Evaluations of Biarritz American University

Abstract

A MERICAN educational institutions will soon have both the opportunity of and the responsibility for appreciably advancing international understanding. Plans of the United Nations for world reconstruction include proposals for the exchange of large numbers of students and instructors among the schools, colleges, and universities of friendly nations. Educational institutions of international scope which will admit students from all countries are being forecast by men of vision and sound perspective. Two principles which are being more truly understood and accepted are that exchange of knowledge among peoples is an imperative condition for peace and mutual understanding, and, second, that understanding among different peoples depends upon direct personal associations, in addition to the exchange of information through such mediums as the printed page, the moving picture, and the broadcast. Educational institutions in the United States are having their responsibilities greatly extended beyond their traditional spheres of operation and previously defined obligations. The State Department reports that forty-five thousand foreign students applied for opportunities of study within the United States last year (1946). Not only do educators and students from the nations of Europe and Asia wish to visit the schools, colleges, and universities in the United States but they are anxious to learn about American educational materials, procedures, standards, and personnel. An unusual opportunity of getting evaluations of American educational practices by foreign students and of acquainting a small number of European students with American universities was afforded by the army universities organized at Biarritz and Shrivenham. The administrators of Biarritz American University realized their unusually favorable situation not only for a small experiment in international education but also for a gesture of inter-Allied good will. Therefore, during the third term of the University's short but historic career, they invited guest-students, most of whom were in the military services of Allied countries, to study with American soldier-students and instructors at Biarritz. Invitations were sent to twelve European nations, asking small groups of students to attend the third and final session of the University, which covered the period from January I4