International Education - Personal Statement Example

Ludet Gopalan May 8, 2008 ment on How the Program Contributes to My Professional Development The Elpis Project, focused on the internationalization of education seeks to integrate international perspectives into teaching to find ways to enhance the learning of students and teachers in Catholic High Schools while contributing to the worldwide effort of educators to meet the economic, environmental, social, cultural and political challenges of the times. With the rapid developments in globalization, respect for and appreciation of one another among the world's citizens must be espoused as a way of life.

Among the students, teachers, families and other individuals involved in the Elpis Project, these are requirements to achieve the goals. As an educator, I would like to be a part of this movement of educational globalization and I am banking on the Institute of Education to significantly assist me through enlightenment and empowerment so that I may be able to take on the challenges of international education. Through the Educational Doctoral program at the Institute of Education, I hope to achieve professional development in three areas: First, with the Institute's strength in academic discipline and through the guidance of my mentors, I will be able to sharpen my professional ability for critical analysis, broaden my knowledge on educational theories in the fast changing international education arena, hone my academic leadership skills and build effective strategies to respond to challenges, issues and concerns of institutes, educators, students, and their families.

Second, with research support from the Institute of Education, I would like to create a cooperative educational model that synergistically supports educational institutes and international students with specific application on the Elpis Project. I have witnessed tremendous growth in the international educational market especially, in the numbers of students joining exchange student programs. However, there seems to be no educational model that has been developed to allow institutes to prepare themselves for further development of exchange programs or for students to pursue further international education beyond the initial exchange program.

Based on data accumulated through the Elpis Project and research support from the Institute of Education, I hope to be able to build an effective model for the future along the above subject. Third, among my greatest expectations with joining the Institute of Education is to build strong relationships with other educational professionals, both students and mentors alike, from diverse fields and different countries. I would be eager to learn from all the respected educators at the Institute, share and exchange creative and innovative thoughts among each other.

I am certain that Institute of Education will be an effective place for me to be a part of a powerful network of international educators and professionals, which will empower me to be a strong international education professional myself. It is my fervent hope that the Institute of Education shall admit me into the Educational Doctoral program and allow me to accomplish my professional goals.