"You can absolutely be a global citizen while staying on the UNCW campus," Pike said. "Students can get engaged with international students, teach English as a second language or volunteer for groups such as Amnesty International. Even just recycling, and being mindful that we're not the only ones on the planet."
Allen also said that students can be global citizens at home by getting to know international students. He added that by doing so, the student might get motivated to travel to other countries.
Pike and Allen both said that, although the global citizen goal is an ongoing process, UNCW is making great strides. They continue to make students more aware of studying abroad and other opportunities to become global citizens.
According to Pike, despite the recession, study abroad numbers continue to stay strong and the involvement is great. She also hopes to internationalize more of the curriculum to improve the global citizens goal.
"I encourage people to get immersed in the culture when they go abroad. A mistake many make is to look for familiar things like McDonald's," Allen said. "If they immerse themselves, when they come back home, they will have a better perspective. Personally, after being abroad, I was grateful for the U.S."
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