Thinking Globally? Preparing
Students and Employers for
the World Market
Cheryl Matherly
University of Tulsa
SACUCCA
March 7, 2008
The world is flat
Globalization Assumes:
• People Around the Planet are More Connected Than in
Previous Eras
• Information and Money Flow More Quickly Than Ever Before
• Goods and Services Made in One Region are Increasingly
Available Locally
• International Travel is Easier and More Frequent
• International Communication is Quicker and More
Commonplace
–
Chaundry, P. (2004) “Technology, Globalization, and Education Abroad.” NAFSA: International Education Association Annual Conference,
Baltimore, MD.
More Graduates
Will Enter the
Ranks of
“Domestic
Internationals”
What are employers
really looking for?
•
•
•
•
Domain knowledge (subject expertise)
Cognitive, social, and personal skills
Prior work experience
Cross-cultural experience
•
Rand Corporation/National Association of Colleges and Employers, 1994
What makes for a successful
career professional in an
international organization?
Top 5 characteristics
1.
General cognitive skills
(problem solving, analytical
ability)
2.
Interpersonal and relationship
skills
3.
Ambiguity tolerance, adaptivity
4.
Cross-cultural competence
(ability to work well in different
cultures and with people of
different origins)
5.
Personal traits (character, selfreliance, dependability)
Lowest 5 characteristics
1. Competitiveness, drive
2. General educational breadth
3. Internet and information
technology competency
4. Managerial training and
experience
5. Foreign language fluency
RAND Corporation, 2003
International Experience and
Career Development
Study Abroad:
Study Abroad + Internship:
• 62% - Ignite an interest in
a career direction
• 70% - Ignite interest in a
career direction
• 12% - Caused a change
in their career plans
• 83% - Provide skills sets
that influenced their
career path
• 17% - Motivated them to
get a job overseas
Steinberg, M. (2002). ‘Involve me and I will Understand’:
Academic quality in experiential programs abroad.,
Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad,
8, 207-229
• 48% - Engaged in
international work or
volunteerism since
studying abroad
Impact of studying
and working abroad
•
•
•
•
•
Cultural immersion
Personal development
Cross-cultural learning
Language development
Career development
Are we successful?
Globally Competent
Student
•
•
•
•
•
Have a diverse and knowledgeable worldview
Comprehend the international dimensions of their
major field of study
Communicate effectively in another language and/or
cross-culturally
Exhibit cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptability
Continue global learning throughout life
NASULGC International Task Force Report, Nov. 2004
Are we successful?
Employers Evaluate College Graduates’ Preparedness In Key Areas
Mean rating
Very well-prepared Not well prepared
(8-10 rating)
(1-5 rating)
Teamwork
7.0
39%
17%
Ethical judgment
6.9
38%
19%
Intercultural skills
6.9
38%
19%
Social responsibility
6.7
35%
21%
Quantitative reasoning
6.7
32%
23%
Oral communication
6.6
30%
23%
Self-knowledge
6.5
28%
26%
Adaptability
6.3
24%
30%
Critical thinking
6.3
22%
31%
Writing
6.1
26%
37%
Self-direction
5.9
23%
42%
Global knowledge
5.7
18%
46%
American Association of Colleges and Universities, January 2008
Are we successful?
ABET 2000: “Engineering programs must demonstrate that their graduates have:
a)
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
b)
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
c)
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
d)
An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
e)
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
f)
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
g)
An ability to communicate effectively
h)
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a
global and societal context
i)
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
j)
A knowledge of contemporary issues
k)
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice.
Are we successful?
Evidence suggest yes:
• 2004 graduates report
–
–
–
–
More active engagement in their own learning
More time spent studying abroad
More international travel
More emphasis in their programs on openness to diverse
ideas and people
– More awareness of societal and global issues that can
affect engineering decisions
•
Engineering Change: A Study of the Impact of EC2000, ABET 2006
But 2.9% of the study abroad students are engineers;
1.7% are math or computer science majors (IIE Open Doors, 2006)
The challenge for the
university
• Focus on global studies
• Put students in a setting in which they can
begin to learn about different cultures
• Provide an opportunity to compare countries
and cultures while studying such global
problems as environment, sustainability,
globalization, etc.
• Assist with educating students about how
globalization impacts careers
Lincoln Commission
• Create a more globally informed American citizenry
• Increase participation in quality study abroad programs
• Encourage diversity in student participation in study abroad
• Diversify locations of study abroad, particularly in developing
countries
• Create an innovative partnership with higher education to
open more doors for study abroad
• Internationalize U.S. higher education by making study abroad
a cornerstone of undergraduate education.
The Key Elements of the Proposed
Study Abroad Fellowship Program
• Government corporation to be known as the Senator Paul
Simon Study Abroad Foundation
• One million students studying abroad by 2018.
• Increase the diversity of students studying abroad.
• Increase the number of students studying abroad in
nontraditional locations.
• Increase the diversity of institutions with effective study abroad
programs.
• The Foreign Affairs Committee passed H.R. 1469
unanimously and on June 5, 2007 the House of
Representatives passed the bill by voice vote. It was passed
by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Feb. 13, 2008.
Resources for more
information
• NAFSA’s Year of Study Abroad web resources,
[www.nafsa.org] (click on Knowledge Community, then
Education Abroad. See the September 2006 topic on Work,
Internships and Volunteering Abroad (WIVA).
•
Abroad View [www.abroadviewmagazine.com]
• Transitions Abroad [www.transitionsabroad.com]
• University of Michigan International Center’s Overseas
Opportunities Office [www.umich.edu/~icenter/swt]
• Impact of Education Abroad on Career Development, Tillman,
AIFS Foundation
[http://www.aifsfaculty.com/publications_download.htm ]