by Thomas Bogenschild
Daily Lobo guest columnist
Recent coverage and editorial comments in the Albuquerque Journal and other papers have suggested that leaders in higher education in New Mexico have no business recruiting foreign students to attend state-funded universities.
An attempt to send this response directly to the Journal was denied.
Playing on fears that are all too common these days, the editorial establishment appears to be saying that student recruitment efforts in India - and, by extension, other foreign countries - are contrary to the interests of the people and the state of New Mexico.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
While there may be more than meets the eye in the New Mexico Highlands University initiative, I disagree with the underlying premise that the incorporation of international students into our universities is a waste of resources and an effort that detracts from a focus on New Mexican university students.
India in particular is a highly appropriate place for New Mexico to make strategic educational connections. The world's largest functioning democracy, India is a leading industrial and economic power and the home of an outstanding and diverse population including intellectuals, businessmen and entrepreneurs. India has made huge economic and educational strides since its independence, even with an extremely diverse geography and a society divided by language, religion, ethnicity, class and caste.
To suggest New Mexico has nothing to gain or learn from India, its people or its history is unfortunate.
There are reasons American companies are engaging with India. Wage differentials and greed are often portrayed as the basis of this trend. Indian businessmen, doctors, scientists, engineers, educators and a host of other highly trained professionals are among the best in the world, and they are being "insourced" in large numbers by American executives because of their expertise, not because they will work for low wages.
Why shouldn't leaders in higher education follow the lead of the private sector and promote international engagement, exchange and training at all levels to improve the quality of our institutions and to provide educational experiences for our students that will make them competitive in the international economy? The way to help New Mexican students succeed is not to isolate them from the international sphere by keeping foreigners out, but rather to make sure they have exposure to and understanding of the international environment in which they will be seeking future employment.
It would be difficult for New Mexicans to appreciate this, given the scant resources devoted to international education in this state, but strong links and student exchanges between universities here and abroad are at the forefront of contemporary trends in higher education.
Before dismissing foreign students as somehow detracting from our educational mission, we must first recognize that international students contribute hard, cold cash to state coffers by paying tuition, fees, rents and by participating in the local economy.
The Association of International Educators estimates that net contributions of foreign students and their dependents in New Mexico amounted to nearly $35 million in fiscal year 2004-05. Foreign students throughout the United States in the same period contributed more than $13 billion to the national economy.
Foreign students also contribute in significant ways to the quality of our academic programs, and they provide links with local and international business and trade. They contribute unique insights into local issues and problems and contribute to our collective understanding of the world beyond our borders.
Unfortunately, New Mexico falls near the bottom of national rankings in all indices related to international engagement in education. Last year, institutions of higher education throughout this state sent only 809 students to study abroad. Kansas sent 1,849 students, and Colorado sent 3,394. And Texas sustains one of the highest rates of international exchange and engagement in the nation.
The University of New Mexico is seeking to improve its international links and believes that progress in this area is essential, but it ranks 105 out of 138 comprehensive doctoral and research universities in sending undergraduates abroad. UNM enrolled some 800 international students on campus last year from all over the world and these have enriched our institution - but we have a long way to go.
- Bogenschild is the director of the UNM Office of International Programs and Studies
