The benefits gained from international education – from brief study abroad trips to full semesters spent in other countries – include enhanced perspective, communication, and a level of ‘big picture’ thinking that is hard to replicate with any other experience. Not only does international education expand student horizons, it also increases future employment options; building connections and trans-cultural skills that are desirable to many multinational companies. International Education Week, from November 18-22 this year, is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State to increase awareness of and participation in study abroad programs and build these skills. Numerous events are planned, including the public release of the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.
The library has many resources to support international education, as well as learning about it. The book collection includes titles like Critical Perspectives on International Education by Yvonne Hébert, International Education at the Crossroads edited by Deborah N. Cohn, Interculturality in International Education by Jane Jackson, Routledge Handbook of International Education and Development by Simon McGrath, Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Students to Engage the World by Veronica Boix Mansilla, and Learning Through Collaborative Research: The Six Nation Education Research Project by Noel F. McGinn. There are also books that examine education more generally through an internationalist point of view, like Enhancing Quality in Higher Education: International Perspectives by Ray Land or International Perspectives on Teaching Excellence in Higher Education by Margaret Wood.
Many databases also help students prepare for studying abroad, or simply with cross-cultural research. Rosetta Stone is one of the newest to join the library’s collection; it is a language-learning tool covering over 30 languages. It helps with reading, writing, and speaking using interactive lessons. Registration is required; using an iu.edu email address.
Another is International Newsstream features recent and archival news (including newspapers, newswires, and news websites) from over 600 sources. It includes major newspapers from the United Kingdom to China to Israel to Thailand. It is a great way to feel the pulse of a country you will soon visit, or need to perform research on.
Another database is the Digital National Security Archive which includes declassified U.S. military, intelligence, diplomatic and human rights documents from 1945 to the present. Documents are presented with substantial context and expert annotations, and help students understand some of the defining international issues of U.S. history.
Need any help with international research? You can Ask Us at iueref@iu.edu. You can also learn about and take advantage of IU East’s Study Abroad opportunities here, and the IU East Archives also documents many of our Study Abroad programs from previous years in the Global Learning Archives pressbook here.