[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 97 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28852-28853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11029]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6229]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' Strategic Objectives

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to July 
18, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by any of the following 
methods:
     Persons with access to the Internet may view this notice 
and provide comments by going to the regulations.gov Web site at: 
http://www.regulations.gov/index.cfm.
     Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): U.S. Department 
of State, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural 
Affairs, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 800, Washington, DC 20547.
     E-mail: [email protected]. You must include the 
Title in the subject line of your message.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), under 
the authority of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 
1961, as amended (Fulbright/Hays) and in furtherance of the official 
mission of the U.S. Department of State, fosters mutual understanding 
between the United States and other countries through international 
educational, professional and cultural programs. The Bureau does so by 
promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between 
private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as 
well as by presenting U.S. society and culture in all of its diversity 
to overseas audiences.
    The strategic objective of the Bureau is to assist in the 
development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between 
the United States and other countries of the world by establishing and 
furthering common interests and common values between Americans and 
people of different countries, cultures and faiths. To this end, the 
Bureau designs and implements programs that build personal and 
institutional relationships and that engage educational institutions 
and the private sector as partners on key public diplomacy initiatives. 
An overview of significant current and emerging initiatives is set 
forth below and is offered to fully inform the public and interested 
members of the philanthropic, corporate and NGO communities of our 
strategic objectives and priorities. We would like to encourage 
individuals, organizations and companies to consider ways in which they 
might provide support so that we can better achieve our goals and 
objectives. We would welcome initiation of independent programs 
supportive of our objectives, and partnerships in appropriate cases.
    English Language and Youth Leadership: Our Academic programs place 
special attention on youth-focused English language initiatives. Demand 
for English language instruction is increasing around the world and 
matches young people's keen interest in expanding their horizons. 
Acquisition of English language ability not only makes young men and 
women more competitive in life, but guarantees them the ability to 
access materials on America and American values. Professional and 
Citizen Exchange programs, including cultural and sports programs, 
reach out directly to youth audiences as well as those individuals and 
institutions that work with young people.
    We also increase cultural awareness and mutual understanding among 
successor generations by expanding youth exchanges to communities 
traditionally underserved by exchanges by conducting programs to help 
youth around the world learn about the values of a civil society, 
independent thinking, and citizen engagement. Our models for exchanges 
include: Youth Exchange and Study (YES), Future Leaders Exchange 
(FLEX), summer institutes, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), 
and the Global Connections school connectivity projects.
    Partnerships for Latin American Youth: These initiatives bring 
students from underserved communities in the Western Hemisphere to U.S. 
community colleges; expand the English Access Microscholarship Program 
to Western Hemisphere countries; provide study opportunities for 
indigenous and disadvantaged undergraduate student leaders, including 
women, and for English-speaking youth from diverse communities who have 
emerged as leaders to learn about U.S. society, culture and values.
    Promoting Foreign Languages--National Security Language Initiative 
(NSLI): The NSLI is designed to dramatically increase the number of 
Americans learning critical need foreign languages such as Arabic, 
Chinese, Russian, Hindi, and Farsi through new and expanded programs 
from kindergarten through university and

[[Page 28853]]

into the workforce. An essential component of U.S. national security in 
the post-9/11 world is the ability to engage foreign governments and 
peoples, especially in critical regions, to promote understanding, 
convey respect for other cultures and provide an opportunity to learn 
more about our country and its citizens. To do this, we must be able to 
communicate in other languages.
    Performance & Alumni: Evaluation and performance measurement are 
essential to productive exchanges. As we involve younger, more diverse 
and less traditional audiences, we must assess the impact of our 
programs on attitudes and behavior. The Bureau's alumni programs seek 
to build on the exchange experience by engaging with the participants 
in our programs after they have returned home.
    The Bureau directly funds programs that annually facilitate more 
than 30,000 U.S. and foreign exchange participants in over 170 
countries. Of equal importance are the alumni engagement efforts of the 
Bureau's designated private sector exchange programs. These private 
sector entities have now programmed more than 10 million exchange 
participants heavily concentrated in the fields of science and 
research, or who were foreign university students at the time of their 
exchange.
    Programs for possible public-private collaboration include the 
following:
    English Access Micro Scholarship Program and English Learning 
Online: The English Access Micro Scholarship Program, conducted 
pursuant to Fulbright-Hays Act authorities to conduct educational 
information and resources programs, teaches English to high school 
students from disadvantaged sectors. Thus far, ``Access'' has reached 
32,000 students in 50 countries, including many with significant Muslim 
populations. Students' improved English has led to better job and 
educational opportunities and the ability to compete for exchange 
opportunities in the U.S. ``Access'' is the first step in ECA's 
continuum of educational opportunities to reach disadvantaged young 
people around the world.
    A possible companion program to the English Access Microscholarship 
Program is English Learning Online. This program, still in development, 
would provide quality English language lessons online for foreign 
students overseas while also providing an introduction to leadership, 
civic training, and community building. Private sector partnering 
opportunities could include both in-kind contributions of production 
services for video, animation, DVDs, textbooks, and other instructional 
aids, as well as funding.
    The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: 
Educational exchange activities are at the core of our public diplomacy 
efforts, and large multi-national corporations are likely donors to, 
and partners for, our various initiatives. The Benjamin A. Gilman 
International Scholarship Program supports study abroad by a diverse 
group of U.S. undergraduate students with limited financial means, many 
venturing to ``non-traditional'' destinations outside Western Europe.
    Community College Summit Initiative: The Community College 
Initiative Program brings young people from non-elite and under-
represented sectors from six countries to the U.S. to study at 
community colleges while also learning about leadership, democracy, 
civic participation and other aspects of U.S. culture. This is the 
perfect opportunity to support local community colleges while building 
an appropriate workforce around the world.
    International Fulbright Science and Technology (S&T) Award: The 
International Fulbright S&T Award is a globally-competed initiative 
designed to attract outstanding foreign students to the U.S. for Ph.D. 
study in science and technology.
    Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad: Rhythm Road sends American 
urban music and jazz groups on tour throughout the world. ECA expects 
to launch a similar program for dance troupes. We anticipate that large 
corporations and foundations that include culture in their sphere of 
charitable giving may be interested in partnering to further these 
activities.
    Global Connections and Exchange Program: The Global Connections and 
Exchange Program provides secondary school teachers in select countries 
overseas with specialized training in computer applications, Web 
development and the use of the Internet to enhance their daily lessons. 
The program empowers youth to use technology to tackle universal 
issues, such as gender equity, the environment, HIV/AIDS, diversity and 
human rights.
    The Bureau welcomes the views of the philanthropic, corporate and 
NGO communities on these initiatives and the potential for strategic 
partnership in achieving them. This certification will be published in 
the Federal Register.

Goli Ameri,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. E8-11029 Filed 5-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P