How is Education Abroad Related to the College/University Mission Statement?

Write-up by Dr. Sandi Smith

It is critical to draw justification for a study abroad program from the college/university mission statement. Look for excerpts from mission statements and senior level administration for internationalizing the curriculum, developing students with a global perspective, preparing students for a global workforce, etc.

Write a mission statement for study abroad that makes it a priority to integrate international education services into the foundation of the college/university mission. A study abroad office mission consists of an academic enhancement role and student support services. It is essential to consist of with your mission statement, some measurable intended outcomes for study abroad. Your statements of intended outcomes will guide your policies and practice.

It is also essential to understand that every single institution invests dollars and staff in endeavors that support and improve the institutional mission and outcomes. Just as we see distinct levels of support for campus housing on a variety of campuses, we also see distinct levels of support for international education.

Study abroad has lengthy been regarded as an elective or “luxury” experience and thus has not been tied to the core values (and consequently finances) of most institutions. The closer you correlate study abroad with institutional priorities, the a lot more leverage you will have in gaining support for your endeavors.

An example of a campus mission statement that is easily identifiable with education abroad.

Mission Statement:

We educate students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society.

And they go on to describe their core values as:

Academic Excellence, Diversity, Equity, and Shared Governance, Education of the Entire Individual, Adherence to Common Ethical and Moral Standards Community Service and Global Citizenship, Environmental Stewardship.

This makes it simple to integrate study abroad into the core values of the institution.

One more example of a university mission statement is:

Our mission is to educate and nurture students, to produce knowledge, and to present service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world.

Nevertheless, some university mission statements call for a small a lot more work to integrate international education into the core values. For example think about the following mission statement

Our mission is to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge to address the needs of people and society. This mission is accomplished by way of instruction, which communicates the knowledge and values and imparts the skills needed for individuals to lead responsible, productive, and personally satisfying lives by way of investigation, scholarship, and creative activities, which advance information and improve the educational procedure and via public service, which contributes to the solution of societal problems and enriches the top quality of life in the State.

And but other university mission statements do not lend themselves simply to integrating international education as a core value.

Our mission as a multipurpose public institution is to develop educated persons of inquiring, creative, and disciplined intelligence to be competent in careers that are fulfilling and to be socially responsible contributors to society. This University strives, for that reason, to graduate individuals on the bachelor’s and master’s level who have had sound education in the arts and sciences and relevant specialized training built upon that base.

A study abroad office mission statement can also come in many diverse forms and visions. The following mission statement is an example of a diverse vision:

The Office for Study Abroad promotes opportunities for global education to all eligible students in order for them to gain an understanding of other countries, regions, languages, and cultures via direct overseas experience.

Some universities have taken the approach of being very explicit about their connection to the institution’s core values:

In support of the University’s mission to “promote the process of lifelong understanding from both global and integrative perspectives,” the Office for Study Abroad provides international education opportunities to students by way of the University’s overseas study centers, international exchange partners, and affiliated organizations. As an extension of the University’s academic program, we promote academic excellence and present access to high high quality international education programs in expanding geographic destinations to serve a diverse student population representing a wide array of academic disciplines. As educators, we facilitate the academic, personal, professional, and intercultural development of students by means of the programs and services we offer.

And one more example of a carefully crafted mission statement that not only integrates international education into the university core value, but also sets criteria and objectives for policy:

We are a world leader in study, teaching, and public engagement. Many hands – at home and abroad – make it so, and a lot of benefit. Study abroad is one of the techniques in which our students and other people build and benefit from our University’s international engagement.

Our mission is to present and facilitate a range of study and education opportunities abroad consonant in breadth and good quality with on-campus curricula, offered for short or long duration according to curricular objectives and in consideration of students’ obligations, at a range of expenses and with opportunities for scholarship or subvention such that study abroad opportunity is available to all students in good standing. Attention to students’ well being, safety, and well-becoming abroad underlies all other considerations.

Our intention is that through study abroad we and our partners prepare students for global citizenship, guiding them to a greater understanding of world and domestic cultures and encouraging them to share that understanding with their hosts abroad and communities at house that students gain or improve location, linguistic, subject, and cultural understanding and competence that students contribute to their host communities and that students emerge wiser and a lot more engaged citizens

About the Author

Study Abroad Europe – Global Understanding Semesters provides study abroad programs for American and Canadian students in Europe. Our study abroad programs include courses in Belize, Cyprus, UK, France, Spain, Europe, Mexico, Argentina, India &amp China.