While there have been some professional development opportunities for teachers in the area of American History, there have been few opportunities for teachers interested in expanding their knowledge about International/World Education. As former North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt stated in a speech at a recent conference on International Education,

"Our students are trapped in a kind of educational isolationism, which may have suited the Industrial Age but leaves students desperately under-prepared for the demands of the 21st-century global economy. Every student will need a solid grounding of knowledge about the history of the U.S. and our vital democratic institutions. But we must also integrate knowledge of world history, geography, science and technology, world languages, literature, and international affairs into the school day."

In an interconnected world, understanding other nations and regions is a cornerstone of democratic citizenship and the SEAIF team is ready to address the urgent need to prepare teachers to move beyond the "food and festivals" approach to internationalizing the curriculum. Through SEAIF staff development programs teachers will develop a better understanding of American and world history by examining a century of interaction with the peoples, cultures and polities of Southeast Asia. The SEAIF team models standards-based teaching while integrating rich multimedia content with the goal to prepare teachers to combine international content with state standards that enriches their curriculum and increases their students ability to analyze validity of information from a variety of perspectives; explore and understand linkages across cultural, economic, and political lines; and understand the significance of the past with respect to current events.