The Seahawk

Issue date: 10/7/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy of UNCW Office of International Programs

During the summer of 2008, UNCW junior Megan Gredler spent four weeks in Australia as part of the International Student Volunteers, Inc. (ISV) program. When she left on the plane, she was leaving as an American citizen. But she returned as not only an American citizen, but a global citizen, according to UNCW.

"Preparing our students to be global citizens" is UNCW's fourth strategic goal. The university has a total of seven, all branching off the main goal, which is to "create the most powerful learning experience possible for our students."

But what exactly is a global citizen?

"A global citizen is someone experienced in different cultures and open enough to bring their experiences back to UNCW and share them with others," said Max Allen, chief of staff for the Chancellor's office. "By the time a global citizen graduates, they can take their experiences to the workplace."

Kara Pike, the assistant director of Education Abroad, had a slightly different definition.

"A global citizen looks at the world outside themselves and their community, and can communicate with people who are different," Pike said.

Gredler's journey to Australia qualifies her as a global citizen because she came back understanding a different society and a different group of people. For four weeks she completely immersed herself in Australia. She said that, although Australia's culture is Americanized, it's still very different than our own.

"Besides just being in Australia, I got to meet people from all over the world with the ISV program. It definitely puts you out there, and I don't regret it at all," Gredler said.

The university formed the seven strategic goals in order to create a powerful education experience. Allen explained that seven isn't a fixed number; the Chancellor's office just felt that the seven were the most important to the university.

"Create an educational environment that prepares our students to be global citizens" made the cut because UNCW wants its students to be well-rounded and have broader perspectives. Being a global citizen also makes a student more marketable for the workplace. It gives graduates a competitive edge.

"Companies are looking for employees who have a global perspective," Allen said. "They want employees who can do business with people all over the world."

UNCW is not alone in their pursuit of creating global citizens. Meredith College, a private North Carolina college, states that part of their mission is "to develop in students the knowledge, skills, values, and global awareness necessary to pursue careers, assume leadership roles, to continue their education, and to lead responsible lives of work, citizenship, leisure, and service."

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