Benifits of Academic Globalization

The Benefits of Academic Globalization
April, 10, 2014

1. Abstract:
This article discusses how academic globalization is increasing at a very high rate and in what way it can be beneficial. Moreover, it states two opposing views where some people support academic globalization, while others are against it. The data was conducted based on four articles where each one discusses a different perspective concerning the benefits of academic globalization. After analyzing each article, it was detected that academic globalization offers a better education where more opportunities and experience are offered. In addition to that, it was seen how academic globalization provokes the expanding of knowledge around the world. On the other hand, some articles showed why people are against academic globalization. However, the benefits surpass the losses. People should promote academic globalization to achieve a better world, yet, more research and study should be done in order to convince people with better evidence.

2. Introduction:
Globalization is one of the most discussed issues nowadays. It has several branches which vary from economic, cultural, academic, and industrial and many more. However, the one that is increasing at a very high rate is academic globalization. Since academic globalization includes the act of studying abroad, it can be defined as is the act of traveling of students to study in a country other than the mother one. Nowadays, students are getting many opportunities to study abroad, in addition to other reasons, which is why they are studying outside their home countries. “He [Wiladavsky] stated that 3 million students are now studying outside their home countries, a 57% increase from 2000” (Apurvadesai, 2010, p.1). These numbers show the tremendous increase in movement of students around the world. Academic globalization has become one of the most debatable issues. People who are against it believe that once the students graduate and see many opportunities to work abroad they would not come back. On the other hand, people who are with it believe that it provides the students with better education and higher experience. In fact, academic globalization can be beneficial in several ways.

3. Literature review:
Apurvadesia (2010), comments on the discussion of the World Affairs council which focuses on the rise of academic globalization. According to Wiladavsky, who was among the speakers, there is an increase in the movement of students around the world. Moreover, he discussed the concept of global ranking that motivates students to work and study harder to reach their goals and become part of the top class. In addition to that, Apurvadesia states that the idea of brain drain is actually brain circulation.
Wiladavsky (2010), argues that countries should not be afraid from globalization. On the contrary, Wiladavsky tries to shed the light on the benefits of academic globalization. He believes that it helps in expanding knowledge and in trading of minds. Moreover, Wiladavsky tries to shed the light on the opposing point of view and give reasons behind the fear of globalization.
Wiladavsky (2010), focuses on why colleges should support globalization. Wiladavsky argues by believing that globalization of higher education helps in identifying talents. Moreover, he believes that successful competition is achieved by higher education.
Goodman(2013), argues that Americans should study abroad in order to get international experience. Moreover, he believes that student would appreciate difference and diversity through meeting new people. In addition to that, he considers that by interacting with people from different countries, students would be trained to all sectors of leaders.

4. Better education:
One of the main reasons why academic globalization is beneficial is by offering a better education for the students. This is due to the fact that more opportunities and better experience are provided.
4.1 More opportunities:
Students get better education by having a wide variety of majors to choose where they fit. Some countries lack majors which are available in others and thus, instead of doing a major that they are not interested in, they have the opportunity to study abroad the major they always dreamt of. For example, in Lebanon, petroleum engineering is not available; however, some students are interested in such a major. So instead of looking for another major to study, they can simply apply in another country which includes such majors. Moreover, a master degree is another opportunity provided in some countries and deprived in others. In developed countries such as USA or Europe, the master degree offered provides the students with better credentials. Students would be more knowledgeable and updated to recent discoveries. A student having a BS degree has less opportunity than a student having a master degree when applying a certain job especially, if the master degree was from a country offering a higher education.

4.2 More experience:
Another reason why students are provided with a better education is the high experience they get. The concept of brain circulation applies here, where students get different degrees from different countries. ” A student may leave China, go to Singapore for an undergraduate degree, then to US for a Master’s degree, then Australia to work for a couple of years, then back to China for a job with a multi-national company”(Apurvadesai, 2010,p.2). In this example, Apurvadesai describes how having the opportunity to study in different countries provides the student with the higher experience and characteristics required for a job in a multi-national company. Moreover, living in a different country, having different culture, language, habits and lifestyle, increase experience. When students travel, they try to accommodate with the changes around them. This process provides them with higher experience when it comes to dealing with other countries. In addition to that, students will be provided with better communication skills. They would learn to speak new languages fluently due to practice and would be familiar with the demand of other countries. In this way, if there was a foreign customer, the student will directly provide him/her with the service he/she is more likely to be interested in.

5. Expands global knowledge:
Another reason why academic globalization is beneficial is that it helps in expanding knowledge across the world. This is achieved by discovering new talents. Some countries are deprived from a variety of domains. On the contrary, when students travel to encounter their education, they would be exposed to a wide selection of domains. In this way, students would be able to discover new talents in them and introduce it to their local country. Moreover, academic globalization promotes the sharing of information between countries. When students get their education in a foreign country, they would be introduced to new concepts, studies and researches. People against academic globalization argue that the country offering the higher education takes away from the learning of the native country. However, introducing new concepts is not bad to other countries. In fact, as RAND economist James Hosek told the Cronicle of Higher Education that “When new knowledge is created, it is a public good and can be used by many”(Wiladavsky, 2010, p.3). When students return back to their countries, they would share the knowledge they acquired and help in developing their nations.
6. Conclusion:
In conclusion, academic globalization is a trend that is increasing at a very high rate. It is a one of the most debatable issues in the society. Some people are with it and think it is beneficial, while others are against it and think it is harmful. However, it can be beneficial in several ways. It provides better education for students through having more experiences and opportunities. Moreover, academic globalization promotes global knowledge between different countries leading to the free trade of mind. In fact, people should support academic globalization to develop the whole world.

7. References:
Apurvadesai. (May 15, 2010). Academic Globalization- The Emergence of International Universities. In Reading, Writing and Reflecting. Retrieved from http://apurvadesai.com/2010/05/15/academic-globalization-the-emergence-of-international-universities/
Goodman, A. E., Berdan, S. N. (October 17, 2013). A Year Abroad vs. a Year Wasted. In The New York Times. Retrieved from, http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/10/17/should-more-americans-study-abroad/every-student-should-study-abroad
Wildavsky, B. (January 5, 2010). Academic Globalization Should Be Welcomed. Not Feared. In Brookings. Retrieved from, http://brookings.edu/research/articles/2010/01/15- globalization-wildavsky.
Wildavsky, B. (April 4, 2010). Why Colleges Shouldn’t Fear Global Competition. In The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from, http://chronicle.com/article/The-Global-Benefits-of/64932/.

References: Apurvadesai. (May 15, 2010). Academic Globalization- The Emergence of International Universities. In Reading, Writing and Reflecting. Retrieved from http://apurvadesai.com/2010/05/15/academic-globalization-the-emergence-of-international-universities/ Goodman, A. E., Berdan, S. N. (October 17, 2013). A Year Abroad vs. a Year Wasted. In The New York Times. Retrieved from, http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/10/17/should-more-americans-study-abroad/every-student-should-study-abroad Wildavsky, B. (January 5, 2010). Academic Globalization Should Be Welcomed. Not Feared. In Brookings. Retrieved from, http://brookings.edu/research/articles/2010/01/15- globalization-wildavsky. Wildavsky, B. (April 4, 2010). Why Colleges Shouldn’t Fear Global Competition. In The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from, http://chronicle.com/article/The-Global-Benefits-of/64932/.