CIEE Contributes to International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange White Paper on Advancing Global Stability through Peaceful Exchange

The Issue brief discusses the importance of increasing access to and diversity in international education and exchange programs.

In today’s interconnected world, where global challenges require global cooperation on solutions, the United States should not retreat from international engagement, but should rather double our efforts to build positive and mutually supportive connections with our neighbors. That is why the International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange, of which CIEE is a founding Member, has written a white paper imploring leaders in the United States government, business, and higher education to create programs and policies that support ambitious goals for international education and exchange, which include:

• 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.

Read the full white paper on Advancing Global Stability through Peaceful Exchange: https://bit.ly/3mcA7N5.

“We believe increasing and diversifying participation in international exchange and public diplomacy programs will prepare the next generation of American and world leaders to affect positive change in our interconnected and multicultural world,” said James P. Pellow, president and CEO of CIEE. “A commitment to people-to-people international exchange programs will enhance America’s competitive advantage, while spreading American values, and nurturing cross-cultural relationships that foster trust and plant seeds of peace.”

Authors of the white paper include Roslyn Clark Artis, JD, EdD, President of Benedict College; Connie LeDoux Book, PhD, President of Elon University; Jennifer Clinton, CEO of Cultural Vistas; John S. Lucas, PhD, President and CEO of ISEP and Chair-Elect of the Forum Board of Directors; James P. Pellow, President and CEO of CIEE, Inc; and Dawn Michele Whitehead, PhD, Vice President of the Office of Global Citizenship for Campus, Community, and Careers at the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

The International Coalition for Global Education and Exchange will host a free online webinar on Monday, April 26, at 12- 1 p.m. EDT with several of the authors for those who want to learn more about these goals and how we might work together to achieve them. Registration is open now, and all are invited and welcome to attend: https://forumea.org/training-events/webinars/.

Media contact: Leslie Taylor, ltaylor@ciee.org