Global learning: is it worth the investment?

Guardian Professional recently posted an interesting article on ‘global learning’, a concept introduced in the 1990s that was initially considered by many to be too expensive to be worth investing in.

It was not only the expensive, specialised technology – dedicated telecommunication lines or satellite links – that made the cost prohibitive for many, but also the fact that an on-site technician was often required due to the complexity of the equipment. Many institutions therefore viewed global learning – educating participants around the world to increase their intercultural awareness – as too expensive and risky.

However, with the rapid improvement in technology over the last two decades, more people are now starting to see global learning as a viable and rewarding option – let’s look at some of the main changes and benefits highlighted by The Guardian:

• Advances in internet-based communication have made the technology required for global learning much cheaper and easier to use, meaning that it is much more accessible to many more people.
• Infrastructure costs are now effectively zero, as professors can use their laptops with built-in webcams and microphones to facilitate global learning, so we can concentrate more on the benefits in learning terms rather than monetary terms.
• Global learning has several intangible benefits, including:
  • reduction in xenophobia and cultural stereotyping
  • international peace building – global learning can foster invaluable team-building and interpersonal skills
  • increased collaboration opportunities for international teaching and research, as well as increased employment opportunities
• Some institutions and countries are still resisting global learning for various reasons, including:
  • misconceptions about the costs involved
  • ethno-centrism
  • cultural imperialism
  • lack of motivation to try new teaching methods
  • misconceptions about the possible benefits – for example global learning is often embraced in the arts and humanities, but dismissed in other areas

Global learning is, in my view, an invaluable resource with benefits that far outstrip any potential difficulties of implementation. It can not only greatly increase participants’ intercultural awareness, but also improve other key skills and facilitate the dissemination of new knowledge. What do you think? Should institutions invest more in this learning method?