Empowering Global Citizens

US does not enact measures to counter this growing competition, it
faces the risk of being outmaneuvered, outperformed, and outpaced
by countries that have the ability to adapt to ever—increasing rates of
constant change, something that will characterize global markets for
the foreseeable future. In order to achieve this goal, the US. must
possess a citizenry who demonstrate sufficient levels of global com—
petency—that is, they have the right skills, aptitudes, and disposi—
tions necessary to navigate and excel in a highly fluid, globalized,

and increasingly competitive environment. (Balistreri et al., 2012)

The Council of Foreign Relations issued an education report that highlights
the deficits in the global competency of American students:

American teachers, administrators, policymakers, and parents all
need to think about how to better prepare students for life in a
world that will affect them, directly and indirectly, in countless
ways. Young people will need not only the skills outlined here but
also a deep and diverse knowledge base about the world around
them. The histories and foreign policies of other countries, the na~
ture and function of the international system, and an understand—
ing of the challenges and opportunities globalization offers—these
could all be elements of a curriculum dedicated to shaping the glob—
ally literate citizens our civil service, military forces, economy, and
society writ large will need. (Klein 85 Rice, 2012, pp: X—xi)

In recent years, the Asia Society and the Longview Foundation have
worked with more than twenty—five states through the States Network on
International Education in the Schools. This network seeks to support states
in developing their capacities to make students more globally competent
and to make schools more prepared to implement a global education curric—
ulum well (Asia Society, 2008). This network builds on the previous efforts
of the Asia Society to identify and disseminate good practice in international
education through a competition, the Goldman Sachs Foundation Prizes for

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