The Departments of State and Education are taking the lead in carrying out an April 19 directive by President Clinton to promote international education in its broadest sense.

The two departments will work with schools and colleges to encourage more students from other countries to study in the United States, and to promote increased study abroad by U.S. students.

The two departments plan to convene a series of meetings with representatives of government agencies and the private sector to launch this effort.

MEDIA NOTE

Departments of State and Education Lead Support of President's Directive on U.S. International Education Policy

President Clinton issued on April 19, 2000 an executive memorandum setting forth a comprehensive national policy for educating U.S. citizens internationally. Developed collaboratively by the Department of State and Department of Education, the President's directive renews and strengthens the federal government's commitment to support international education in the broadest sense, and calls on U.S. educational institutions, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations and the business community to make a similar commitment. The State and Education Departments will convene a series of meetings with representatives of government agencies and the private sector to launch this effort.

Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright said, "U.S. international leadership, competitiveness, and national security are increasingly dependent on international and cross-cultural awareness on the part of U.S. citizens. Our foreign policy goals are enhanced immeasurably by international education -- both American scholarship abroad and international leaders who have studied in the U.S. and consequently better understand our culture and system of government. I have a deep commitment to international education from my time as a professor. I have seen these programs work. They are pure gold and precious assets for America."

In a speech yesterday about the growing importance of international education, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley said, "We must build on the great foundation of the Fulbright scholarship program, and not just rest on its reputation in these new times.... I believe that many more college students need to see the world with a new set of eyes. And the best way to do that is to study overseas." The Secretary of Education, in partnership with state governments, academic institutions and the business community, will strengthen programs to build international expertise in U.S. institutions. The goal is to make international education an integral component of U.S. undergraduate education and 3/4 through graduate and professional training and research 3/4 to enhance the nation's capacity to produce the international and foreign language expertise needed for U.S. global leadership and security.

Under the Presidential directive, the Departments of State and Education will work with schools and colleges to encourage more students from other countries to study in the United States, and to promote increased study abroad by U.S. students. Nearly 500,000 foreign exchange students are currently studying at American colleges and universities and some 114,000 American students are studying abroad. The Departments of State and Education also will take steps to support the exchange of teachers, scholars and citizens at all levels of society, and to strengthen and expand cross-national partnerships among education institutions. The directive calls on the State Department to ensure that international educational exchange programs, including the Fulbright program, receive the support they need to fulfill their mission of promoting mutual understanding. In cooperation with other agencies, schools and colleges and the private sector, both departments also will promote the wise use of technology internationally. Further, they will support state and local governments and educational institutions to expand foreign language learning and in-depth knowledge of other cultures by Americans. This support will prepare and bolster teachers' efforts to interpret the world to their students. Government agencies will review the effect of U.S. government regulations, procedures and policies on international exchanges and take steps to address unnecessary obstacles.

For further information, media representatives may contact Catherine Stearns, U.S. Department of State, Office of Regional Media and Press Outreach, phone (202) 647-0874 or e-mail stearnscl@state.gov.

The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational and training 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. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)