More than 40 years ago, recognizing that higher education would have to take responsibility for educating Americans about other world cultures and societies, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act (later known as the Higher Education Act). Title VI of this act has provided extensive support for foreign languages and area studies development in the nation's universities and colleges. As a result, millions of Americans have been able to acquire knowledge about other parts of the world. Today, there are new issues, demands, and perspectives. Americans are more likely than ever to encounter different cultures, business practices, histories, ideologies, and ways of life. In addition, the United States is increasingly called upon to intervene or mediate in regional and local crises far beyond its borders. U.S. educational institutions must continue to help citizens to have informed opinions about complex international problems. Changing Perspectives on International Education is designed to be used by administrators and planners in U.S. education. It covers the field of international studies as it has developed in the United States, from its beginnings and accomplishments under Title VI to the current paradigmatic shifts taking place in research, teaching, and outreach. A major section is devoted to internationalizing the curriculum of K-12 schools. It concludes with a look at future trends and how they may affect international scholarship and training in the new century. It also provides an extensive bibliography of international resources.

The pages of this book paint a portrait of thirteen scholars and their lifelong professional accomplishments in and contributions to teaching, service, and research in global international education around the world. Their extraordinary work contributed extensively to the development, direction and growth of the global education movement in the United States initiated by James M. Becker as Director of School Services for the Foreign Policy Association, New York City, in the 1960s. These scholars were honored with the Distinguished Global Scholar Award presented by the International Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies, the largest professional organization for social studies educators in the United States. Their narratives comprise an intriguing mosaic of backgrounds, scholarship, and contexts from which their extraordinary work blossomed in building bridges—not walls—among peoples and nations. The publication is intended to honor the professional achievements in global international education of these scholars who have devoted their professional lives to creating a better world through their work. More importantly, this book exposes globally-minded individuals, educators, scholars, administrators, and policymakers around the world to empowering role models from Africa, Europe, and the United States and opportunity to learn about the multitude of professional activities, teachings, partnerships, exchange programs and research in which they might engage to promote a deeper understanding about the cultural, geographic, economic, social, and technological interconnectedness of the world and its people---the very purpose of global education.