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November 17th • Education & Mobility

International Students' Day

International Students' Day is an international observance of the student community, held annually on November 17th. Originally commemorating the Nazi storming of the University of Prague in 1939, it has evolved into a global celebration of student activism and multiculturalism. Today, we debate the challenges of studying in a foreign country, the phenomenon of brain drain, and whether the future of higher education should be borderless. What are the true costs and benefits of global student mobility?

A diverse group of students studying together in a modern library

Speaking Discussion

  • If you could study any subject in any country in the world, what and where would it be? Why would you choose that specific combination?
  • In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge that international students face when moving to a new country (e.g., language barrier, culture shock, financial pressure)?
  • Do you think that brain drain (the migration of highly trained or intelligent people from their home country) is a major problem for developing nations?
  • Should university education be free for all students, including those from other countries? How would this be funded?
  • How much of an impact does studying abroad have on a person's personality and worldview? Is it always a positive experience?
  • In the age of online learning and remote degrees, is it still important to physically move to another country to get a global education?

Activity 1: The global campus Pitch

The Task: You are a University Administrator. You need to persuade a group of international students to choose your university over others.

What are the three most unique benefits of your campus and city?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The best part of studying abroad is..."
  • "I think education should be..."
  • "In my opinion, global mobility is..."