Greetings,

My name is Deb Butler and I too am in my last semester of the Higher Education Administration program. I work as an Administrative Assistant at the front desk at the GCMC (Graduate Career Management Center) in the Zicklin School of Business here at Baruch. I interact with many international students and I have learned a lot from them, which has sparked my interest for this class. I look forward to learning more about the whole process from both sides on all levels.

After reviewing the readings for this week, I have been thinking about the need for the United States to keep up with Internationalization in order to stay in the forefront of being the leader in Higher Education. Although the United States is currently the most popular country for international students to come to, the number is declining as other initiatives are being introduced in several other countries. Globalization is challenging the Higher Education system in the United States. Students from China and India, which account for the majority of international students in America, will have other options as other countries step up Higher Education with programs such as cross border student mobility and academic integration. But the question will remain, will these students remain in their home country or will they continue to come abroad and if they do, what is their real motive. Is it the education they receive in the United States or is it the opportunities they will receive by being educated in the United States. One of the benefits of studying in the United States is securing a job and a work visa to stay here. Will other countries be as inviting? I am guessing it will depend on the job market and opportunities available to students in each country.

Another interesting point from the readings was the research done on the skills students learn from studying abroad and how employers are looking for students with international experience. Employers today want students who are not just educated formerly but who are ready for new challenges and have problem solving ability. These skills can be achieved from studying abroad. The skills one learns from studying abroad cannot be taught in the classroom. They are gained from experience and the experience of studying abroad is more than the academics one receives from studying abroad.

The United States needs to keep up with the globalization of Higher Education from both viewpoints of securing the demand for international students wanting to study here as well as increasing the demand for students wanting to study abroad.