Cross-border education is a phenomenon in today’s world when one thinks of the many different ways it can be achieved. The definition given by ACE “the movement of people, programmes, providers, curricula, projects, research, and services across national or regional jurisdictional borders” is achieved by both physically being in another country and virtually being in another country. Reports have shown the significant benefits of studying abroad when it comes to being globalized as an individual, but reports have also shown that it is mostly white wealthy individuals who benefit from studying abroad.
Studying abroad ‘virtually’ could reach a larger number of students, thus globalizing a larger number of students, thus increasing the employee pool of globally educated students that American companies are looking for. It has been said that  virtually studying abroad, one will miss out on the true global experience of being embedded in a cultural different from ours. How the hubs in the U.S. will create this global experience is yet to be known. Berkeley Global Campus at Richmond Bay in California is initiating a global campus 10 miles from their main campus. Berkley recognizes that it is a “hefty undertaking… that would take years—possibly decades—and hundreds of millions of dollars to fulfill the university’s vision”
The Ace reports that the one of the issues with international hubs around the globe are jurisdictional boundaries when it comes to policy frameworks and regulations and the lack of academic freedom in another country. International hubs in America could “preserve academic freedom, human rights, political activism, and intellectual property” by being a global campus here in the U.S.
Other benefits of local international hubs on U.S. soil is an alternative to the fear parents have of sending their children abroad because of terrorism. If this trend continues, the partnerships we have now within other countries could diminish. A report’s by EUA’s Senior Adviser Andrée Sursock, warns: “The impressive strides made in international higher education cooperation could be harmed by widespread global conflicts, including those based on religious fundamentalism and resurgent nationalism.”
There are cons and pros to every situation. Cross border education ‘virtually’ is an example of thinking outside the box for alternative ways of reaching more students.