Embracing Empathy and Connection During International Education Week (& Always)
This week, we celebrate International Education Week—in the midst of a pivotal period in American history. Regardless of how each of us voted in the recent election, now is a time to reflect on the importance of empathy, understanding, and connection across—and despite—our differences.
These values—often naturally embraced by those who have had the privilege of authentically engaging with people of different backgrounds through travel—align with the spirit of International Education Week. A joint initiative of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education, this week “is all about expanding horizons, making connections, and establishing mutual understanding.”
The world we live in is increasingly interconnected, yet also increasingly divided. Travel is a powerful tool for fostering the empathy we need to navigate diverse perspectives—both in the US and abroad—and to find common ground. As we reflect on the election results and the different viewpoints that shape our communities, we become ever more aware of just how crucial empathy is—not just in politics, but in how we interact with each other and the wider world.
The call of International Education Week to explore, engage, and exchange ideas across cultures is an important one, and it aligns perfectly with our work at EdOdyssey. We have always believed that travel—both domestic and international—is transformative. In fact, it is one of our core values. We believe that travel is transformative not just as an academic experience, but as a human one.
Travel can foster connection in a divided world
While the election has highlighted the division within our own country, and world events continue to demonstrate that these divides extend well beyond our borders, it’s possible that travel can play a role in making some difference in bridging gaps.
While it has become somewhat of a cliché, Mark Twain’s famous quote—“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness”—is famous for a reason.
The genuine connections we can make through travel—with people who often hold vastly different beliefs, come from backgrounds that resemble nothing of our own, and live life in many ways that would seem out of place back home—can open our eyes. Because often, despite so many differences, we find authentic ways to relate because we approach each interaction with an open mind and with curiosity. We begin to understand that there are some universal values that unite us, and our appreciation for diversity grows.
These lessons become ingrained in us while we chat with a local chef teaching us how to make pasta from scratch in Rome, learn ancient weaving practices from indigenous communities in Peru, or get our hands dirty with urban farming lessons in Oakland, CA. It becomes clearer that our world is full of stories worth hearing and perspectives worth considering. And once our eyes have been opened, the learning toward curiosity and empathy is not so easy to shake off. We tend to return home with a more understanding approach to the people in our own lives—and even a yearning for the richness that comes with diversity.
Connection is a cornerstone of EdOdyssey programs. We have built relationships with incredible local people across our destinations, which means students have opportunities for authentic interactions with communities wherever they travel. They’re able to build understanding across dividing lines and seek out beauty in humanity instead of conflict. Students often return home with a commitment to creating positive changes in their own communities. For college freshmen, this can be especially impactful, setting the tone for their transition into university and adulthood.
The importance of early travel experiences & global mindset
Looking beyond our immediate circles and giving students an opportunity to do the same has never felt more urgent or essential.
The earlier students embrace a global mindset and have access to educational experiences that take them beyond their immediate community, the better. When young people have these opportunities—whether to travel to a place as far away as Japan or simply to explore life in a very different area of the US—they encounter unfamiliar perspectives that challenge their preconceived notions and stereotypes.
Our domestic and international travel programs engage with students as young as middle schoolers and, as EdOdyssey President and Founder Peter McGovern noted in a PIE News interview recently, he’s “seeing is a growing investment and focus on the first year, the entry point to undergraduate, particularly connected to study abroad, global or even domestic first-year experience programs.”
The first year of undergrad is a critical time for major growth, transition, learning, and self-discovery. These first year experiences with travel help them in different areas of personal development, give them exposure to other cultures and ways of thinking, and open their eyes to the power of place. Early travel opportunities, in many ways, support the really big social, emotional, academic, and personal transition from secondary school to higher education.
“We understand the unique considerations for creating an impactful program for college freshmen,” Peter said. “We believe programs should be designed holistically for students, and be educational, authentic, ethical, and human-centered from start to finish.”
Peter is part of a panel discussion this week at PIE Live North America titled, “Bridging Worlds: Fostering Stronger K-12 and University Partnerships.” The group will talk about the importance of starting a global education early—especially when it involves high-impact experiential learning. They’ll discuss best practices for integrating global themes in grades K-12 and explore ways to create a continuum of global learning experiences that help support student enrolment and retention.
When they travel—domestically or internationally—students gain not only academic knowledge, but also social skills that help them better understand their peers. We may all be different in many ways, but our shared humanity has the potential to connect us rather than divide us.
Starting with conversation
During International Education Week and well beyond, as a faculty leader, you can help students engage in dialogues that explore the complexities of different belief systems. You can open up conversations about both historical and contemporary issues, and create space for students to share their personal perspectives, respectfully and empathetically.
By teaching students to acknowledge and value differences, embrace curiosity rather than division, and present them with opportunities to learn with a global mindset, you are offering them the chance to see that our world is much richer when we embrace diversity and seek out understanding.
This mindset can be nurtured through actual impactful travel experiences which can instil these values further and give students tools that will help them navigate the complex world they’re growing up in. Let’s work together to empower the generation soon approaching adulthood to be change-makers who understand the true value of, and fight for, connection that overpowers our differences.
