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DePaul was honored recently to welcome diplomats from more than 40 countries to our third annual Chicago Consular Corps luncheon.

I used the moment to tell the Consular Corps about DePaul's extensive involvement around the world. I told them that DePaul offers complete degree programs in seven countries and that our Study Abroad program sends students on innovative learning experiences to more than 22 countries.

I noted that nearly 1,000 international students attend DePaul, many hailing from nations that were represented at the luncheon. We also have faculty research projects and exchanges, service programs and international consulting/partnerships. All told, we offer programs in 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Author Thomas Friedman is right. Globalization and the digital revolution have leveled the playing field between industrialized and emerging markets. Our strategic plan calls for us to prepare all our students for the realities of this increasingly globalized world.

I also explained to our distinguished guests that DePaul is guided by St. Vincent de Paul’s vision of social engagement, which is at the heart of a DePaul education. Through care and service to others, deep involvement in the life of the community and the pursuit of solutions to society's problems, our mission is intertwined with Chicago’s. Just as Chicago is an international city, its university must have an international focus.

Our deep engagement with Chicago and its ethnic communities also has a global reach. In this environment of interdependency, it is critical that our students compete and succeed. In order to excel, we create opportunities for them to study internationally.

Here at home, we partner with the Chicago Public Schools in two key international programs. Through our School of Education, we certify teachers in Mandarin, and we also teach summer courses in Chinese and Arabic to high school students. In addition, we are expanding our Arabic language classes on campus. Our Chinese Studies major, which we introduced last year, continues to attract students.

We have students learning and faculty teaching and researching in literally every corner of the world. The lessons and the experiences our faculty and students bring back with them to Chicago enrich our understanding of a wonderfully complex world.

I look forward to seeing these international commitments grow even more in the years ahead.