About the Author: Tara Sonenshine serves as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

On my visit to the Dominican Republic this week, I had the opportunity to meet with more than a dozen future Dominican leaders — all high school students, who were enrolled in an English immersion school in Santo Domingo. They spoke with depth and conviction about pressing matters in their country. Every one spoke of his or her desire to use their growing skills in English to study in U.S. universities.

That same day, I met with American college students who are taking college courses in the Dominican Republic. I asked why they’d chosen to study abroad and they shared what they’d learned, reflecting an impressive perspective and awareness about the region — and the world at large. They, too, recognized that, by becoming bilingual, they would open doors for better futures.

Even as I had these encouraging conversations, an annual report on academic exchange… more »

About the Author: Dr. Esther Brimmer serves as Assistant Secretary of State forInternational Organization Affairs.

Difference must not be a source of division, but of strength. That’s the core message of this year’s International Day for Tolerance. Tolerance is a way to disarm fear and to lay the foundations for lasting peace, and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is promoting tolerance through innovative education programs about the Holocaust and genocides throughout history. The United States is a strong supporter of this effort. 

On the occasion of International Day for Tolerance, I would like to share with you a recent UNESCO report entitled, “Why Teach About Genocide? The Example of the Holocaust.” This report stems… more »

Since 2006, the State Department and FORTUNE have teamed up with Vital Voices to build on our annual Global Mentorship Partnership to expand the network of women — and men — who use mentorship to empower others.

About the Author: Chris Miner serves as Managing Director of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Professional and Cultural Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State.

This week, in more than 18 countries around the world, women will come together with a broad coalition of supporters in their communities to participate in the Vital Voices Mentoring Walks, a global effort to raise awareness on the positive power of mentorship.

Since 2006, the State Department and FORTUNE have teamed up with Vital Voices to build on our annual Global Mentorship Partnership to expand the network of women — and men — who use mentorship to empower others. In fact, the mentoring walks started when founder and former CEO of Oxygen Media Geraldine Layborne’s schedule didn’t allow her to meet with the scores of young women who sought her advice. Instead of rejecting meeting requests, she opened her morning walks each day in New York City as a gateway for her to connect with these young women. Today, these walks have spread across the United States and throughout… more »

Studying abroad changes lives. Find an international exchange that’s right for you, with the U.S. Department of State: http://exchanges.state.gov

Where will international education take you? Expand your world.

About the Author: Ann Stock serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

International education is vital to strengthening economies and societies in the United States and around the world. More and more people and governments recognize its importance. This year we are excited to partner with schools, communities, and U.S. embassies around the world to celebrate the 13th annual International Education Week. 

We kicked off the week with our International Virtual College Fair, the largest international virtual college fair in history with participation from almost 200 U.S colleges and universities from all 50 states. We paired them with our team of expert advisors fromEducationUSA to help students around… more »

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 26, 2012

U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today the launch of the 2012 – 2013 Global Connections 2.0 Program, a virtual exchange program for teachers and students from the United States and 19 countries from the Middle East and North Africa.

Through Global Connections 2.0, teachers and students in the Middle East and North Africa will expand their computer literacy skills, gain a deeper understanding of other countries’ cultures, and develop their leadership skills, giving them tools to make a difference in their home communities. In partnership with the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN), this program empowers youth to use technology and online collaboration to address global challenges and engage in dialogue with the international community.

Global Connections 2.0 builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 21^st century statecraft policy, leveraging technology to create connections among Americans and their counterparts in the Middle East and North Africa.

Since 2000, the State Department’s Global Connections and Exchange (GCE) Program has supported collaboration and online linkages among students, educators, and community youth leaders from U.S. and overseas secondary schools and youth organizations. Virtual exchange offers meaningful cross-cultural exchange opportunities to students otherwise unable to participate in physical study abroad programs.

About the Author: Ann Stock serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

We broke new musical ground with two innovative programs, CenterStage and OneBeat. CenterStage brings performing artists from Haiti, Indonesia and Pakistan to perform in 60 small and mid-sized cities, giving Main Street America a chance to experience international culture without stepping on a plane. Meanwhile, OneBeat brings 32 musicians from 21 countries — including the United States — to eight East Coast cities to collaborate and make new music together.

That tradition continues with this year’s American Music Abroad, which will send twelve American musical groups to travel abroad to over 40… more »

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 2, 2012

The U.S. Department of State announced today that 68 American teachers and 19 international teachers will be honored on UNESCO’s World Teachers’ Day in Washington, D.C. on October 5. The U.S. teachers participated in theBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Teachers for Global Classrooms program, and the international teachers are currently participating in the Bureau’s Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program. The teachers are gathering for a two-day symposium to discuss how they will integrate global content and practice into their classrooms.

U.S. secondary teachers from 32 American states took part in the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, which sent them to Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, or Ukraine for several weeks to globalize their U.S. schools and classrooms. U.S. teachers learned with, and from, their colleagues in other countries to develop international knowledge and skills.

On Friday, the U.S. teachers will be joined by 19 international teachers from Argentina, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, and South Africa who are currently studying and conducting research at the University of Maryland for a semester under the Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program. This Program sends U.S. primary and secondary school teachers abroad for three to six months and brings international teachers to the United States for a semester.

World Teachers’ Day, designated by UNESCO in 1994, is held annually on October 5 to celebrate teachers worldwide, mobilize support for teachers, and ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. These international exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of these exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 350 current or former heads of state and government.

About the Author: Ann Stock serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The inaugural Youth TechCamp Bangladesh launched on September 16, and Dhaka has been buzzing ever since! Youth TechCamp Bangladesh was the latest in a series of interactive trainings around the world for alumni of State’s youth exchange programs. In Bangladesh, 30 alumni (ages 17-19) from our Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program participated, learning how to use technology and social media to impact their communities for the better.

Organized in collaboration with U.S. Embassy Dhaka and iEARN,… more »