Frontlines: July + August 2017

In this issue: a globally competent citizenry in unprecedented political times, the risk of the United States losing international talent and its competitive edge, the focus on competencies, and the changing landscape of higher education.

Uncertainties and Unprecedented Political Challenges: Ensuring a Globally Competent Citizenry

By Esther D. Brimmer, DPhil, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO

The new administration in the United States, coupled with world events, may be causing the U.S. government to recalibrate relationships around the world, but never has it been more important for academic institutions, faculty, and international educators to consider how to build academic partnerships—even in the face of budget cuts or challenging political tensions among states—and learn from each other about how to meet new challenges together. As the United States and other countries seek to address the uncertainties and struggle with the intense debate about whether to remain interconnected to the global community or to regress into isolationism and nativism, developing global connections through international education takes on a challenging yet critically important public policy role. In this debate, NAFSA stands firmly among those who seek U.S. policies that make the United States more welcoming, more globally engaged, and better educated. NAFSA’s efforts work to oppose isolationism and foster the exchange of ideas, create a commonsense immigration process, and encourage enlightened global engagement.

Is the United States at Risk of Losing International Talent and Its Competitive Edge?

By Jill Welch, NAFSA Deputy Executive Director for Public Policy

The United States needs to maintain its ability to compete