美国弱势学生群体出国留学资助体系探析——以“本杰明·吉尔曼”国际奖学金为例

The U.S. Financial-aid System for Disadvantaged Undergraduates Studying Abroad:The Case of Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

美国高等教育阶段学生的国际流动处于世界领先地位,这得益于该国设置了名目繁多的留学资助项目,本杰明·吉尔曼国际奖学金便是其中的一个重要代表。与一般留学资助项目不同,该奖学金侧重于资助由贫困学生、少数族裔学生和残障学生构成的弱势学生群体,鼓励学生前往非传统目的地留学,并以中长期留学生的身份系统学习美国迫切需要的语言和冷门专业。究其背后的原因,促进教育公平、服务国家利益、增强学生国际化职业需求等是主要因素。总体来看,本杰明·吉尔曼国际奖学金实施的成效在于:资助了一大批弱势大学生出国留学;引起了广泛的社会关注,获得了良好的社会声誉;提升了美国公民参与世界事务的能力;强化了美国社会的凝聚力。

As the leader in international student mobility in the realm of higher education, the United States benefits from a bunch of scholarship programs, among which Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a typical one. Compared with regular scholarship programs for overseas study, this program aims to encourage disadvantaged undergraduate students consisting of impoverished students, ethnic minority students and students with disabilities to go to unconventional destinations and systematically study critical need languages and unpopular majors on a mid-and-long term basis. Enhancing educational fairness, serving the national interests, and preparing students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world are the driving forces behind the program. The achievements of the scholarship program may be summarized as follows： subsidizing a large number of students to study abroad, arousing widespread social concern and obtaining good social reputation, enhancing the ability of U.S. citizens to participate in global affairs, and improving social cohesion of the United States.