While there is no debate that an international experience has value, there is an emerging dialogue over what the ultimate goal or purpose of study abroad should be beyond mere exposure to cultures outside of one's culture of origin. Is exposure alone the ultimate goal?

When students constantly check their phones in class, high school teachers may suspect the worst--cheating, gossip, cyber-bullying. But not Kirstin Bullington, a science, engineering, and computer science teacher at W.J. Keenan High School in Columbia, South Carolina; she genuinely gets excited when she sees phones out.

Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo, Ajay Banga of MasterCard, and Shantanu Narayen of Adobe Systems. These are all leaders of U.S. multinational companies worth several billion dollars.

The latest Open Doors data indicates yet another year of growth in international student enrollment. Between 2009 and 2014, the number of international students has increased by 41 per cent to reach a total of 974,926.

International Education Week, which is designed to promote cross-cultural learning, started with President Bill Clinton. In 2000, he made it a joint initiative between the US Department of State and the Department of Education. Today, it's celebrated around the world, in over 100 countries.

In an inter-connected global world, every child should have the opportunity for a high quality international education. Current and future generations will be better prepared if they are "world citizens" that are able to study, live and work internationally.