Conference promotes global citizenship

Wausau Daily Herald  | Jan. 21, 2008

By Shenandoah Sowash

STEVENS POINT -- As America continues to struggle with overseas outsourcing and increasing global competition, professors at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point are working to arm graduates with the skills needed to become global citizens.

Robert McGough, a senior education specialist, researcher and program manager with the World Bank, encourages professors to take seriously the need to give students a global education.

"Some see globalization as a destructive influence, as a bad thing ... at this time in history, globalization is here to stay, and we must learn to live with it," McGough told instructors Thursday during the 12th annual UWSP Teaching Conference, "Teaching with a Global Perspective: Preparing Students to be Global Citizens."

Globalization affects everyone, even the World Bank, which now outsources a majority of its accounting work to New Delhi, McGough said.

"Countries such as India and China are destined to be superpowers, or at least major players," McGough said.

Drawing on the need for sustainability, economic development and self-sufficiency, McGough offered a strong case for educating college students in the ways of the world.

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