美国大学热衷海外建分校-培养“世界公民”拓展全球市场
发布日期：2021-11-08
American Universities Keen on Establishing International Branch Campuses
To Develop Global Market and Cultivate “World Citizens”
The trend of higher education globalization is becoming more obvious. A recent report by a British research organization pointed out that there are already 162 international branch campuses established away from the home country. This figure represents a 43% increase in the past three years. These schools helped the students broaden their vision; while at the same time, the schools are experiencing culture shock. This was also reported by The Washington Post on October 15, 2009.
International Campuses Increase Quickly
The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, headquartered in London, UK, points out that this trend has appeared only recently. And only 35% of the investigated international branch campuses were set up before 1999. Dr Don Olcott, CEO of this organization analyzed the reason for the trend and said, “they want to cultivate world citizens who understand the social, cultural, and language differences between different places in the world.”
The United States established the most international branch campuses, with a total of 78, while the United Arab Emirates hosts the most international branch campuses within any one country, with a total of 40, followed by China, Singapore, Qatar and Canada.
New York University Abu Dhabi has a School of Arts and Engineering College, and is expected to offer 17 majors and recruit 2,000 college students. The students will take not only several cross-curriculum programs, but also will take a second foreign language.
One of the most famous investments made by the Qatar government in the Persian Gulf is Education Town, with six well-known U.S. universities’ branch campuses here. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) led the trend by bringing programs from its School of the Arts into this Middle East country in 1998. About half of their 300 students come from Qatar local family, and the other half from 30 countries.
Ms. Vanstone, dean at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, thinks that the extensive culture exchange in classes and life can help to inspire the students’ creativity. Vanstone said, “many students feel astonished after they come here, as the contrast between what they see here, including the culture, social phenomenon, and political situation, and what they are used to when growing up in North America, provides them completely new impressions to the world. The characteristics of our students are: open, creative, and explorational. They look for new things, and want to explore what is completely new. This is the kind of students that could be attracted here.
Avoid Cultural Conflict
Both the university and students of international branch campus are facing a completely different political and cultural environment. Carol Brandt, Vice Provost for International Education and Outreach of New York University Abu Dhabi pointed out, applicants must be in Abu Dhabi before applying, with the purpose of reducing the possibility of an uncomfortable situation living abroad.
At the same time, Dr. Don Olcott emphasized that a school has the responsibility to learn more about the host country to ensure the education quality. He said, “one of the challenges of establishing such cooperation is that you have to make sure that you have made enough preparations on culture, language, social regulations, etiquette and etc, where most problems occurs. Cultural conflict might not be caused on purpose, but even a good will might lead to a bad result.”
“Not Acclimatized” Makes Success Difficult
Although the international branch campus market has become more competitive, there have been several campus closures. Dr. Don Olcott concludes the failures are due to two reasons. “The first is that they don’t know the market well. The universities predicted that their program will attract many students in that place while they couldn’t realize this financially. The second reason is that the universities didn’t know the local culture, language, and social regulations well, and operate in a new environment where they couldn’t adapt to well.”
Dr. Don Olcott predicts that the international branch campuses will continue to increase, as these academic organizations, which is influenced by financial crisis, will get some reward by developing global market.
To Develop Global Market and Cultivate “World Citizens”
The trend of higher education globalization is becoming more obvious. A recent report by a British research organization pointed out that there are already 162 international branch campuses established away from the home country. This figure represents a 43% increase in the past three years. These schools helped the students broaden their vision; while at the same time, the schools are experiencing culture shock. This was also reported by The Washington Post on October 15, 2009.
International Campuses Increase Quickly
The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, headquartered in London, UK, points out that this trend has appeared only recently. And only 35% of the investigated international branch campuses were set up before 1999. Dr Don Olcott, CEO of this organization analyzed the reason for the trend and said, “they want to cultivate world citizens who understand the social, cultural, and language differences between different places in the world.”
The United States established the most international branch campuses, with a total of 78, while the United Arab Emirates hosts the most international branch campuses within any one country, with a total of 40, followed by China, Singapore, Qatar and Canada.
New York University Abu Dhabi has a School of Arts and Engineering College, and is expected to offer 17 majors and recruit 2,000 college students. The students will take not only several cross-curriculum programs, but also will take a second foreign language.
One of the most famous investments made by the Qatar government in the Persian Gulf is Education Town, with six well-known U.S. universities’ branch campuses here. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) led the trend by bringing programs from its School of the Arts into this Middle East country in 1998. About half of their 300 students come from Qatar local family, and the other half from 30 countries.
Ms. Vanstone, dean at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, thinks that the extensive culture exchange in classes and life can help to inspire the students’ creativity. Vanstone said, “many students feel astonished after they come here, as the contrast between what they see here, including the culture, social phenomenon, and political situation, and what they are used to when growing up in North America, provides them completely new impressions to the world. The characteristics of our students are: open, creative, and explorational. They look for new things, and want to explore what is completely new. This is the kind of students that could be attracted here.
Avoid Cultural Conflict
Both the university and students of international branch campus are facing a completely different political and cultural environment. Carol Brandt, Vice Provost for International Education and Outreach of New York University Abu Dhabi pointed out, applicants must be in Abu Dhabi before applying, with the purpose of reducing the possibility of an uncomfortable situation living abroad.
At the same time, Dr. Don Olcott emphasized that a school has the responsibility to learn more about the host country to ensure the education quality. He said, “one of the challenges of establishing such cooperation is that you have to make sure that you have made enough preparations on culture, language, social regulations, etiquette and etc, where most problems occurs. Cultural conflict might not be caused on purpose, but even a good will might lead to a bad result.”
“Not Acclimatized” Makes Success Difficult
Although the international branch campus market has become more competitive, there have been several campus closures. Dr. Don Olcott concludes the failures are due to two reasons. “The first is that they don’t know the market well. The universities predicted that their program will attract many students in that place while they couldn’t realize this financially. The second reason is that the universities didn’t know the local culture, language, and social regulations well, and operate in a new environment where they couldn’t adapt to well.”
Dr. Don Olcott predicts that the international branch campuses will continue to increase, as these academic organizations, which is influenced by financial crisis, will get some reward by developing global market.
