At the core of Walden University’s mission is a commitment to transforming society through graduate education. The value of this commitment is supported by a new report from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) that highlights ways in which the U.S. graduate education system contributes to the public good, both here and abroad.

“A strong link exists between U.S. graduate education, the production of knowledge, and economic and social prosperity,” states the report, titled “Graduate Education and the Public Good.”

Value of a Graduate Education
The report illustrates the value of graduate education to both the U.S. economy and our quality of life by examining its connection to benefits such as creating a workforce for the new global economy, conducting groundbreaking research, preparing the K–12 teacher workforce, promoting public health initiatives and developing leaders for the business, nonprofit and government sectors.

“Graduate education is a key factor in creating the highly skilled workforce necessary to participate and remain competitive in today’s knowledge-based economy,” the report states. “The benefits to government, business, and society from a world-class graduate education system are increasingly evident.”

The report and its companion document, “Making a Difference,” showcase more than 300 people—including three members of Congress and seven Nobel Prize winners—who obtained graduate degrees in the United States and went on to have a positive impact on people around the world. For example, the report says, “The creators of Google, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, began the site as a graduate research project.”

International Contribution
“Graduate Education and the Public Good” also addresses the contributions of international students pursuing graduate degrees in the United States, noting, “those who return to their home countries often assume leadership positions and maintain connections with the United States, fostering positive diplomatic relations and enhanced understanding.”

Understanding the benefits of graduation education, Walden has provided graduate-level education for 38 years and has built an international community of scholar-practitioners dedicated to applying their knowledge to advance the greater good.

June Ponder front page

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