Fondness and Frustration: The Impact of American Higher Education on Foreign Students with Special Reference to the Case of Brazil.

The effects of U.S. higher education on foreign students from Brazil were investigated in 1982. Attention was directed to: changes in attitudes toward the U.S. and Brazilian economies, and especially economic relations with the United States; ongoing ties of foreign alumni to the United States and to the colleges attended; and the impact of changed social, political, or economic views on the individual. Interviews were conducted with foreign student undergraduates; graduate students of business and management; graduate students in engineering and other technical fields; and doctoral candidates in a range of fields. None of the students regretted having studied in the United States. However, least happy outcomes were reported by undergraduate alumni, and many reported alienation from Brazilian society upon their return. Graduate school alumni had a much more uniformly positive experience. Many Brazilians were positively affected by U.S. business schools' emphasis on problem solving. Graduate engineering alumni felt that U.S. training put them at the cutting-edge of technology. Post-return frustrations emerged in dealing with government regulations and in continuing work in advanced problems. Recommendations for U.S. government, American colleges, and national/international organizations are included. (SW)