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ACE Survey of International Attitudes and Knowledge

Prepared by the American Council on Education, Center for Institutional and International Initiatives, as part of the Status Report on Internationalization.

Major Findings

Knowledge about international issues is important in our ever more global society, especially for future generations.

• Over 50 percent of respondents believed knowledge of international issues is important for them, while almost 90 percent believed it is important for their children or young people today.

Learning foreign languages is important for students who will be our future workforce.

• The public expects U.S. colleges and universities to require foreign language training for students who do not know another language and to provide students with international skills and knowledge suitable for the global workforce.
  
• Over 70 percent of respondents agreed that students should be required to study another language in college if they don’t already know one.

Colleges and universities should provide students with international skills and knowledge.

• Over 70 percent of respondents stated that college and university students should have a study, work, or internship experience abroad at some time during their college or university education.
  
• Over 75 percent of respondents supported requiring students to take courses covering international topics.

International education is an important consideration when selecting a college or university.

• More than three out of four respondents indicated that international education opportunities are an important consideration when selecting a college or university.

Note: This survey used a national random sample of 1,006 respondents over the age of 18 years. This phone survey was conducted on September 14–15, 2000, for ACE by KRC Research. Percentages are weighted with a margin of error of +/- 3.1. ACE will publish a complete summary of the survey findings.

For further information, please contact:

Fred M. Hayward, Project Director
American Council on Education
One Dupont Circle NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 939-9745

Additional Resources

• Internationalization of U.S. Higher Education: Preliminary Status Report (289KB; PDF)
• Preliminary Status Report Executive Summary
• ACE Survey of International Attitudes and Knowledge
• studentPOLL/ACE Survey on Senior High School Students’ Interests and Motivations for Higher Education
• ACE Press Release (November 13, 2000)

Last updated: April 27, 2005