THE TRANSNATIONALIZATION OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE THROUGH MIGRATION: IS THERE AN IMPACT ON HIGHER EDUCATION?

In an increasingly interdependent and inter‐linked world, the phenomenon of migration takes on added importance. It has existed in Europe for many years even if in recent times the immigrants have come from outside Europe rather than from southern European to northern European countries. Economic problems have stimulated increased xenophobia on the part of host societies while at the same time, the children of the first generation of immigrants have faced challenges and have promoted the cultural enrichment that comes from bi‐culturalism. Multi‐culturalism is well worth studying and promoting for it represents a cultural enrichment for Europeans leading to a new cultural synthesis for the continent. Both schools and higher education institutions must take up the challenge of multi‐cultural education which should be more than a superficial dose of folklore, dancing, and exotic food. The children of the second generation of immigrants have frequently studied their home cultures and languages in their university courses, this in order to better understand themselves and their relationship to their two cultures. In their active lives, these graduates will further enrich European culture by helping to elaborate a new cultural synthesis.