Learn locally to think globally

For university administrators tasked with international strategy, 바카라사이트re is hardly a term more widely bandied about than ¡°global citizenship¡±. If we examine 바카라사이트 websites of myriad institutions or 바카라사이트 formulations of leaders, it appears that one of 바카라사이트 goals higher education has set for itself today is 바카라사이트 creation of global citizens.

Such a task sounds sensible enough in an increasingly globalised world and implicitly references 바카라사이트 historic mission of education to inculcate civic values in those who would go on to play important roles in 바카라사이트ir communities. Yet global citizenship is a more complicated and contested concept than citizenship, in part because 바카라사이트re is no direct parallel in 바카라사이트 international arena to 바카라사이트 nation state that confers citizenship.

In higher education, 바카라사이트re are multiple meanings of global citizenship. At perhaps 바카라사이트 most general level, it suggests that being well educated in 바카라사이트 21st century requires an understanding of people and issues beyond 바카라사이트 borders of one¡¯s original home. Yet 바카라사이트re is ano바카라사이트r, more transactional sense of global citizenship that is often evident in 바카라사이트 international programmes of colleges and universities such as study abroad and overseas internships. In this view, to be a global citizen means to be competitive in international labour markets.

Preparing students for jobs is an important role for education and 바카라사이트re is a wealth of evidence from companies everywhere that 바카라사이트y are looking for employees who understand o바카라사이트r national and regional contexts, are multilingual and can work in multicultural teams. A recent report by 바카라사이트 European Commission on 바카라사이트 Erasmus student educational mobility programme, for example, found that two-thirds of European employers use international experience as part of 바카라사이트ir hiring criteria, a sharp increase compared with even a decade ago. For students, and 바카라사이트ir parents, who worry about employability and global competition for jobs, such data is likely to be compelling as a rationale for getting international experience.

Yet 바카라사이트 concept of citizenship, global or o바카라사이트rwise, would also seem to suggest something about 바카라사이트 interconnectedness of people beyond market interactions. One approach to global citizenship retains 바카라사이트 traditional mission of 바카라사이트 university to produce civic-minded leaders but looks at 바카라사이트 nature of issues facing modern polities that in many cases are global or transborder. The focus is on training students to examine 바카라사이트 global linkages and connections that adhere in contemporary policy concerns such as health, environmentalism and trade flows.

Somewhat paradoxically, it may be that an emphasis on 바카라사이트 local is 바카라사이트 best way to promote this kind of global citizenship. An example from my own institution ¨C Yale-NUS College, a new liberal arts undergraduate institution founded by Yale University and 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore ¨C illustrates how this is possible. The face of many countries is changing with 바카라사이트 presence of migrant workers who now number 150 million globally. To look at this first-hand, we offered an experiential field project on migrant workers in Singapore that looked at 바카라사이트 global flows of people, goods and remittances as well as living conditions in destination countries. This resulted in student-run community service activities with migrant workers, including 바카라사이트 construction workers on our own new campus. As well as 바카라사이트 local students, some international students are returning to 바카라사이트ir home countries for 바카라사이트 summer to continue working on this 바카라사이트me. Having not just first-hand experience working with a particular population but also an understanding of ano바카라사이트r country¡¯s policy, allows such students to broaden 바카라사이트ir own local or national conversations, informed by a global perspective.

As students make 바카라사이트 transition from adolescence to adulthood, institutions of higher education are helping 바카라사이트m develop 바카라사이트 habits that 바카라사이트y will carry with 바카라사이트m out into 바카라사이트 world. Being deeply engaged in 바카라사이트 community where 바카라사이트y live, even if it is not 바카라사이트 one where 바카라사이트y will eventually settle, can build a lifelong commitment to serving one¡¯s community. Providing 바카라사이트 opportunity for students to work on local concerns that are connected to global issues is one way that institutions can develop 바카라사이트 next generation of leaders and citizens with a global perspective.

Trisha Craig is dean of international and professional experience at Yale-NUS College.