Washington, DC: The Alliance for International Exchange’s Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, issued the following statement today regarding the Biden Administration’s announcement of a first-ever coordinated national approach on international education. The below may be quoted in whole or in part.
The Alliance enthusiastically supports the Joint Statement of Principles on international education issued by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on July 26, 2021. The U.S. Departments of State and Education’s shared commitment to promoting international education is a welcome initiative that includes actions seeking to implement a coordinated strategy for international students studying in the U.S. and Americans studying abroad, expand access to international education opportunities, and incorporate international education as part of our recovery from the pandemic.
We also urge the Departments of State and Education to include the following recommendations as part of its strategy on international education.
- An approach to recruiting international students that encourages diversity both domestically and internationally by engaging a broader number of U.S. institutions and attracting students from a wider range of countries and regions around the world.
- The inclusion of post-secondary, accredited English language programs in the U.S., which are an important facet of international education.
- The incorporation of a range of U.S. programs in which international students participate, such as Intern; Optional Practical Training; and Summer, Work and Travel.
The Alliance for International Exchange is an association dedicated to promoting the growth and impact of exchange programs and the effectiveness of its members. Since 1993, it serves as the collective public policy voice for organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States.
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