CONFERENCE ON
GLOBAL CHALLENGES AND U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION:
NATIONAL NEEDS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Sponsored by the Coalition for International Education and hosted by Duke University
with support from the Ford Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education.

January 23-25, 2003

International developments over the last decade and the tragic events of September 11 have underscored the mounting challenges facing the United States in a global era. Solving global problems, providing for the national security in the face of external threats, and competing in a global economy challenge our national human resource capacity in unprecedented ways. If the United States is to successfully continue its role as a responsible world leader, it must focus on strengthening the ability of Americans to understand other cultures and nations, and to speak their languages. To that end, the federal government is an essential catalyst in partnership with U.S. educational institutions for achieving three broad national policy objectives:

• To develop a globally competent citizenry and workforce.

• To strengthen the U.S. ability to solve global problems.

• To produce international experts and knowledge for national strategic needs.

The last comprehensive assessment of higher education’s role in meeting the nation’s international competence needs took place at a January 1997 national research conference just before the last renewal of the Higher Education Act (See International Education in a New Global Era, Hawkins, et.al, UCLA, 1998). Building on the findings of that conference, a January 2003 research conference will present a fresh review of the adequacy of international education efforts in the U.S. in relation to emergent national needs prior to the next renewal of the Higher Education Act by the 108th Congress in 2003-2004.

A broad range of research papers by leading experts on higher education has been commissioned for presentation and discussion at the conference. The papers will address:

• New data and anecdotal evidence on the needs of government, business and education for international competence;

• How well U.S. educational institutions are producing graduates with the requisite knowledge and expertise;

• The adequacy of current international education strategies; and

• National policy implications.

The research and conference will be an important contribution to the subsequent deliberations on the Higher Education Act reauthorization. Information based upon research will inform the Higher Education Act reauthorization process on international education issues, providing a sense of direction for policy changes. The conference also will establish dialogue among a broad and diverse set of constituencies, hopefully leading toward consensus on what policy issues require attention. The conference is not designed to address legislative advocacy, or produce specific recommendations for legislative language, activities being organized by the higher education community under another process.