[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34287-34289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13911]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Education Mission to Central America; March 16-19, 2015

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, is organizing an education mission to El Salvador and 
Honduras with an optional stop to Nicaragua. Department of Commerce is 
partnering with the Department of State's EducationUSA Advising 
Centers. This trade mission is designed to be led by a senior 
Department of Commerce official and the emphasis will be on U.S. higher 
education, focusing on, in order of importance, intensive English 
language programs, community colleges, summer, undergraduate and 
graduate programs. Summer programs seeking to participate should be 
appropriately accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the 
U.S. Department of Education. Intensive English language programs 
seeking to participate should be accredited by the Commission on 
English Language Programs Accreditation (CEA) or appropriately 
accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the U.S. Department 
of Education. Community colleges, undergraduate and graduate programs 
seeking to participate should be accredited by a recognized 
accreditation body listed in Council for Higher Education Accreditation 
(CHEA) or Accrediting Council for Education and Training (ACCET), in 
the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA), or 
any accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
    This mission will seek to connect U.S. higher education 
institutions to potential students and university/institution partners 
in Central America. The mission will include student fairs organized by 
EducationUSA, embassy briefings, site visits, and networking events. 
San Salvador, Santa Ana, Tegucigalpa, and Managua, are four of the top 
cities for recruiting students from Central America to the United 
States. Participating in the Education Mission, rather than traveling 
to these markets independently, will enhance the participants ability 
to secure appropriate meetings, especially in light of the high level 
engagement and support of U.S. education by the U.S. ambassadors in El 
Salvador and Honduras.

Commercial Setting

    There are several types of opportunities in Central America for 
U.S. English as a Second Language programs, summer programs, community 
colleges, and U.S. universities offering undergraduate as well as 
graduate programs.
    In March 2011, President Obama launched ``100,000 Strong in the 
Americas'' to increase educational exchanges in the Western Hemisphere. 
Enhancing education is a key driver in improving socioeconomic 
indicators in the region. ``100,000 Strong'' bridges the critical 
relationship between broader educational opportunity and greater 
regional prosperity. Expanding study abroad opportunities for students, 
our future leaders and innovators, strengthens bi-national relations 
and better prepares young people for the 21st century global workforce. 
The goal of this initiative is to have 100,000 students moving in each 
direction annually by 2020. Currently, 45,000 U.S. students study in 
Latin America and the Caribbean and 68,000 Latin American and Caribbean 
students study in the United States each year. The initiative seeks to 
more than double these numbers in less than ten years.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ U.S. Department of State, 100,000 Strong in the Americas, 
http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/fs/2013/214201.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Western Hemisphere represents a thriving market of nearly one 
billion people. Approximately 40 percent of U.S. exports go to our 
Latin American and Caribbean neighbors, and Latin American exports to 
the United States are even higher. The middle class in Latin America 
has grown by 50 million in the last decade alone. President Obama 
believes that the Americas can become the most competitive region in 
the world. To accomplish this goal, we need to develop the skills to 
reach across borders to new markets, research, and opportunities.
    The mission supports the Administration's Look South initiative, 
which encourages companies to explore opportunities in the United 
States' 11 free trade agreement partner countries in Latin America. 
Education services are in high demand throughout these

[[Page 34288]]

growing and diversifying economies, which include El Salvador, 
Honduras, and Nicaragua.
    The United States has long been a top destination for students 
looking to study abroad from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. 
Since 2006, the United States has seen an increase in the number of 
Central American students. There are some 3,119 students currently 
studying in the United States from these three markets (1,172 
Salvadoran, 1,513 Honduran, and 434 Nicaraguan students), an average 
21.5 percent annual increase in the number of students from these three 
markets since 2006. The majority of the students from these three 
markets currently studying in the United States are undergraduate 
students (undergraduates make up 76.6 percent of Salvadoran students, 
68.9 percent of Honduran students, and 62.4 percent Nicaraguan 
students). The top choice institutions for these undergraduate students 
are public 2 year community colleges.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Open Doors 2013: Country Overview--El Salvador, Honduras, 
and Nicaragua published annually by IIE with support from the U.S. 
Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The first stop on the mission itinerary is San Salvador, the 
capital city of El Salvador. This visit will give the delegates an 
opportunity to directly interact with officials from the Government of 
El Salvador regarding education opportunities. El Salvador is a country 
known for its universities: Some of the best universities of the world 
are situated in this Central American country. The universities of El 
Salvador prepare their students not only academically, but also for a 
successful professional future. Some of the important and popular 
universities of El Salvador are: University of El Salvador, Universdad 
Politecnica de El Salvador, Universidad del Salvador, Universidad 
Catolica de Occidente, Universidad Luterana Salvadorena, and 
Universidad Albert Einstein.\3\ K-12 schools in El Salvador, recognized 
by the Department of State, are Colegio Internacional del Salvador 
(CISS), Escuela Americana, and Academia Brit[aacute]nica (ABC).\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Maps of the World: Education in El Salvador, http://www.mapsofworld.com/el-salvador/education/.
    \4\ U.S. Department of State, Western Hemisphere, http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/c58262.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CS El Salvador will organize meetings with appropriate Salvadoran 
government officials, an embassy reception, visits to local bilingual 
high schools, and a student fair.
    After El Salvador, the group will travel to Honduras. The highest 
rate of enrollment in secondary schools is found in Honduras compared 
to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.\5\ The universities in 
Honduras are leaders in terms of education and research in Central 
America. Honduras also has the highest number of students enrolling in 
Intensive English.\6\ CS Honduras will arrange for mission participants 
to participate in student recruitment fairs, high school visits and 
optional one-on-one meetings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The World Bank: Data: Secondary School Enrollment. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.SEC.ENRR.
    \6\ Open Doors 2012: Intensive English Programs: All Places of 
Origin published annually by IIE with support from the U.S. 
Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 
http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data/Intensive-English-Programs/All-Places-of-Origin/2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the delegation will have the option to participate in a 
stop in Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America, to 
participate in a student recruitment fair and site visits to American 
and other bilingual high schools for presentations. In Nicaragua, 
families have a long history of sending their children overseas to 
obtain further education.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Maps of the World: Education in Nicaragua, http://www.mapsofworld.com/nicaragua/education/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mission Goals

    The goals of the United States Education Mission to Central America 
are: (1) To help participants gain market exposure and to introduce 
participants to the vibrant Central American market in the cities of 
San Salvador, Tegucigalpa, Santa Ana, and Managua; (2) to help 
participants assess current and future business prospects by 
establishing valuable contacts with prospective students and 
educational institutions/partners; and (3) to help participants develop 
market knowledge and relationships leading to student recruitment and 
potential partnerships.

Mission Scenario

    Participation in the mission will include the following:

 Pre-travel briefings/webinars
 Embassy/consulate and industry briefings
 Reception with Ambassador (if available)
 Student Fairs and local visits organized by EducationUSA in 
San Salvador, Santa Ana, and Tegucigalpa
 Airport transfers
 Optional Third stop in Managua, Nicaragua with student fair 
organized by EducationUSA and presentations.

Proposed Mission Schedule--March 16 to 21, 2015

El Salvador--March 15-17, 2015
Sunday, March 15, 2015
--Arrive in San Salvador
--Check into hotel

Monday, March 16, 2015 San Salvador
9:00 a.m. Briefing with U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and Public 
Affairs (possible welcome remarks by Ambassador/DCM; topics trends in 
education, country overview, etc.)
10:30 a.m. One-on-One meetings
12:30 p.m. Visit to schools (tentative)
2:00 p.m. Lunch
4:00 p.m. Presentations (Student visa, 2+2 program, financial aid, 
etc.) Audience includes students and parents.
6:00 p.m. Education Fair (expected attendees 500 students and parents)
8:00 p.m. End of fair

Tuesday, March 17, 2015
9:00 a.m. Depart San Salvador to Santa Ana
11:00 a.m. Visit schools
12:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. Presentations (Student visa, 2+2 program, financial aid, 
etc.) Audience includes students and parents.
3:00 p.m. Education Fair
6:00 p.m. Return to San Salvador
Tegucigalpa, Honduras--Wednesday, March 18, 2015
--Depart to Tegucigalpa
--Arrive in Tegucigalpa
--Check into hotel
--Embassy Briefing and Lunch with U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service 
and Public Affairs
--Presentations
--Education Fair

Thursday, March 19, 2015
--Networking breakfast with local schools
--One-on-One meetings
--Depart to Nicaragua for optional stop or return to the United States 
on own itinerary
    Official Trade Mission Ends
Managua, Nicaragua (OPTIONAL)
Friday, March 20, 2015
--Breakfast Briefing with U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and 
Public Affairs
--Education Fair at the North American Cultural Center of Nicaragua 
(CCNN)
--Presentation to companies in the Private Sector on Workforce 
Development opportunities
--Presentation to Schools

Saturday, March 21, 2015

[[Page 34289]]

--Departure to USA

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the mission to Central 
America must submit a complete application package for consideration to 
the U.S. Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated on 
their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection 
criteria as outlined below. The mission will open on a rolling basis to 
a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 appropriately accredited U.S. 
educational institutions. Both, U.S. educational institutions already 
recruiting students and developing partnerships in the region and those 
who are new to recruiting and developing partnerships in the region may 
apply.

Selection Criteria for Participation

     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the mission.
     Applicant's potential for doing business in Central 
America, including the likelihood of service exports (education)/
knowledge transfer resulting from the mission.
    Additional factors, such as diversity of institution size, type, 
location, and demographics, may also be considered during the review 
process.
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and will 
not be considered during the selection process.

Conditions for Participation

    An applicant must submit a timely, completed and signed mission 
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on course offerings, primary market objectives, and goals 
for participation. The institution must have appropriate accreditation 
as specified per paragraph one above. The institution must be 
represented at the student fair by an employee. No agents will be 
allowed to represent a school on the mission or participate at the 
student fair. Agents will also not be allowed into the fairs to solicit 
new partnerships. If the Department of Commerce receives an incomplete 
application, the Department may reject the application, request 
additional information, or take the lack of information into account 
when evaluating the applications.
    Participants must travel to both stops in El Salvador and Honduras 
on the mission. Nicaragua is the only optional stop.
    Each applicant must certify that the services it seeks to export 
through the mission are either produced in the United States, or, if 
not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 
percent U.S. content of the value of the service.

Fees and Expenses

    After an institution has been selected to participate on the 
mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a 
participation fee is required. The participation fee is $2,208 for one 
principal representative from each non-profit educational institution 
or educational institution with less than 500 employees and $2,612 for 
for-profit universities with over 500 employees.\8\ An institution can 
choose to participate in the optional stop in Nicaragua for an 
additional $1,123 for one principal representative from each non-profit 
educational institution or educational institution with less than 500 
employees and $1,350 for for-profit universities with over 500 
employees. The fee for each additional representative is $500. Expenses 
for lodging, some meals, incidentals, and all travel (except for 
transportation to and from airports in-country, previously noted) will 
be the responsibility of each mission participant. The U.S. Department 
of Commerce can facilitate government rates in some hotels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or 
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations 
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contracting opportunities/
sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and 
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. Non-
profit educational institutions will be considered SMEs for purposes 
of this guidance. The dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's 
user fee schedule that became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional 
information).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/industry/education/) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and 
trade media, direct mail, notices by industry trade associations and 
other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, 
conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment for the mission will begin 
immediately and conclude no later than January 15, 2015. Applications 
for the mission will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications 
received after January 15, 2015, will be considered only if space and 
scheduling constraints permit.

Contact Information

    U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service in Central America:
    U.S. Export Assistance Center:
Gabriela Zelaya, Silicon Valley USEAC, Tel: 408-535-2757, ext. 107, 
Email: [email protected].

Laura Gimenez, Commercial Officer, El Salvador, Tel: (011-503) 2501-
3221, Email: [email protected].

Aileen Nandi, Commercial Officer, El Salvador, Tel: (408) 535-2757, 
ext. 102, Email: [email protected].

Sara Moreno, Lexington USEAC, Tel: 859-225-7001, Email: 
[email protected].

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2014-13911 Filed 6-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P