Internationalising Higher Education

Each year, more than 260,000 students from the United States pursue educational opportunities abroad. Traditionally, these students have come from culturally and economically homogenous backgrounds. Diversity in international education from the perspective of outbound American students has been lacking, but this trend is changing. As the next generation of culturally and economically diverse students prepares to enter universities, many institutions outside the US are not prepared to address the unique needs and concerns of this emerging student population and their families. The session focuses on three main topics: why focusing on diversity is imperative for institutions; challenges presented by a more
diverse population of students; and how universities can meet the needs of diverse students. Andrew Gordon will look at how programmes in the US, with the goal of recruitment and retention of diverse students, have helped students to better integrate within the university community. Tricia Jenkins will focus on the University of Liverpool's Black Roots Summer School, in partnership with the University of Connecticut, an accredited
programme exclusively for low-income students who are the first in their families to enter higher education