Cosmopolitan Society

The idea of cosmopolitanism is not only appear within local or national, it also expand to international. In these years, education has been enters the global market to different countries and provide for students to counteract, learn and respect other cultures. “It opens up the possibilities of genuine interaction among people from different cultural traditions, giving those students who can afford it opportunities to travel and learn the knowledge and skills required to work more effectively in an increasingly global society, to become cosmopolitan.” (Rizvi, F. 2008, p.108)

In order to provide for students these opportunities, different schools and universities have created more than hundreds of exchange programs to countries around the world. As Grossetti gave some examples on exchange agreements, UNSW has exchange programs with more than 200 universities in 35 countries including Belgium, Poland and Israel; Australian Catholic University offers programs within 70 universities in 21 countries while the University of Technology, Sydney offers a range of study-abroad and exchange programs at partner universities in Asia, Europe and the Americas. (Grossetti 2012, SMH website) All of these opportunities could help students experiences more in life and prepare for the workforce in a multicultural country or anywhere in the world.

Global interconnectivity brings students with different backgrounds and cultures together, encourage them to think and learn outside their own culture boundaries, let them learn to respect others and most of all is to prevent the inequalities and racism. These exchange programs are great for students to take, it may be the major advantages for them in applying for careers but not all of the students have the chances to do that. Students with social disadvantages could not be able to afford for the exchange program. Is it really necessary to go for these programs while local communities could provide for their students a learning environment with cosmopolitanism? 

Most of the local areas in Sydney are cultural diversities themselves. Local communities and schools should have programs and events to encourage the young generations to connect with others and help them get their sense of global competences in education. A bigger world is a good place for them to learn and prepare for life as Browitt says that “as well as preparing students for global competency, the international experience helps create better global citizens who know how to achieve success internationally by learning respect and sensitivity towards other cultures.” (Browitt, cited in Grossetti 2012, SMH website).

References: 

Grossetti C. 2012. Learning overseas opens opportunities for personal growth and employment, October 8, viewed 18 October 2012, <http://www.smh.com.au/national/broaden-your-horizons-abroad-20121009-27av7.html>

Rizvi, F. (2008). Education and its cosmopolitan possibilities. In B. Lingard, J. Nixon & S. Ranson (Eds.), Transforming learning in schools and communities: The remaking of education for a cosmopolitan society (pp. 101-116). London: Continuum.