2008 Woodie Awards
Univ. to play catch-up in competing globally
Kevin Robillard
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News
In an effort to become a top contender in the international arena, the university's new strategic plan calls to launch a slew of new initiatives in the next ten years focusing on the world beyond American borders.
Although the university was one of 55 ranked on U.S. News and World Report's list of study abroad programs to watch, Jonathan Wilkenfeld, who chaired a committee focusing on the international aspects of the university's new strategic plan, admits the university is "a little bit behind the curve" compared to peer institutions.
"There is no room for isolationism," said Saul Sosnowski, the director of the Office of International Programs.
The first draft of the plan, which aims to be the guiding document for the university over the next ten years, calls for the university to become the "public institution of choice for students, faculty and staff committed in engagement with the global community."
The plan calls for a new global studies minor, an international focus on the undergraduate curriculum and an increased push for study abroad and exchange programs.
The university also aims to create a center to oversee these programs, and in a rare
proposal hitching on a recent higher education trend, officials considered setting up an overseas campus for foreign students.
"Events all around the world affect the United States and the university," said Roberto Münster, a senior economics and finance major who was on the committee.
The idea of opening an overseas campus aimed at students in the host country would have distinguished the university from its peers, but officials opted against including such a risky proposition in the plan, Wilkenfeld said.
A number of universities have set up campuses abroad. In Qatar alone, Cornell, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Commonwealth and Texas A&M have campuses. However, none of the university's peer institutions have set up full campuses abroad.
Although the university was one of 55 ranked on U.S. News and World Report's list of study abroad programs to watch, Jonathan Wilkenfeld, who chaired a committee focusing on the international aspects of the university's new strategic plan, admits the university is "a little bit behind the curve" compared to peer institutions.
"There is no room for isolationism," said Saul Sosnowski, the director of the Office of International Programs.
The first draft of the plan, which aims to be the guiding document for the university over the next ten years, calls for the university to become the "public institution of choice for students, faculty and staff committed in engagement with the global community."
The plan calls for a new global studies minor, an international focus on the undergraduate curriculum and an increased push for study abroad and exchange programs.
The university also aims to create a center to oversee these programs, and in a rare
proposal hitching on a recent higher education trend, officials considered setting up an overseas campus for foreign students.
"Events all around the world affect the United States and the university," said Roberto Münster, a senior economics and finance major who was on the committee.
The idea of opening an overseas campus aimed at students in the host country would have distinguished the university from its peers, but officials opted against including such a risky proposition in the plan, Wilkenfeld said.
A number of universities have set up campuses abroad. In Qatar alone, Cornell, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Commonwealth and Texas A&M have campuses. However, none of the university's peer institutions have set up full campuses abroad.
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