Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Key Initiative: Partnerships for Learning (P4L)
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Key Initiative: Partnerships for Learning (P4L)

Mission Statement
After September 11, defeating terrorism became our highest national priority. The war on terrorism is as much a struggle of ideas and a campaign for the support of publics and governments abroad as it is a military engagement. The Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs (ECA) plays a key role in this campaign in its ability to engage individuals and institutions around the world through its international education and cultural diplomacy programs.

Partnerships for Learning (P4L) is a global initiative undertaken by ECA to reach a younger and more diverse audience. In direct support of the war on terrorism, P4L intends to re-engage the successor generation in a dialogue for greater understanding through expanded academic and professional exchange programs, including a new $10 million youth initiative aimed at the Muslim world. It will build on the values we hold in common with Muslim societies, strengthen voices of moderation, reinforce U.S. commitment to education and opportunity, and provide a platform for a positive dialogue.

Objectives
To accomplish its goals, P4L intends to focus on five key objectives to support the war on terrorism. Anticipated initial funding is $41 million. These key objectives also reflect ECA's mandate to further U.S. public diplomacy goals of mutual understanding and the exposure of people in countries around the world to American values, ideas, language and policies.

• Increase foreign understanding and acceptance of U.S. goals;
• Reach more people with accurate information about the United States and deepen their understanding through personal experiences with Americans;
• Engage and inform the successor generation;
• Develop a dialogue with moderates in Muslim countries; and
• Broaden American understanding of Islam and of countries that are predominantly Islamic.

Partners
The majority of P4L activities will initially be focused on educational and professional exchange programs in countries in the Muslim and Arab world. These programs will be coordinated with host country governments and participants in both the public and private sectors with American counterparts. Countries with significant Muslim populations across South and East Asia, Africa and Eurasia will also participate in P4L programs.

Types of Exchanges
P4L is a long-term effort that will enhance educational exchanges in four key areas: younger audiences; English language studies; Study of the United States; and deepening understanding of American values. Using both new and traditional models, ECA's core programs, including the Undergraduate Studies Program, Fulbright, International Visitor, the Partnerships for Learning, Youth Exchange and Study Program, and other exchanges, will be applied to reach the younger generation, under-represented sectors of Muslim society, and U.S. citizens. More specific information is available from ECA's Office of Policy and Evaluation (202) 619-5307.

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