ISSUE BRIEF:  Toward an International Education Policy for the United States View the PDF Version Legislative Goal:  In the first session of the 107th Congress, bipartisan resolutions emphasizing the importance of international education were introduced in both chambers.  The Senate passed S. Con. Res. 7.  NAFSA and the Alliance urge the House to hold hearings on and pass H. Con. Res. 201.  We also urge the formation of a congressional caucus to address the challenges listed below. In this global age, Americans need enhanced international skills and knowledge to guarantee our national security and economic competitiveness. The tragedy of September 11, 2001, further highlighted Americans' need for foreign language skills and knowledge of foreign areas.  Today’s global coalition against terrorism and our public diplomacy efforts illustrate the importance of educating the world’s future leaders and giving students from around the globe the opportunity to learn about the United States. A national policy on international education – defined as imparting effective global literacy to students and other citizens as an integral part of their education – is vital to ensuring that our citizens and future generations of Americans are prepared to maintain U.S. global leadership. Key challenges:  Several factors are of concern:  declining U.S. competitiveness in the international student market; the extremely low participation of U.S. students in study abroad programs; the critical shortage of Americans’ foreign language skills; and the declining priority given to exchange programs which, in the past, have done much to extend U.S. influence by educating the world’s future leaders. Goals:  To meet these challenges, we propose that the nation commit itself to work toward several ambitious goals, including: Knowledge of a foreign language and a foreign area by all college graduates.          Enhancing the educational infrastructure through which the United States produces international expertise.          Enhancing U.S. competitiveness in the international student market, and streamlining student visa and foreign student monitoring policies and regulations to the maximum extent consistent with national security.          Vastly increasing the number of U.S. students studying abroad; promoting ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender diversity in study abroad; and diversifying the locations, languages, and subjects involved in study abroad.          Invigorating citizen and professional exchange programs and promoting the international exchange of scholars. We also call upon President Bush to reaffirm that it is the policy of the federal government to support international education; to take steps to ensure effective leadership and interagency coordination on the part of his administration; and to seek broad participation by educators and others in the formulation and implementation of the policy. To view the entire NAFSA/Alliance statement, "Toward an International Education Policy for the United States," go to http://www.nafsa.org/content/PublicPolicy/USIntlEdPolicy/alliancepaper.htm. January 2002 NAFSA:  Association of International Educators 1307 New York Avenue, N.W., Eighth Floor, Washington, D.C.  20005-4701 http://www.nafsa.org The Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 620, Washington, D.C.  20036 http://www.alliance-exchange.org