Following up on the first-of-its-kind “heat map” to track economic development in every North Carolina county, SAS has created a similar national map with the aim of helping further international education of U.S. students.

As a “heat map,” counties and states turn different shades of blue when searchers are looking for certain criteria such as population, university degrees, immigration trends, business imports and exports. The higher the county ranks in the state in each of statistical category, the brighter the blue.

North Carolina ranks in the second tier of blue. Deepest blue states include Florida, texas, New York and California.

SAS is working with the Asia Society and the Longview Foundation on the map – called Mapping the Nation - which was unveiled in Washington, D.C. on Monday.

But the data gathered for the project led to one challenging conclusion:

“Not enough U.S. students at any level, K-16, are gaining the global knowledge and skills needed for success in this new environment,” the partners in the project conclude.

SAS and its partners are hoping that educators will use the data-packed tool to help “students to better understand these linkages, and how global knowledge and skills can enhance their employability.”

 “We are using the power of data to improve American education and competitiveness,” said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight, who is an outspoken advocate for improved education across the U.S. He has placed special emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Goodnight delivered a pro-education speech in Washington last week, and this week SAS is hosting a public forum about jobs.

“With this information, education leaders and policymakers can make better decisions that affect the quality of education and economic vitality of their states,” Goodnight said of the national map. “In addition, it helps students understand that their opportunities do not stop at the county, state, or national borders.”

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, participated in the unveiling, which took place at the U.S. Department of Education.

“Our nation’s students will have an opportunity to succeed if they get the world-class education that they deserve, one that prepares them for college and career in our interconnected, knowledge-based economy,” Duncan said. “The stakes of our success in promoting high standards and educational excellence have never been higher.”

The map includes nearly 1 million data points. Each state also is profiled for its relationship and reliance on global commerce and attempts to capitalize on growing international trade.

The state is shown as being No. 12 among exports of services. 

Plus, since 1992, jobs linked to international trade have increased 162 percent.

In a graphic profile of the state, North Carolina is cited in advance of world languages – especially Chinese.

“North Carolina learns Chinese! Close to 10,000 K-12 students in North Carolina are studying Chinese in 2013-2014, compared to about 300 just four years earlier,” notes the North Carolina profile.

“Why the huge increase? The Center for International Understanding (CIU), in partnership with College Board and Hanban, an affiliate of the Chinese Ministry of Education, has developed the nation’s first statewide network of Confucius Classrooms. Through this innovative program, Chinese Guest Teachers are placed in participating North Carolina schools to share authentic Chinese language and culture learning. Currently there are 30 Guest Teachers in 43 Confucius Classrooms in North Carolina, directly impacting more than 7,000 students.”

The map is designed in part to show the importance of international trade.

“We live and work in a global marketplace,” the map partnership says. “For proof, look at the data in the map for your state or county.”

Under Economics, as an example example, data is included for:

• How many people are employed by companies importing and exporting goods?
• How many jobs are related to exports? (See our infographic.)
• What is the estimated sales value of imports and exports of goods (total)?
• Categories of “Estimated Value of Exports” and “Estimated Value of Services Exports” to see specific sectors in which your state or county specializes.

North Carolina Map a First

In May 2012 an agency affiliated with the University of North Carolina system teamed with SAS for the design of the North Carolina online, interactive map that is packed with a wide variety of information about the state and each of its 100 counties.

Supporters of the project predicted the “Global North Carolina Heat Map” will serve as an economic development tool. The UNC System’s Center for International Understanding worked with the software firm SAS on the project. SAS is a global leader in data analytics.

In the announcement of the national map, the partners involved cited N.C. Sen. Peter Brunstetter, co-chair of the International Business and Trade Caucus in the N.C. General Assembly, as a user and supporter of the N.C. heat map.

“The economic vitality of our state absolutely depends on our relationships with other countries and our ability to work with people all over the world,” Brunstetter said. “As policy leaders, we need to understand foreign economic engines and the opportunities increased demand for U.S. products offer companies in urban and rural settings. Armed with this perspective, we can encourage responsible expansion of exports and foreign direct investment.”