Resolution promotes international study

The Higher Education Committee heard from representatives Tuesday.

By Jedd Rosche

Published Feb. 8, 2008

A Missouri House resolution aims to change attitudes for Missouri and international students who want to attend college in the Show-Me State.

State legislators will decide if Missouri will join 13 other states in recognizing the value of “international education” by passing a house resolution. House Higher Education Committee members heard testimony from university and college representatives Tuesday night.

The resolution is nonbinding, but states that the Missouri government recognizes “social importance of cultural awareness, the need to promote study-abroad programs that serve Missouri students and the economic significance of international students who come to Missouri for educational opportunities provided by the state.”

A date for the bill vote has not been set.

Although the resolution creates no specific action, MU International Center Director David Currey said it could help change attitudes toward the global community and bring more economic support in the future.

“Hopefully, once we acknowledge that international education is important, our community will be willing to invest in this,” Currey said.

He said the resolution could bring positive feedback to an issue that had been at least partially overshadowed by controversy surrounding undocumented workers in the United States.

“Recently, in our country, there might have been a fairly negative atmosphere about international relations, particularly after the immigration debate,” Currey said.

Curry worked with the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs — in particular their with Joy Stevenson, the association’s vice president for member relations and the University of Central Missouri International Center director.

Stevenson agreed the resolution was a “good step” and could help acknowledge the social and economic impacts of international students and education have on the state.

Stevenson also testified before the House Higher Education Committee.

He said NAFSA aims to have 1 million students study abroad each year within a decade, a goal she says would be made easier through this resolution.

She said paying for these programs is commonly a problem since international students often have trouble obtaining financial aid.

“We want to clearly identify study abroad locations that are affordable,” Stevenson said. “The costs are an issue.”

Stevenson said she hopes legislators can one day offer more scholarships to international students, whom often have trouble paying for tuition increases.

Stevenson approached Rep. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, about the bill, and he became its sponsor.

Pearce said he had a personal connection to international students because he had hosted students from Kenya and China in his family’s home.

“It’s a real word of consensus among the legislators,” he said. “It shows as a state we recognize that this is important.”

At Tuesday’s testimony, international students told their stories and were members of the audience. Missouri International Student Council President Thitinun Boonseng said the event was a success.

“Between each delegate, we did good job,” Boonseng said.

Boonseng said he had been on the same student visa for 12 years.

Stevenson said more than 220,000 students from the United States were studying internationally last year.