Larry D. Lauer

My belief that international higher education is the purest form of public diplomacy has been discussed in previous blogs. This week I have been engaged in conversations about how higher education is also an economic development tool.  It is especially exciting for me to see how an industry I have such passion for has the potential to play a major role in helping people from different cultures understand each other, as well as to help develop the economies of underdeveloped societies.

Higher education for development (often referred to at HED) recognizes that to develop stagnant economies requires resources and institutions that can train a relevant workforce and educate leaders capable of building a new day out of current realities. This capability is not only a component of economic development, but it is an absolutely fundamental activity to achieving success.

The American Council on Education (ACE) has long-established expertise in doing this kind of work in Africa, parts of South America, Mexico, the Middle East and elsewhere. Its’ experience in this very specialized work can now assist other similar projects.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is currently exploring higher education as a central component of a new project in economic development.  CSIS developed the “smart power” ideas that recently influenced new diplomatic thinking at the U. S. Department of State. This non-partisan think tank is now following up the Smart Power project by considering a new one to help solve economic problems in the underdeveloped world, and it is clear that higher education will be a key component. It is also clear that higher education, with all its’  human and economic development potential, has a critical role to play in enhancing national security… a basic concern underlying all projects at CSIS.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is also completing a project to design a business plan for an independent organization that would do public diplomacy for the U.S.  This is being proposed as a public-private partnership and would involve higher education in many of its’ activities.  One of the ideas in the study is to work with university students and utilize new media as a cross-border relationship-building tool. Such a tool would enhance understanding between cultures, provide hope and support for freedom-loving people in closed societies, and could also support the economic development projects of other organizations.

I have experienced the magic of what happens when students and teachers come together from different parts of the world. They rarely are polarized by their differences. Rather, they immediately become interested in learning about cultures, customs, values, languages,  and histories. Even when these learner-travelers are from countries where their governments are in conflict, mutual respect and lasting friendships almost always are the outcome.

Applied to the current economic problems in the US, we must certainly come to see that education, including higher education, is the most important tool we have for economic development and for bringing cultures and differing ideas together. From training a new workforce  for a changing society, to educating the entrepreneurs that will develop new small and large businesses, education is the only sure way to grow the economy. It is absolutely absurd to think that wholesale budget cuts that put thousands of teachers out of work, and also denies thousands of students the financial aid they need, will create new jobs and grow the economy. Most certainly, there are places to cut fat from federal and state budgets. But those who have benefited from past financial success, and now have the means to help, must now come to see that finding new revenue is also essential to preserving the most powerful economic development tool we have… the American systems of K through 12, and higher education.  

What we understand and preach to the rest of the world about the power of education to develop economies, train needed workers, and educate innovative leaders, we now desperately need to apply to our own problem solving. And, of course, professional strategic communication and integrated marketing are fundamental to all of this… to public diplomacy, to HED, and to applying their lessons at home.