Federal Global Education Initiatives

I want to thank the entire subcommittee, especially Chairman Kolbe and Congresswoman Lowey for the opportunity to testify today.

I appreciate this opportunity as it allows me to commend you for the leadership you have provided the education community, particularly as we attempt to reach across borders to encourage cross-cultural understanding and global prosperity.

Higher education plays an instrumental role in fostering economic growth and building democracy and stability. A recent report by UNESCO and the World Bank concluded that developing countries must view higher education as a vital part of their overall development strategy. Higher education is crucial if countries hope to overcome problems of hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and economic stagnation. In an increasingly interconnected world, where such local problems quickly become global issues, our interests — and indeed all of humanity's interests — are closely aligned with those struggling toward the freedom and economic wellbeing we in this room are privileged to share.

Toward this end, Fairleigh Dickinson University has a documented history of action, achievement and results in the area of international education. Since its founding 60 years ago, the University has dedicated itself to forging partnerships and encouraging understanding throughout the world. Several recent initiatives illustrate our commitment to leadership in global education. They are offered as examples of initiatives any university might employ if committed to preparing individuals to understand and participate in our increasingly interrelated world.

One unique endeavor combines educational technology with international education. We view the Internet as a fundamental learning, research, communication and collaboration tool. And we feel so strongly about its importance that we have become the first university to require that all undergraduate students take four online courses.

Perhaps the most powerful part of our distance-learning initiative is the creation of Global Virtual Faculty — professionals and scholars from around the world who link on-line with our students. If the Internet can reach out to the world, the corollary is that it can also be used to bring the world to campus.

Working with our campus-based faculty and interacting with our students online, Global Virtual Faculty bring a global dimension to the learning experience by offering diverse perspectives on the issues being considered. A student studying International Affairs might have on-line exchanges with a Member of Parliament or a political columnist from India. A student in a macro-economics class might correspond with a finance executive at the World Bank in Brussels or an economist from the University of Moscow.

No other university has undertaken such a transformational initiative. This effort has been recognized by other universities, and supported by the State of New Jersey and foundations and corporate entities like AT&T.

Fairleigh Dickinson University has been associated with the United Nations since its inception in 1945. This year, together with U.N. Ambassador's Club, we established the U.N. Pathways Program in which current and former ambassadors lecture and teach courses at the University. Ambassadors from throughout the world are providing students insight into the most critical issues of our time. This semester alone, we've welcomed ambassadors from Japan, India, Pakistan, Spain and Israel.

In furtherance of our partnership with the U.N., we are one of just three universities in the country to earn accreditation as an NGO – a nongovernmental organization associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations. As such, faculty and students enjoy special access to U.N. facilities and programs. This access enables the University to remain informed and involved in important issues that concern global leaders.

This involvement in important global issues has a long history at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Our founder, Dr. Peter Sammartino, co-founded the International Association of University Presidents. This organization of 700 presidents, from 100 different countries, fosters multinational cooperation through higher education. Recently, I was honored to be named to the Executive Board of this organization.

In addition, we were the first American university to own its own campus overseas, Wroxton College, which we purchased from Oxford University in 1963. What's more, we believe an important part of our mission is to educate future leaders from around the world; so for many years we have made significant efforts to ensure a strong, multi-national student population and equally strong international partnerships.

Fairleigh Dickinson played a pivotal role in the definition and development in the University of Bangkok, which today serves 20,000 students in Thailand. We continue today with partnerships in Spain, Turkey and Cyprus, among others.

These examples represent just a sample of our global activities and commitment to maintain our leadership role in global education.

Distinguished Members, I am here because Fairleigh Dickinson University is seeking Federal support to further our global education activities. But, even more importantly, I am here to emphasize the importance of a Federal partnership with Higher Education – a partnership that ensures American students will have the skills to compete, lead and prosper in the global marketplace of ideas, commerce and culture.

As H.G. Wells wrote, "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." In partnership, together, we have a head start in this race.

Thank you again for this opportunity.

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