Become a global citizen: Schools that provide international career pathways

10 Sep 2018

In 2016, the British Prime Minister infamously said: “If you think you’re a citizen of the world, you’re a citizen of nowhere. You don’t understand what citizenship means.”

Theresa May’s attempt to instil a sense of nationalism and individualism was met with uproar by those who understand the pressing need for global citizenship in the 21st century, especially if we wish to keep our planet afloat.

The reality is we may have a certain nationality printed on our birth certificates and passports, but the world is now inextricably interdependent on working as an integrated unit for business deals, political harmony and creating a sustainable future that allows the human race to thrive.

In today’s world, almost every industry relies on international relations for its existence and growth. From the fruit we buy in the supermarket to the academic research that expands knowledge frontiers, international communication and logistics are central to the way our world functions today.

But as this international perspective has grown, so have business flights, freight ships and environmental costs. It almost seems we have forgotten the one thing that allows us to do this: the earth itself.

University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China

Unless everyone benefitting from the internationalism that we thrive on today realises how necessary globalisation is to our economies, societies and lives, we risk not only jeopardising humanity’s progression, but destroying all hope of survival at all.

Making decisions based on the view we are individual bodies, whether that is independent states, economies or persons, means it may benefit one aspect of the picture rather than working towards new horizons as an integrated whole.

These could be political decisions that have one nation’s welfare at its core; economic decisions that place a country’s GDP above environmental concerns; or, a CEO’s decision to increase sale revenues without contemplating the effect this will have on international content creators.

These individualistic approaches have allowed countries to become world leaders in business and politics, but as we approach a new age of technology, development and integration, the only way to continue this growth is to broaden our perspectives.

By studying at a university with a strong international community and forward-thinking academic culture, you’ll foster the integrated awareness that’s essential to becoming a global citizen.

No matter where your degree leads, it’s bound to include liaising across national borders, communicating with different languages and incorporating a globalised perspective into decisions. Position yourself as an industry influencer by studying at a school that’s tailored to preparing you for this environment, moulding you into a global citizen no matter what field you enter.

If you want to gain employable skills in the international market, consider these four leading universities offering a globalised education…

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM NINGBO CHINA

Offering a vast array of academic disciplines, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China allows students to study at one of the UK’s leading institutions on an international campus in China.

Attracting over 7,800 students from over 70 nationalities across Asia and the world (among which over 2000 students call FHSS home), here at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo you’ll gain an international perspective central to being a global citizen in today’s world.

Whether you choose to study a postgraduate programme at the School of Economics, the School of Education, the School of English, the School of International Communications, or the School of International Studies, you’ll be part of a thriving academic community of future leaders and influencers.

Undergraduate students within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNNC and post-graduate students in the School of International Communications also have the chance to partake in exchange and mobility programmes with over 40 partner universities around the world, furthering their international experience in preparation for life beyond graduation.

“I’m very glad I made a change in my life which has brought any number of great stories and great opportunities that will serve as valuable for the rest of my life,” says Sebastian Naranjo Rodriguez, a student of International Studies at Nottingham Ningbo China.

Source: University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China

SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Founded in 1933, the University of Melbourne has been widening access to language and linguistic studies for over 50 years, demonstrating a commitment to educational excellence in languages and cultures.

The school offers a range of interdisciplinary programmes such as European Studies and Gender Studies, as well as more specialised degrees like French Studies, German Studies, Italian Studies, Russian Studies, Spanish and Latin American Studies and Linguistic and Applied Linguistics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Research is also a point of pride at the university, with its scope spanning cinema studies, popular culture, food studies, pragmatics and discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, Applied Linguistics, language education, European and Latin-American literature, travel writing, first and second language acquisition, gender and sexuality studies, gesture and sign language, English as a second language and beyond.

This breadth of research and teaching topics makes the School of Languages and Linguistics the ideal place to gain a broad perspective on languages and culture to have an international impact upon graduation.

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, MONASH UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

Located in the thriving capital of Malaysia, Monash University gives students the opportunity to live in the internationally-diverse city of Kuala Lumpur while gaining a degree from a world-renowned institution.

More than just a qualification mill, the School of Arts and Social Sciences is committed to producing graduates who have the skills, knowledge, flexibility and resilience to excel in the globalised world of the 21st century.

Source: Monash University Malaysia

Undergraduate students can choose to study broad degrees that contain an interdisciplinary overview of an area, a specialised degree for those who desire professional experience in a niche field or double degrees for those who want to take a dual-focus approach.

There are also postgraduate and research opportunities for those wishing to hone their expertise or further their academic excellence at a truly global university.

With a central vision to “nurture global cultural ambassadors towards a sustainable, inclusive and just society”, the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Monash University Malaysia is committed to preparing students to tackle global problems in an ethical way.

COLLEGE OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Since its establishment in 1946, the college has put the Australian National University on the map as one of the world’s leading research centres.

Now made up of over 2,250 students and 210 academics, the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University is a thriving international community where you can explore languages, cultures, economies, histories, politics and societies of East Asia, Southeast Asia, North Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Oceania.

The college offers students the chance to gain real-world international experience through overseas placements and research opportunities. Simon Fenske, an Environmental Studies and Pacific Studies student, travelled to Hawaii on the Pacific Islands Field School programme.

“It was our first chance to apply what we’d learnt in the classroom in a practical setting. The course reminded me that an awareness of Indigenous cultures should be a priority in addressing issues in the Pacific,” says Fenske.

Students here are eligible for many study abroad and exchange opportunities, allowing them to gain global perspectives and cultural awareness for life beyond their studies.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International