NAFSA supports the public policy of increasing American college students' global education, which is a necessary condition for them to thrive in the global economy. A generation ago, the whole country was worried that students who could not use computers would fall behind their peers and be at a competitive disadvantage in job hunting. Today, the same is true for students who cannot get global education opportunities. Studying abroad is a learning opportunity, which enables students to develop key skills and helps students prepare for the fierce global environment for graduation in an important way.

? The policy focus makes studying abroad the norm, not the exception, for today's college students. Congress should pass Senator paul simon's study abroad program bill to encourage higher education to increase overseas study, and provide a cost-effective and sustainable way to ensure that more diversified American undergraduates can study internationally. All policy leaders from national, state and institutional levels should use their platforms to explain the importance of understanding other cultures and languages, and should encourage students to seek international study opportunities.

The president should include in the annual budget funds that give priority to studying abroad and international study experience. The private sector should invest in public-private partnerships, such as100,000 strong of the American Innovation Fund, and increase the investment of companies and departments that are the main beneficiaries of the global skilled labor force. Colleges and universities should play a greater leading role to ensure that every student who seeks the road of international learning experience can find it; Customize the study abroad program according to the needs of non-traditional students; Make studying abroad easy, affordable and attractive; And incorporate global learning into the curriculum.

? Senator paul simon's Study Abroad Program Act. Senator paul simon's study abroad program bill will establish a new federal study abroad program to encourage higher education institutions to remove institutional, curriculum and cultural barriers that prevent students from studying abroad.

The bill was introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and roger wicker (R-MS) and Congressmen Cherie bustos (D-IL) and John Katko (R-NY) in116th Congress. The sponsors of this bill are trying to reintroduce it in 1 17 Congress.

? Take action to send a message to your members of Congress, urging them to support Senator paul simon's Study overseas Program Act and the new federal aid for studying abroad, so as to ensure that more and more diversified students acquire the necessary global skills, knowledge and experience to compete in today's global labor market.

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