International Education and Foreign Languages: Keys to Securing America’s Future
Source: National Research Council/National Academies Press
From press release:

The 14 U.S. Department of Education programs designed to strengthen education in foreign languages and in international and area studies — known collectively as Title VI and Fulbright-Hays — have made some progress but lack the resources necessary to keep pace with their mission, says a new report from the National Research Council. And the Education Department does not appear to have a master plan for these efforts, which may not bode well for the nation’s security and competitiveness.

More support from all levels of the U.S. education system is needed to develop an integrated approach to improving foreign language skills and expertise on other cultures, beginning in the primary grades, the report says. Also, the Department of Education should consolidate oversight of its foreign language and international education programs under a high-ranking official who would provide strategic direction and coordinate its work with related activities at other federal agencies. To be most effective, that position should be a presidential appointment and require Senate confirmation.

Universities should play key roles, partnering with federal officials to create systems to continuously improve the programs, the report says. The systems should help develop performance indicators and engage networks of professionals in the field.

Read for free online.

See Also: Webcast: International Education and Foreign Languages: Keys to Securing America’s Future
The program was recorded on March 27, 2007 and runs 64 minutes.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 28th, 2007 at 9:17 am and is filed under Education, Government and politics, International Relations, Postsecondary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.