Transatlantic Week Miami 2004

Moderator : B.Murphy
See his resume

Venue

Miami Children's Museum
Watson Island
980 MacArthur Causeway
Miami Fl. 33132

B. International Education: Bridging the US gap in terms of citizens exposure to international realities
Past decades successful Transatlantic relations was not a gift from God. It was built by generations of Europeans and Americans who created a positive game where all sides were winning. Played by a few leaders, a small elite, this success was based upon a few simple facts, namely good understanding of each other, exposure to each other’s culture. What was required for a small elite is now a prerequisite for large numbers of citizens as international issues affect everybody’s life. Nonetheless while in Europe international education is gaining momentum for more than a decade, in the US, the trend is reverse. Should it continue that it could become a major impediment to constructive Transatlantic relations as well as US ability to play its role within the international community.
More details...

09.30 - 10.30
B1. Do Americans and Europeans understand 'International Education' in the same way? (debate)

11.00 - 12.30
B2. How to Improve International Education: Addressing the Challenges of Globalization, Competition and Technology (panel discussion)

14.00 - 15.00
B3. Creating the Transatlantic Agenda for Education (working session)

15.30 - 17.30
B4. Recommendations for the Agenda (working session)

Issues
It is expected that the session helps to:

- see if education can play a role in ameliorating future Transatlantic disputes;
- identify if we need some formalized student exchanges initiated top down (an EU-US “Erasmus” program for instance) as well as the current bottom-up;
- see if degree structures and mutual recognition of diplomas can be improved;
- see if Europe may help the US to improve its international education policy
- look at how new technologies may offer new models of Transatlantic co-operation in education;
- investigate how “informal” educative techniques may be needed and used.

It identifies the key challenges (globalization, competition, and technology) and outlines possible responses. It is a good focal point that blends what we've been discussing.