Strengthening the U.S. Government's Leadership in Promoting International Education: A Discussion Paper.

To continue to compete successfully in the global economy, play a leadership role in the world, and enhance national security, the United States must ensure that its citizens develop a broad understanding of the world, including other languages and cultures. This paper intends to stimulate discussion among senior federal policymakers and interested organizations about how the federal government and other organizations in the field of international education can best raise awareness on the importance of international education, encourage increased investments in international education, and identify and disseminate best practices in international education. After describing efforts made since the signing of President Clinton's international education policy directive in April 2000, the paper proposes a road map for future work in the directive's 10 core areas: (1) increasing and diversifying study and internship abroad; (2) attracting foreign students and scholars to the United States; (3) addressing obstacles to exchange; (4) supporting the development of international awareness, knowledge, and skills in classrooms and campuses; (5) coordinating and supporting U.S. government-sponsored agencies; (6) developing comparative information on educational performance and practice and sharing expertise with other countries; (7) strengthening cross-national academic partnerships; (8) building international expertise in U.S. institutions; (9) promoting the wise use of technology for international education; and (10) ensuring that results are measured and reported in conformance with Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Within each of the 10 core areas, the paper describes briefly what the federal government is already doing and what the executive branch proposes to do as part of the international education initiative. The paper ends with an invitation for public-private collaboration and examples of the kinds of activities that interested groups and individuals might undertake. (BT)