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SCR123.........................................................by SCHROEDER INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION - Stating legislative findings and supporting specified international education. 01/18 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing 01/21 Rpt prt - to Educ
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]] Fifty-ninth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2008IN THE SENATE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 123 BY SCHROEDER 1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2 STATING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND SUPPORTING SPECIFIED INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION. 3 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 4 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that international education is a key cor- 5 nerstone to Idaho's global competitiveness and international education is of 6 vital importance to Idaho's economy by providing opportunities for 7 transformational learning, citizenship and leadership, contributing to diver- 8 sity both in and outside the classroom, enhancing both academic and 9 cocurricular programs, and promoting cross-cultural understanding among its 10 citizens; and 11 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to recruiting stu- 12 dents from many parts of the world to study in our educational institutions. 13 Between 2006 and 2007, 1,969 international students and their families studied 14 and lived in Idaho, contributing $31.6 million in tuition, fees and expenses. 15 Many international students are engaged in research that results in products 16 and services that directly benefit Idaho's economy and improves the everyday 17 lives of its citizens; and 18 WHEREAS, when international students return to their home countries and 19 gain influential positions in companies and society, they are an important 20 asset to Idaho. International alumni spread recognition and a positive image 21 of Idaho and the United states in their home countries and they are also vital 22 in developing networks and connections for Idaho businesses and higher educa- 23 tion throughout the world; and 24 WHEREAS, at the kindergarten through grade 12 levels, international stu- 25 dents bring diverse perspectives, provide opportunities for learning toler- 26 ance, and enrich their peers' social and political understanding of other 27 countries and cultures; and 28 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to providing study 29 abroad opportunities for its students. In 2006, Idaho Senator Larry Craig 30 cosponsored U.S. Senate Resolution 308, proclaiming 2006 as the Year of Study 31 Abroad. The world is full of pressing challenges, including hunger, poverty 32 and disease; and 33 WHEREAS, study abroad is a springboard for students to become engaged in 34 real world problems, helping them become better communicators and problem 35 solvers, hone leadership skills and gain empathy for those who are suffering 36 from economic hardship, famine or tyranny. Study abroad helps transform stu- 37 dents into globally informed citizens, unafraid to grapple with the tough 38 questions and obstacles of tomorrow; and 39 WHEREAS, to bring multinational companies to Idaho and provide local com- 40 panies with international expertise, Idaho's workforce must gain the global 41 competency to address the needs of business; and 42 WHEREAS, the best method for our students to achieve global competency is 43 through direct international experience integrated into their education; and 44 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to bringing inter- 2 1 national artists, performances, exhibitions, conferences, events and forums to 2 its education institutions and communities. Idaho festivals, such as the 3 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, recently awarded the nation's 4 highest honor, the National Medal of Arts, inspire our youth by offering clin- 5 ics and workshops where they can learn from celebrated musicians and 6 performers. International performances and exhibitions not only entertain us, 7 they challenge Idahoans to rethink their conceptions about the world. Interna- 8 tional events and forums provide a platform to explore and generate open and 9 honest debate on important topics such as global warming, the war on terrorism 10 and genocide; and 11 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to 12 internationalizing the curriculum at kindergarten through grade 12 schools, 13 colleges and universities; and 14 WHEREAS, course offerings at Idaho education institutions must reflect the 15 global aspect in every discipline. For instance, a computer produced in Idaho 16 may have parts from Mexico, be marketed in Europe, and have product support 17 from India. Research that used to be conducted in relative isolation is much 18 more likely these days to be facilitated through collaborative efforts with 19 scientific labs abroad; and 20 WHEREAS, in order to produce students able to compete successfully in a 21 global marketplace, Idaho kindergarten through grade 12 schools, colleges and 22 universities must prepare them for that experience; and 23 WHEREAS, Idahoans need to be conversant in other languages, learn how to 24 effectively network with people from other countries, feel at ease working in 25 Boise or in Coeur d'Alene as in Shanghai or Nairobi. Idaho educational curric- 26 ulum needs to prepare Idahoans to be globally engaged citizens and leaders; 27 and 28 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho is committed to expanding inter- 29 national trade. In 2006, Idaho exports exceeded $3.7 billion and was linked to 30 nearly 10% of its workforce. Key markets for Idaho's goods included China, 31 Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Japan; and 32 WHEREAS, Idaho companies and higher education institutions are engaged in 33 developing new products, technologies and innovative ways to globally market 34 its products; and 35 WHEREAS, higher education institutions in Idaho provide foreign language, 36 area studies and cross-cultural communication courses. They promote mutual 37 understanding between Idahoans and people from other parts of the world and 38 train business executives and personnel in successful strategies to compete in 39 markets abroad; and 40 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Idaho recognizes that international 41 students and scholars contribute significantly to the cultural, artistic and 42 social fabric of Idaho's educational institutions and communities; that inter- 43 national trade, supported through international education, is critical to 44 Idaho's economy; that international exchange and study abroad promote 45 transformational learning and global competency; that international festivals, 46 events and forums sponsored by Idaho's educational institutions promote cul- 47 tural awareness and appreciation of the arts, and provide an avenue for the 48 important issues of our time to be examined and that the internationalization 49 of curriculum at Idaho education institutions and schools is crucial to pre- 50 paring students for an increasing interconnected world. 51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses- 52 sion of the Fifty-ninth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre- 53 sentatives concurring therein, that Idaho supports: 54 (1) Infusing courses with international topics, and across disciplines, 55 to increase students' understanding of global issues and provide opportu- 3 1 nities to become engaged in those issues; 2 (2) Developing more area studies courses, and in particular, courses that 3 examine Islamic, Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries; 4 (3) Promoting the study of foreign languages, and in particular, develop 5 and offer more courses in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and other languages 6 crucial to Idaho's economic growth; 7 (4) Providing opportunities for students in all majors to participate in 8 programs to study abroad, volunteer abroad and participate in internships 9 abroad to enrich their academic and professional training, gain new 10 intercultural perspectives, hone their leadership and global competency 11 skills and become engaged in real-world problems and issues; 12 (5) Recruiting more international students to Idaho campuses and schools 13 so that more opportunities exist for Idaho natives and international stu- 14 dents to interact effectively, gain intercultural skills and understand- 15 ing, to share their views, perceptions and experiences, and to create a 16 cadre of international business and political allies; 17 (6) Developing innovative international events, forums, conferences, 18 exhibitions and festivals to showcase world artists and musicians, perfor- 19 mances and works of art, and provide venues for Idahoans to explore global 20 issues and learn about other cultures; and 21 (7) Encouraging kindergarten through grade 12 integration of materials, 22 programs and partnerships that build on the Idaho Content Standard for 23 Global Perspectives.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 17623
International education impacts Idaho citizens on multiple levels. Idaho's
economy cannot prosper without our graduates gaining the global competency to
build business partnerships across the world. International education is
essential to developing new and innovative products; expanding trade and
global competitiveness; creating a cadre of political and business allies;
providing opportunities for leadership, transformational learning and cross-
cultural understanding. It contributes to our appreciation of the arts and
offers an avenue for important issues of our time to be openly and honestly
examined and debated. This concurrent resolution highlights the importance of
international education to improve higher education in Idaho through support
for infusing courses with international topics across disciplines; developing
more area studies courses; promoting the study of foreign languages; providing
opportunities for students to participate in programs to study abroad,
volunteer abroad, and participate in internships abroad; recruiting more
international students and scholars to Idaho campuses and schools; developing
innovative international events, forums, conferences, exhibitions and
festivals to showcase world artists and musicians, performances and works of
art, provide venues for Idahoans to explore global issues and experience other
cultures; and encouraging K-12 integration of materials, programs, and
partnerships that build on the Idaho Content Standard for Global Perspectives.
FISCAL NOTE
The fiscal impact is dependent upon which educational improvements the
legislature chooses to pursue.
Contact
Name: Senator Gary Schroeder
Phone: 208-332-1324
Rep. Tom Trail
Phone: 208-332-1184
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SCR 123