Alliance Commentary
Analysis of the latest news around Washington, D.C. and the exchange community from Alliance staff and members.Reflections from the Future: Angela Zheng, Global Ties U.S.
Angela was first exposed to international exchange as a Gilman Critical Language scholar in 2019. That interest blossomed she learned more about public and citizen diplomacy during her internship with Global Ties U.S. in 2022. She first learned about the Alliance as part of her advocacy onboarding training in 2022 and had her first in-person interaction at the Alliance Annual Conference. It was eye-opening to meet with representatives from such a wide spectrum of international exchange organizations.
Reflections from the Future: Jacob Gandolfi, FHI 360
“How are we fostering the next generation of international exchange leaders?” Jacob Gandolfi, Program Officer at FHI 360, reflects on what the next 30 years of our field will look like and how we can continue to grow as a community.
International Education by the Numbers: 2022 SEVP Data shows programs in recovery
A new SEVIS by the Numbers report shows that there were 276,723 active J-1 exchange visitors came to the U.S. in 2022, an increase of 15% from the previous year’s figure of 240,479. This report from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) also highlights other key data illustrating information and trends on F and M international students studying in the United States.
Biden Administration’s FY24 Budget Request: Proposed Exchanges Funding Explained
The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations cycle is officially in full swing with the release of the Biden Administration’s proposed budget late last week. The President’s $6.8 trillion request, while unlikely to be enacted in the current divided Congress, presents a starting point for the negotiations to come.
Statement regarding proposed reforms to the federal Au Pair cultural exchange program
Statement of the Alliance for International Exchange Regarding Proposed Reforms to the Federal Au Pair Cultural Exchange Program Washington, D.C. – February 23, 2023 – On behalf of our members designated by the U.S. Department of State to administer the federal au...
Member Op-Ed: With Virtual Exchange, Young People are Changing the World
How much better off would our world be if we could harness the passion and potential of the world’s youth? Through virtual exchange, children in New York City’s public schools have learned game design in lockstep with peers in Bahrain. Latino high school students in San Antonio have partnered with fellow students in Libya to create actionable pollution solutions for India’s Ganges River, and rural community college students have had worldview-expanding experiences getting to know peers in Iraq.
The Power of International Exchange: Congressional Lunch & Learn
On January 25, 2023, the Alliance held a Lunch and Learn on Capitol Hill for congressional staff to discuss the power of international educational and cultural exchange programs. Special thanks to Joel Colony at World Learning, Alliance Board member Christine Shiau at...
Advocacy Day – March 8 & 9
Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity for Alliance members to come together and engage with Congress on the positive impact international exchange has at the state and local level. Attendees will have the opportunity to directly interact with relevant representatives...
2022 Midterm Election Analysis
After weeks of counting, the majority of races in the 2022 midterms have been decided, allowing for a clearer picture of what the 118th Congress will look like come January. What follows are our thoughts on the election results and their implications for the international exchange community.
2022 Stevens Initiative Report: A Survey of Virtual Exchange
As part of International Education Week, the Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute released a comprehensive report on their survey of the virtual exchange field. Before diving into the data, the report highlights some of the Stevens Initiative’s overarching best practices in virtual exchange, which include intentionality and a focus on collaboration and reciprocity of knowledge and learning.