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Literature Review #4

This article covers the noticeable shift of universities in the United States from encouraging study abroad students from going to Europe to choosing other countries, particularly in Asia, Latin America, or Africa. The author discusses how institutions in Europe fear that their partnership with the U.S. may be in jeopardy because of this shift, which could limit them from being able to share resources or laboratories, and potentially making it more difficult for European students to find a place in the United States to study abroad. McMurtrie, Beth. “Is Europe Passe?: As U.S. Higher Education Shifts to a 'Pacific Century,' Europe Feels the Sting.” The Chronicle of Higher Education , 29 July 2013. Social Sciences Premium Collection . About the Author: Beth McMurtrie is a senior editor for The Chronicle of Higher Education in Washington, and she received her master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. She is extremely knowledgeable about the topic of higher ...

Research Blog #6: Visual

The graph that I found while doing my research actually comes from one of the studies that I have chosen to use for my paper, "An evaluation and explanation of (in)efficiency in higher education institutions in Europe and the U.S. with the application of two-stage semi-parametric DEA" by Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz. The graph shows the average revenue per student between institutions in each country, and while it is not shown quantitatively on the graph, the article discusses how revenue per student relates to GDP and resources given to institutions in each region (U.S. versus Europe). I thought this image would be useful to my research because it demonstrates that the United States typically has more funding for its universities (which comes in large part from students and families), which drives them to do more research and generate more revenue, making them more prestigious and desirable to applicants deciding where they would like to attend. On the other hand, European uni...

Literature Review #3

This article provides an interesting analysis of how the idea of Europe or traveling to Europe has been transformed in American minds, and how this transformation affects students and their decision to study abroad. The author brings in multiple authors, most notably Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, and Henry James, whose literature is indicative of the views Americans have of Europe. Woolf paints a romantic picture of study abroad, which makes the idea of traveling to Europe to learn feel elitist and more like a vacation than a time to study. Woolf, Michael. “The Baggage They Carry: Study Abroad and the Construction of ‘Europe’ in the American Mind.” Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, vol. 21, Frontiers Journal, 2011. About the Author: Michael Woolf is the Deputy President Strategic Development at CAPA, the Global Education Network and serves on the Curriculum Committee of the Forum on Education Abroad. Woolf is definitely experienced in the field of study ...

Blog #5: Working Biblography

Conti, Annamaria, and Patrick Gaule. “Is the US Outperforming Europe in University Technology Licensing? A New Perspective on the European Paradox.” Research Policy, vol. 40, no. 1, Elsevier B.V, 2011, pp. 123–135. Gapinski, Andrzej J. "Higher Education: Europe vs. USA." 2010. Rosenfeld, Stuart A. “Community College/Cluster Connections: Specialization and Competitiveness in the United States and Europe.” Economic Development Quarterly, vol. 14, no. 1, Sage Publications, Feb. 2000, pp. 51–62. Serrano, Raquel, et al. “Analyzing the Effect of Context of Second Language Learning: Domestic Intensive and Semi-Intensive Courses Vs. Study Abroad in Europe.” System , vol. 39, no. 2, Elsevier Ltd, 2011, pp. 133–43, doi:10.1016/j.system.2011.05.002. Woolf, Michael. “The Baggage They Carry: Study Abroad and the Construction of ‘Europe’ in the American Mind.” Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad , vol. 21, Frontiers Journal, 2011.

Blog #4: Research Proposal

Working Title: University in the U.S. vs Europe: Why Studying Abroad is a Foreign Idea Topic I have chosen to explore the differences between European and American higher education, with the specific goal of explaining why students from both regions decide to attend university in America, where tuition costs are much higher, and not pursue an education abroad in Europe, where tuition is reduced or often free. This means that I will be exploring the similarities and differences between both education systems, particularly how the privatization of education (or lack thereof) relates to the quality of education, the number of students who attend, and the demographics of those students who attend. Research Question Why do many students, both from the United States and from abroad, choose to attend university in the U.S. when many international institutions have reduced or free tuition and American tuition costs continue to rise? Why does the allure of prestige of American univer...

Literature Review #2

This article summarizes and reports the findings of a study of four trade schools, two in the United States, and two in Europe. These institutions are specialized to certain fields, which the author recognizes as "clusters," because they interact very closely with the companies of their industry from the local area, who help develop and provide funding for the programs. These institutions provide an opportunity for students to gain experience and training in their trade, as most of them provide (or require) opportunities to work while they are in school. After graduation, many students in the United States go on to work for the same companies that they work for in college or other large companies in their industry, while many students in Europe go on to create their own small business. About the Author:  Stuart A. Rosenfeld currently serves as the president of Regional Technology Strategies in Long Hill, North Carolina, and also serves an organization of community and tec...

Literature Review #1

This article provides a comparison of the history and current standing of the European and American models of higher education. The author describes how European universities came to be first, and while American universities were based heavily on their structure, they were not nearly as successful, with many U.S. institutions at the top of national ratings, leaving their European counterparts behind. After World War II, Europe implemented the Bologna process, which allowed universities to standardize their curriculum and degree programs, making it much easier for students to earn their degrees in just a few years and transfer credits between institutions if they desired to do so, allowing for student mobility. The United States's approach to university has remained successful because of limited government involvement in funding, but with constantly rising tuition, may eventually end up limiting access to education to those with a lower income. The article closes by expanding ou...