The Collective Public Policy Voice of the Exchange Community

Ireland and the United States Sign Extension for the Work and Travel Program

by | Dec 6, 2016 | Department of State News, Evan Ryan, Exchange Visitor Program, Federal Register, Public Diplomacy, Visas

A new agreement between Ireland and the United States will add a three-year extension to the Ireland Work and Travel (IWT) program, lengthening the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two governments. According to a press release by the U.S. Embassy Dublin, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Evan Ryan, and Her Excellency, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States Anne Anderson, signed the diplomatic agreement to renew the visa program on December 5. According to the Irish Central, the IWT program has been renewed every two years for two years since its inception in 2008 – the December 5 signing marked the first time an extension was signed for more than two years.

U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy Releases 2016 Report

by | Sep 20, 2016 | Department of State News, Federal Register, Policy Monitor Weekly Digest, Public Diplomacy

The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (USACPD) today released its 2016 Comprehensive Annual Report on Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting Actives, detailing roughly $1.8 billion in programs worldwide. The report offers analysis, research and evaluation, policy recommendations, regional overviews, and country-specific spotlights for a host of public diplomacy and international broadcasting programs, including Department of State exchanges.

U.S. Department of State Partners with Airbnb to Support Study Abroad

by | Sep 13, 2016 | Department of State News, Exchange Visitor Program, Federal Register, John Kerry, Policy Monitor Weekly Digest, Public Diplomacy, Study Abroad

Secretary of State John Kerry and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced a new partnership to support the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program by helping send more students to study abroad. In remarks delivered yesterday at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Secretary Kerry highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships to help increase global interconnectedness and mutual understanding:

Senate and House set strong FY17 spending levels for State Department exchanges; Senate includes SWT seafood placements provisions

by | Jul 5, 2016 | Congressional News, Department of State News, Federal Register, Funding

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its FY17 State-Foreign Operations (SFOPS) spending bill, including State Department exchanges. The House SFOPS subcommittee also released a draft bill text in advance of the mark-up of its FY17 SFOPS spending bill tomorrow.

China-U.S. Consultation on People-to-People Exchanges: Celebrating Progress, Expanding Initiatives

by | Jun 13, 2016 | Department of State News, Exchanges in the Media, Federal Register, John Kerry, Policy Monitor Weekly Digest, Public Diplomacy, Study Abroad

Achievements and further expansions in exchange programs between citizens of the United States and the People’s Republic of China were discussed by top diplomats at the China-U.S. Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) last week in Beijing.

Throughout the seventh annual high-level meetings, co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, top government officials met with participants of past exchange programs and expressed strong support for the continuation of these initiatives.