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John Brown aggregates all the most recent public diplomacy related news, including current issues in U.S. foreign policy, international broadcasting and media, propaganda, cultural diplomacy, educational exchanges, anti-Americanism, and the reception of American popular culture abroad.

APRIL 20, 2005 EXCHANGES SUPPLEMENT
by John Brown

C) WEEKLY EXCHANGES SUPPLEMENT

The following articles are related to educational and cultural exchange programs. Specific topics in this supplement include USG-funded exchange programs (e.g., Fulbright scholarships, Ron Brown Fellowship, International Visitors) as well as issues relating to student visas, study abroad, and NGOs involved in exchanges. The articles are aggregated weekly by MS. STACY MICHELLE GLASSGOLD, USC CENTER ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY.

C.1) USG-FUNDED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (SCROLL DOWN TO SECTION C.2 FOR OTHER TOPICS)

1. 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA-US FULBRIGHT PROGRAM CELEBRATED, XINHUANET (XINHUA NEWS, APRIL 16TH 2005): Nearly 200 scholars from
China and the United States gathered in Beijing celebrating the 25th anniversary of the “China-US Fulbright Program”, an educational exchange project co-sponsored by the Chinese and US governments.
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2. WHEATON COLLEGE FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN ESTONIA ON WIRELESS INTERNET (ASCRIBE NEWSWIRE, APRIL 13TH 2005): John Heywood ‘05 of Oakland, California, an independent major in science, technology and society, will conduct research in Estonia next year as the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship.  Heywood views Estonia as a potential model for other countries considering the adoption of wireless Internet, particularly in terms of the way wireless communications can transcend traditional obstacles to building community.
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3. 11. U.S. EMBASSY SPONSORS ELECTION-REPORTING TRAINING, ADDIS ABABA- THE DAILY MONITOR (ALLAFRICA.COM, APRIL 12TH 2005): The U.S. Embassy has completed two rounds of training in election-reporting techniques in Ethiopia as part of its continuing effort to provide professional development opportunities for journalists in both the private and state-owned media.  This opportunity to the community of working journalists and to students stresses the importance of accurate, objective and comprehensive election coverage.  One participant in the program was Professor Abiyi Ford, the Acting Dean of the School of Journalism and Communications at Addis Ababa University and Fulbright scholar.
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C.2) OTHER NEWS ON EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE ISSUES

4. ACADEMIC EXCHANGES WITH CUBA: THE IMPACT OF RECENT U.S. POLICY, LORENA BARBERIA (INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR, MARCH/APRIL 2005): United States policies toward direct civilian contacts with Cuba have been significantly tightened in recent years as part of the George W. Bush administration’s concerted efforts to further exert pressure to bring about regime change on the island. This offensive affects regulations that allow educational exchanges between countries only 90 miles apart from each other. Barberia discusses why US universities and colleges that have maintained ongoing academic exchange programs for several years with Cuba are finding that escalating restrictions on academic exchanges have imposed difficult, but not insurmountable, challenges.
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5. CHINA, INDIA TO BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP (PEOPLE’S DAILY ONLINE APRIL 12TH 2005): In New Delhi, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a joint statement agreeing to establish a “strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity” and declared 2006 as the “year of China-India friendship”.  As part of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, a series of commemorative cultural activities will be organized in order to promote mutual awareness and friendship
between the two peoples.
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6. TAKING STOCK, MARKING STRIDES, VICTOR C. JOHNSON (INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR MARCH/APRIL 2005): Educational exchange has been recognized as a key component of US security and international leadership for more than 50 years. In the immediate post-World War II period, when the flagship exchange programs--exemplified by Fulbright--were created, exchange was seen as a way to help rebuild Europe, increase international understanding, and create a more peaceful world. Johnson takes a look at NAFSA’s public policy priorities for 2005.
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7. BRIDGING THE GAP: THE ANNA LINDH FOUNDATION FACILITATES EAST-WEST CULTURAL DIALOGUE, AHMED EZZAT (EGYPT TODAY, APRIL 2005): The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures has been created as an institution for cultural exchange.  The foundation, named after Sweden’s late foreign minister in honor of her role in promoting dialogue between civilizations, will establish a web of civil society institutions in each of the 35 Barcelona Process member states.  The foundation will engage in different forms of cultural activities including seminars and events with the goal of preventing cultural stereotypes.
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8. UK EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE: SCHOOLS IN NOVEL FARM PROJECT, JAMES KARIUKI- THE NATION (ALLAFRICA.COM APRIL 13TH 2005): When teachers from 80 primary and secondary schools in Kenya, India and the UK met for two weeks in Britain, they developed the “Gardens for Life” project that emphasizes agriculture as a vital discipline.  In 20 public schools in three districts in Nairobi, the cost of lunch in schools can be drastically reduced when pupils grow their own crops.  The donation of 40 computers grants children Internet access to communicate with students in the UK and India to discuss the introduction of crops in similar climates.
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9. GUIDING JAPAN: FOREIGN PERSPECTIVE FOR CHANGE; GLOBAL EDUCATION NEEDED TO DRAW FOREIGN INVESTMENT, TARO KARASAKI (ASAHI.COM, APRIL 18TH 2005): In an attempt to open up Japan’s education system to enhance individual potential, foster talented businesspeople and educate more foreign nationals, Japan’s Education Ministry granted recognition to Temple University, making its status equivalent to that of Japan Institutions.  In this interview with Kirk Patterson, dean of Temple University Japan (TUJ), he reveals the benefits of this change, including the ability to sponsor visas for students worldwide.
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10. IRAQ-ITALY: JOURNALISTS VISIT AKI HEADQUARTERS (ADNKI.COM, APRIL 14TH 2005): A group of 15 Iraqi journalists have visited the Rome headquarters of Adnkronos International (AKI) as part of the agency’s drive for news and cultural exchange between Europe and the Arab world. The Italian Foreign Ministry is hosting the Iraqi journalists as part of a training program for media operators.
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11. IRAQI STUDENTS VISIT MODEL UN, TONY AZIOS (THE QUADRANGLE NEWS, APRIL 13TH 2005): In search of a better future for their country, eight Iraqi students attended the annual National Model United Nations Conference in Manhattan.  These “delegates” from El Halla University in Babil, the first Iraqis to ever attend the event, said their participation in this exercise of democracy and international relations was well worth the risks of the journey.
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12. AMERICA SUPPORTS YEMEN WITH MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, KAMAL NASER (YEMEN OBSERVER.COM APRIL 12TH 2005): The U.S. government sponsored a medical humanitarian assistance program for the Yemeni Governorate of Dhamar
from March 27 to April 2, 2005. The program is an initiative of the U.S. Medical Civil Action Program (MEDCAP) and Veterinary Civil Action Program (VETCAP) from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) based in Djibouti.  US doctors, veterinarians and support personnel worked together with Yemeni doctors, veterinarians and students from Dhamar University to provide over 30,500 people and 20,0000 animals from six villages with assistance.
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13. VIETNAMESE AMERICAN NAMED NEW VEF BOARD MEMBER, THANH HANG (THANH NIEN NEWS, APRIL 15TH2005): A Vietnamese-American professor has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF), an independent federal agency founded by the U.S. Congress.  The VEF aims to promote closer relations between the U.S. and Vietnam by strengthening the science and technology communities in Vietnam via educational exchange and scientific and technical cooperation.
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14. CHINA DEVELOPS GOOD-NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS WITH ASIAN COUNTRIES, XINHUANET (XINHUA NEWS, APRIL 19TH 2005) The Asian-African Summit 2005 and the commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the 1955 Asian-African Conference will be held respectively in Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia.  China attaches great importance to building friendly relations with its neighbors.  Coupled with enhanced diplomatic and economic cooperation, China and other Asian countries have seen steady growth of exchanges in the fields of culture, science, technology, information and telecommunications, public health, human resources, education and tourism.
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15. SOUTH KOREAN POLICE GET RP HELP IN PROBING SCAM (MANILA TIMES, APRIL 15TH 2005): The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is teaming up with South Korean police to stop the proliferation of forged diplomas and academic records from prominent Philippine universities from an unknown group called the Korean-Philippine Cultural Exchange Center.
LINK

16. GUAM-JAPAN TEACHER EXCHANGE PROGRAM, MARISSA BORJA (KUAM NEWS, APRIL 12TH 2005): The Guam Federation of Teachers (GFT) will develop a cultural and educational exchange with Japan, courtesy of Continental Airlines.
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