The Benefits of International Education

Imagine that during the course of a day you have lunch with students from Brazil and Indonesia, play tennis with your friends from Vietnam, and work in a small group during Calculus with your classmates from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and the United States.

At schools with an international student community, that is exactly the course of a typical day. Throughout a year of such learning, students develop a deep understanding of other cultural traditions, build cultural competency, learn languages from across the world, and acquire an appreciation and ability to work and live cooperatively with students from across the global.

The advantages of joining an international community are highlighted by the development of a highly sought global perspective that values diverse cultures and prepares them for an intercultural world. As one astute American student at CATS Academy Boston, an international boarding school in Newton, said, “It’s a big range of people around the world…It’s like going to ten different countries every day. I have friends from Indonesia, Kazakhstan – all over the world.” That type of daily cultural exchange fosters maturity, collaboration, and multicultural inclusion that will be carried throughout the life of the learner.

Researchers have determined that “international education is important because the day-to-day lives of average citizens around the world are influenced by burgeoning international connections.” Similarly, as educational, cultural, and professional threads become increasingly global, gaining a multicultural perspective enables individuals to think and process inter-culturally and inclusively.

International students weave a vital cultural threads into school communities. Newswise reported that international students, "bring a bit of their home country to their host community, allowing for cultural exchanges between the University and local schools, organizations and churches, and expanding the cultural horizons of other students and area residents."

Not only does the school and local community reap the benefits of international students, students from across the world emerge from this type of education with a deep understanding and appreciation of other cultures. This awareness can serve a vital function in the work place and bring a depth of perspective to projects and collaborations. The International Education Association of Australia (IECC) reported that "international students bring wider global perspectives," which provides domestic students "with a diverse, intercultural learning environment which will enable them to function effectively in the globalised world of work."

Similarly, Strategic Policy and Research in Education (SPRE) Ltd stated that international education can deepen relationships between nations and that "these social and cultural benefits are clearly of paramount importance in a world where international relations are undergoing rapid changes."

Amy Roberts is the Director of Admissions for CATS Academy Boston. For more information, please email aroberts@catsacademyboston.com.