One way that Chicago stays competitive globally is through ongoing collaborations with universities, organizations, and World Language institutes locally and abroad. These partnerships help prepare students with the language skills and awareness they need to keep pace with global opportunities, and contribute to Chicago’s position as an international city.
In Chicago Public Schools (CPS) alone, more than 100,000 K-12 students are studying one or more of eleven world languages including Arabic, French, Russian, and Italian. And, partnerships with governmental agencies including the French, Italian, and Chinese Consulates further expand the range of educational, cultural, and career resources for students and the Chicago community.
One program, the Chinese World Language Program, launched in 1999 with full support from Mayor Richard M. Daley, along with Chicago’s cultural and business communities, has expanded to 43 schools, and enrolls more than 12,000 students. It is currently the largest Chinese language and culture program of its kind in the United States.
Last month, the Confucius Institute in Chicago (CIC) was awarded “2009 Confucius Institute of the Year” by the National Office of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban).
The award was accepted by Robert Davis, Manager of World Language and International Studies Programs for CPS and Director of the CIC, at the opening ceremony of the World Confucius Institute meeting in Beijing.
Housed at CPS’ Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, CIC was selected among 317 Confucius Institutes worldwide, for the third consecutive year.
The success of the CIC and the Chinese World Language Program can be traced to strong partnerships between the CIC and CPS, the Hanban, and East China Normal University in Shanghai, one of Chicago’s 28 international sister cities.
In addition, major corporate sponsors including WBC Board member, Motorola, and Chicago-based architecture firm, Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM), further demonstrates Chicago’s corporate community’s commitment to education, workforce development, and building global networks.
The Chicago area is currently home to more than 1,500 foreign companies, which are supported by a large consortium of international business resources, including 79 Consulates/Consuls General, more than 30 international Chambers of Commerce, and over 100 international trade organizations.
Chicago’s mix of diverse culture, talent, and world-class business resources has helped its firms stay competitive, and has steadily attracted international companies across a variety of industries to the city.
A study by IBM released late last year at the International Economic Development Conference highlighted Chicago as the sole U.S. city to achieve the status of top international city for foreign investment.
Chicago-based companies also have a strong presence abroad, with over 4,500 locations in more than 150 countries. This is partly due to city’s global access. Chicago has more than 3,000 daily non-stop or direct flights to 148 North American destinations and 68 major business capitals around the world.
The global economy is here to stay, and Chicago is already deeply invested in preparing for the opportunities that lie ahead. The city’s world-class assets, including having the largest Chinese language program in the nation, strong partnerships with foreign Consular offices, and a city government with a vision for growing its international business community, will continue to be key factors in driving Chicago’s increasing position as a global leader.
