The Collective Public Policy Voice of the Exchange Community

Malia Obama decision highlights benefits of gap year opportunities

Gap year opportunities have surged in the media recently in response to the announcement that Malia Obama will take a gap year before entering college, the Boston Globe reports.

The experiences students undertake during a gap year are varied, the Boston Globe explains, noting that some students stay closer to home while others pursue opportunities abroad:

Exchanges Matter: A Strategic Dialogue on Advancing Peace & Security through International Exchange Programs

Join the Alliance, Global Ties U.S., and our collaborating partners at our January 27 Exchanges Matter event – a high-level discussion of the critical role international exchange programs play in advancing peace and security.

Sessions will examine issues including the impact exchanges have across the U.S., how to harness the private sector to advance America’s public engagement objectives, and the role exchanges play in building mutual understanding and advancing U.S. foreign policy priorities.

Recent terrorist attacks have little impact on U.S. study abroad

U.S. student interest and enrollment in study abroad programs has not waned in spite of the recent terrorist attacks abroad, the Boston Globe reports.

The “students generally accept that security risks don’t necessarily increase beyond the U.S. borders,” the Boston Globe notes, adding that violent acts have occurred within U.S. borders for decades: