The concept of a global network university
This concept is best illustrated by the initiatives which are being rolled out by the New York University. The campus has established several schools abroad, most notable in Abu Dhabi, Florence, Accra, Dublin, among many more. A vast majority of American universities have created signed memoranda with other universities allover the world. These are aimed at creating working relationships with them, establishing exchange programs for students, as well as members of the teaching staff. In some arrangements, exams are set and marked in America, before students are issued with accredited degree certificates.
Other varsities have created consortia in a bid to establish solutions to emerging problems or carry out joint research activities. While these are noble intentions, most of them fail to take of due to a plethora of reasons. Most of the institutions lack the financial capacity to enforce these agreements, for example, sending linkage officers, funding student exchange programs, or creating virtual ties between the institutions.
The ideal global network university seeks to exploit the interdependence of fiscal systems, which have been brought about by the spread of technology and information. It is driven by the transnational nature of present-day challenges and the increased acceptance of diversity. It seeks to tap into the up-and-coming idea capitals globally in a bid to create a global citizenry, which is sensitive and responsive to factors that influence the lifestyles of humanity. This implies an institution that attends has students across the globe and offers premier quality education to all, irrespective of their geographical location.
Studying in global sites and building cross-cultural relationships
Pursuing further studies in this setting presents a challenge to the students, by taking them away from their comfort zones. This will challenge them to become self-reliant, thereby develop into autonomous personalities in the future. This will imply making new friends, identifying new hobbies to pursue, and learning the language spoken in the new country where they have been sent.
Quick adaptability will be required of them, since they will interact with new ways of life in addition, to societal and scholarly mores. This will help them appreciate the diversity in cultures existent across the globe, hence reduce the prejudice they may harbor towards certain communities. This experience also equips them with self confidence, hence prepares them for life experiences. After undertaking this experience, students are better placed to understand their internal strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge is crucial to the maturity, emotionally and intellectually. It also defines the relationships they will have with fellow students and their lecturers, in addition, to future workmates and employers.
The experience will also be vital in enhancing their appreciation for team work. Since some of the new friends formed will include classmates and neighbors, idea sharing pools will be formed in the process. This will enable consultations when solving academic problems and other daily tasks. It will also enhance the personal network of friends to a global scale. This aspect will be resourceful in the future in the job searching process, or when solving problems of international magnitudes at the workplace.
It should be noted that global globally administered institutions develop their curriculum up to internationally accredited levels. Several topics of global importance may also be included in the syllabus. Subsequently, graduates leave these institutions with the abilities to perceive different challenges on a global perspective, hence offer universally acceptable solutions. Overall, studying in a globally networked institution of higher learning will be beneficial for me due to the reasons mentioned above.