A |
Globalisation has affected most aspects of our lives. One area which has changed is education. More and more people move to different countries for their studies. At the same time, more people stay at home and study by distance learning. It is now easy to learn without attending a college or university, or attending less often. 'Blended learning' means studying partly in a traditional way in the classroom and partly online or via email. These changes also mean that there is now more interest in 'lifelong learning', the idea that we go on learning throughout our working lives and even into retirement. It is easy to attend 'webinars' or online seminars without being away from our offices. Many adults go back to college later in life because it is so easy to get a qualification without giving up work or disrupting family life. |
B |
Different countries have benefitted from the globalisation of education in different ways. Many British, Australian and American universities run their degree programmes in countries throughout Asia, and many students, parents and employers feel this is a valuable opportunity. Students can get an internationally recognised degree at a much cheaper price than going abroad and so can improve their chances of getting a good job. At the same time, those in the countries providing world-class degrees also benefit. They have greater access to ideas and knowledge from all over the world and having international students enriches their universities. |
C |
However, it is not good news for everyone in some developing countries. It is usually the elite - or the richest people in the large cities -who have access to international education. Many people in rural areas have not even had a primary education. Also, those areas usually do not have reliable internet connections and most people do not own a computer. It will take a bit more time for international opportunities to reach everyone in developing countries. |
D |
One concern people have about globalisation is that it can start to mean 'westernisation'. In other words, local knowledge can be lost and money seen as more important than culture. Education should treat every culture with respect; it should not be just learning about the West, but should include different ways of teaching and approaches from around the world. The aim is to enrich and share; the flow of ideas and information should go from East to West as well as from West to East. |
E |
Educational institutions have changed their focus due to globalisation. There are so many benefits of having overseas students that universities are competing for them, using strategies from the world of business. For example, they visit Education Fairs all over the world and spend time and money creating publicity material and advertisements. There is also more emphasis on the student experience. There is more focus on customer care, especially helping international students to settle in, improve their English and understand the academic culture of the host country. |
F |
There are many advantages to the globalisation of education and the workplace. More people get benefits that were only available to those in the developed countries before. There is more understanding between different nations as people learn about each other's cultures. However, it is important to make sure the benefits reach everyone and don't leave many citizens of the developing world behind. |
