A Call for Aid to Global Education

Foundations should rethink the type and level of their support for student exchanges and other forms of international education, a new report suggests.

In the wake of cutbacks in such programs by federal and state governments, the report says, private grant makers should convene a conference to reexamine their own priorities in that area — particularly their recent shift away from basic research and graduate education to more practical, short-term projects.

The report was issued by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

From 1990 to 1996, the report says, support for international programs in higher education from a group of 800 foundations grew by 8.6 per cent in constant dollars — to $116-million. Grants for international affairs and social sciences rose substantially, but support (in constant dollars) waned for exchanges relating to the arts, graduate and professional education, environmental protection, medical research, and science.

The report — “Paying the Bill for International Education: Programs, Partners, and Possibilities” — will be available after May 1. Free copies (though there may be a shipping charge) are available from Gail Hochhauser, Senior Director for Special Programs, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, 1307 New York Avenue, N.W., Eighth Floor, Washington 20005; (202) 737-3699; fax (202) 737-3657; e-mail GailH@nafsa.org. A summary is expected to be available on the group’s Web site at http://www.nafsa.org.