During the next several weeks, thousands of young men and women will be graduating from colleges and universities across the country and looking for jobs.

A high percentage of these graduates will have secured jobs before graduation, but many still do not know what they want to do. More importantly, a great many graduates — both those with job commitments and those looking for employment — will ask themselves just how well prepared they are to compete in today’s job market.

Past Saturday columns

Earlier this week, James McNerney, chief executive officer of 3M, told a meeting of approximately 3,000 shareholders, “International remains our single largest growth platform. Looking ahead, we see our real opportunity in the world’s developing economies, including greater China, Russia, Eastern Europe, Brazil and India.”

He said those countries should account for $2 billion in new sales over the next three years, about half of 3M’s expected total revenue growth. He added that 3M’s sales in China are nearly $1 billion, having doubled in the past two years.

McNerney noted that international sales represented 61 percent of 3M’s total revenue, which reached $20 billion last year. He said China represents 8 percent of the company’s international sales and that the company will be seeking to increase sales throughout the world in the so-called “developing economies.”

The message McNerney delivered to his stockholders probably is similar to messages given to stockholders in most major U.S. companies with international sales. Markets in the countries listed by McNerney represent the best target for increased sales.

Likewise, many of those delivering commencement addresses on campuses throughout the United States will be touting the vast opportunities for graduates in so many fields. There will be substantial attention paid to the importance of the graduates trying to improve the world’s society and environment, but, at the same time, graduates will be wondering about jobs.

The big question is: How well prepared are the graduates to compete for jobs, particularly in the international arena?

Granted, there are millions of good job opportunities for 2005 university graduates, but the competition for landing many of the better jobs is becoming more intense every year. This is particularly true when thinking about jobs with an American company focused on international sales — or competing for jobs here in the United States with highly skilled and trained graduates of foreign universities.

Graduates of universities in China are well-schooled in English and have finished rigorous undergraduate and graduate training. A good command of foreign languages is essential if American graduates hope to compete for jobs in other countries. Chairmen and CEO’s of major U.S. companies are quick to say the areas of growth for their companies are overseas and it is essential for employees to be able to speak the languages of these countries.

Several weeks ago, this writer checked on the number of Kansas high schools that offer courses in Chinese, Arabic, Japanese or Korean. Only two or three schools offered such language courses.

Historically, Spanish, French and German have been popular courses at the university level, but relatively few students at KU are taking Chinese, Japanese or Korean. Not many are taking Russian, and few are studying Arabic.

One of this country’s glaring weaknesses in the current world scene is the inability of our diplomats or those in our intelligence fields to speak the languages of the countries in which they operate. It is a sad reflection of this situation that too many American foreign service personnel must conduct their press conferences in English rather than the language of the country where they serve.

How many of this year’s KU graduates are fluent in a foreign language? How many of them are considering a job with an American company that has overseas operations or markets? Have they thought about their knowledge of a foreign language and will this be a handicap when competing with other college graduates for a promising job?

No one should be faulted for thinking about finding a job with a good, solid American company with no prospects for working abroad. However, for those thinking about working for a company with international sales and foreign production plants, foreign language skills are extremely important. It is unfortunate if college graduates are not made aware of this before graduation.

China will be a powerful world economic force in the years to come. It already is, but it will become even more powerful. And graduates of Chinese universities will be competing more and more with graduates of American universities for jobs, both in China and here in America.

Foreign language skills are becoming increasingly critical, particularly in a world where there are few if any borders or barriers to international business.

Is there any chance KU leaders might take the steps necessary to establish the university as a true leader in foreign language education?