by Alliance Staff | Mar 30, 2015 | Federal Register, Public Diplomacy, Study Abroad
Dr. Dan Davidson, president of the American Councils for International Education, testified last week in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, discussing the merits of people-to-people exchanges and their ability to foster “positive social and economic changes.” He urged the subcommittee to increase support for exchanges in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, recent areas of conflict.
by Alliance Staff | Mar 24, 2015 | Exchanges in the Media, Federal Register, Public Diplomacy
Earlier this month, Mexico and the United Kingdom (U.K.), signed a mutual qualifications recognition agreement aimed at increasing student mobility between the two nations, the Pie News reports. The treaty will permit the use of academic qualifications, for work or study, for up to 170,000 students.
by Alliance Staff | Mar 20, 2015 | Barack Obama, Exchanges in the Media, Federal Register, Funding, Public Diplomacy, Study Abroad
Five former U.S. ambassadors to Germany believe that the decision to cut funding for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program (CBYX) by 50 per cent “runs contrary to U.S. interests”:
“At a time when our two countries need to work together more closely on numerous transatlantic and global issues, slashing this successful program is the wrong decision for German-American relations.”
by Alliance Staff | Mar 19, 2015 | Barack Obama, Federal Register, Public Diplomacy
In an interview with VICE, President Obama tackled the subject of ISIL and anti-terrorism by promoting ‘soft’ power initiatives:
“[We] can’t keep on thinking about counter terrorism and security as entirely separate from diplomacy, development, and education – all these things that are considered ‘soft,’ but in fact, are vital to our national security.”
by Alliance Staff | Mar 13, 2015 | Department of State News, Exchange Visitor Program, Federal Register, Public Diplomacy
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Summer Work Travel (SWT) program, released this afternoon, commends the Department of State on its strengthened oversight of SWT, while acknowledging the public diplomacy value of this exchange program that brings up-and-coming leaders to the U.S. for summer cultural experiences.
by Alliance Staff | Mar 13, 2015 | Federal Register, Public Diplomacy
► People to people exchange programs are “the most effective tools in actually building constructive views” between the Middle East and the United States, according to former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron
