President Linda Thompson: World Travel Experiences Build Skills to Success in 21st Century World

Originally published in The Republican on 10/3/24.

In 1845, abolitionist and civil rights leader Frederick Douglass traveled to Ireland to escape the dangers he faced in America due to his outspoken fight for the dignity and humanity of all people. There, he learned from Ireland’s own struggle for independence, equality for all persons, and an end to human suffering caused by economic and political oppression. As large crowds welcomed him, Douglass expanded his outlook on the human condition, sharpened his focus on the fight for justice, and renewed his personal commitment to improving the lives of those in need. 

We hear every day that the world is shrinking. Global economies are more connected than ever before, and we are increasingly aware of both the suffering and triumphs of people working towards a better tomorrow. Through study abroad trips and internships with global organizations, our students experience personal growth, much like Douglass did. Just as his travels opened doors for future generations, we will all benefit from graduates who are prepared to think and act globally when they leave our campus. 

We live in a global society, and today’s students must be ready to collaborate and partner with people from all cultures and backgrounds. While technology brings us closer to people around the world, it doesn’t yet replace the benefits of experiencing other countries and cultures firsthand. There’s something almost magical about engaging with people from another culture. 

After traveling to Ireland to meet with university leaders, political leaders, journalists, and others, we are exploring how we can use our international programs offices to build stronger alliances, we decided to ask Mary Lou McDonald, leader of the Irish Sinn Fein political party, to be our 2024 commencement speaker. To our delight, she agreed. Our new partnership will help build stronger alliances that can lead to more study abroad experiences, opening doors for students. 

My own experiences as a visiting professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Kowloon gave me a deep appreciation for the culture, history, and people of the island. The customs, food, belief systems, and language of my Hong Kong friends had a lasting and profound impact on my perception of humanity. Expanding knowledge of other cultures through the exchange of ideas and education advances a civilized society, where a variety of perspectives are accepted, respected, and cherished. 

Before the start of classes this semester, our International Programs Office hosted an International Student Orientation to welcome new arrivals on campus. This year, we’re excited to have students from Angola, Brazil, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Serbia, South Korea, and Zimbabwe. 

For the fall semester, we have nine Westfield State students studying abroad. Two are in Ireland, three in Italy, two in Spain, one in the Netherlands, and one in Japan. We also have three students participating in the National Student Exchange: two at the University of Georgia and one at Montana State University. 

The confirmed students for the 2025 winter and spring programs are planning to go to Australia, Czechia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Iceland. We’re also planning our annual trip to Costa Rica, organized by faculty in the Environmental Science Department. Our nursing and other students have recently traveled to Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Italy, and the Galápagos Islands. 

In line with the strong alliances Frederick Douglass formed in Ireland, we are hoping to expand our offerings and connections. We’ve had discussions with The African American Irish Diaspora Network to create a workforce development program that focuses on students from Kenya, leveraging resources and partnerships in the U.S., Ireland, and Northern Ireland. We will continue to explore opportunities to grow stronger cultural ties between our students and students around the world. 

We need to encourage our students to think about the global world and the opportunities to thrive in various countries, which leads to a more expansive understanding of humanity. Thinking globally and acting locally is not just a cliché. We aim to make this a fundamental part of the Westfield State University experience.