From the ground up, the world's social systems and cultures are rapidly changing. The force of the global economy, the power of global communications, and the ability of all of us to send and receive images and information instantly has bound us together in new ways that we do not yet understand. We certainly do not understand the political impact of these social changes. We know that nothing that happens in one part of the world can be kept from being seen in another part of the world.
The exchange of information and images includes education itself. It is not simply the availability of massive, open, online courses. It includes partnerships between universities across national boundaries. We also see new institutions like Columbia's Global Centers, my university's effort to create places outside of the U.S. for research and exchange on a wide variety of educational subjects. It also includes campuses set up by American universities abroad and the proliferation of online education programs. Perhaps most important, however, is the slowly growing trend of American students studying abroad and foreign students studying here. These 24/7 immersion experiences can provide a deep and multi-dimensional understanding of place. When undertaken correctly, these programs can build understanding and empathy.
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