January 3, 2006
Purdue president to attend D.C. summit on international education
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke will take part this week in a summit on the future of America's position as a magnet for international students from around the globe.
The two-day U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education begins Thursday (Jan. 5) in Washington, D.C. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings will be the hosts.
"Nothing less than the future of America is at stake," Jischke said. "Talented people from throughout the world have come to the United States to study because of the quality of our universities.
"These gifted individuals provide a healthy challenge for America's best students, and many of them stay and become part of the intellectual fabric of our nation by working in industry, health care, research and even higher education. Those who return home take with them a better understanding and appreciation for our country. Under either scenario, international students are a positive force for America. They make our country stronger, and they make the world more hospitable to American ideals."
The summit, organized by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, will focus on how to attract foreign students and scholars to study in the United States, as well as how to encourage more American students to receive part of their education abroad.
In addition, participants will discuss marketing of U.S. higher education programs abroad, reaching out to underserved populations, understanding visa and regulatory processes, cooperating to meet exchange priorities, and fully utilizing the international education resources of community colleges.
The summit also will draw attention to key investments that could strengthen international higher education for Americans, including increasing access to study abroad, encouraging non-traditional study abroad locations, strengthening non-traditional language acquisition, developing dynamic international strategies at U.S. universities and colleges, and engaging the public and private sectors in a shared national vision for the future.
All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will be represented at the summit. Attendees will include leading public and private research institutions, as well as community colleges, historically black institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, religiously affiliated institutions and women's colleges. Also invited are the principal presidential higher education associations and the heads of the federal science and humanities bodies.
Jischke currently serves as chairman of the Association of American Universities, which represents the top 62 research universities in North America, and also is the current chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors. In addition, Jischke is on the board of the American Council on Competitiveness.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Source: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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