With the contemporary developments in communication and technology, the world has become a global village. Outsourcing has become common and international businesses have taken the stage. As such, to effectively cope with these developments, an individual needs either studying abroad or having an experience abroad. This helps to make an individual more globally competitive, hence be a good global citizen (Hunter and White, 2).
As a global power, America has realized that it needs to understand the outside world so as to continue holding a competitive edge. According to Loveland (25), experience abroad has a direct correlation with what happens back in America. Therefore, students who have an experience overseas tend to have an advantage on global fronts. This realization has led to some learning institutions such as Goucher College to initiate and support a program for their students to have an experience outside the country. This program is to be incorporated in the learning calendar (Loveland, 1). This comes in the realization of the importance of global experience.
In the global village, it is not required just to have the working skills and experience. On the contrary, an individual needs to understand much more about the external world. A better understanding of all round foreign affairs makes it easy for an individual to smoothly merge with the systems abroad; the making of a global citizen. In this light, the University of Scranton has started a “Tour of Asia without Leaving Campus.” This project is highly visionary. With Asia rising in business and opening up opportunities, the University has identified it as a potential hub for its students. Therefore, a campus based program has been initiated which exposes the students to the demographics, culture, history, foods, local communities and the way of life of different Asian countries such as Japan, China, Taiwan, India among others (The Chronicle, 2-9). With this understanding, the students can easily cope in Asia. From the evidence discussed in this essay, it is clear that having external experience is vital in being globally competitive. Even learning institutions are encouraging their students to gain some overseas experience for their own good.
Works Cited
Loveland, Elaina. Education Abroad Required. 2006. Web, 21st Nov. 2011, http://www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/InternationalEducator/VoicesJanFeb.pdf
Hunter, Bill & White, George P. What does it Mean to be Globally Competent? 2006. Journal of Studies in International Education, Vol. 10 (3), 267-285. Web, 21st Nov. 2011, http://www.globalcompetence.org/pub-pres/WhatDoesitMeantobeGCJSIEFall06.pdf
The Chronicle. The University of Scranton: A Tour of Asia without Leaving Campus. 2011. Web, 21st Nov. 2011, http://chronicle.com/campusViewpointArticle/A-Tour-of-Asia-Without-Leaving/543/
