Bard students are distinguished by their innovative approach to topics, their commitment to service, and their interest in the wider world. They combine various disciplines in unique ways to produce new ideas. The College’s enterprises reflect our institutional principles: innovation, ambition, risk taking, and an explicit link between liberal education and democracy. —Jonathan Becker, Associate Professor of Political Studies; Vice President and Dean for International Affairs and Civic Engagement
a global outlook
Bard College is particularly adept at providing an education without borders. From its welcome of European intellectuals fleeing war in the 1940s to its recent establishment of the Al-Quds Bard Partnership, Bard has been immersed in international affairs. Global initiatives come under the auspices of Bard’s Institute for International Liberal Education, an established leader in joint ventures with universities abroad. Bard students study in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. On campus, they attend virtual classes with students in other countries. They pursue research, internships, and collaborations with students, scientists, artists, educators, and diplomats abroad, or—through teleconferencing and shared programs—on the Annandale campus. About half of Bard’s students spend time studying abroad. About 20 percent come from other countries, which puts Bard in the top ranks of colleges for international student diversity. Currently, students come from more than 50 countries. Students can take advantage of language-intensive study programs in China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, or Russia. They can examine emerging democracies firsthand at Central European University in Budapest. And they can get to know PIE (Program in International Education) students, who come to Bard for a year from southern Africa, central Asia, and countries in the former Soviet bloc. Semester- and year-abroad opportunities include: American School of Classical Studies, Athens, Greece; American University, Cairo, Egypt; Central European University, Budapest, Hungary; Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto, Japan; Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design, Karlsruhe, Germany; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
34 A Global Outlook