FOR PAOS: PLEASE PASS TO ADVISERS: REACS: FULBRIGHT COMMISSIONS

1. IN AN AUGUST MESSAGE TO AMBASSADORS (REFTEL) SECRETARY POWELL DESCRIBED INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO "PROMOTE[S] TOLERANCE AND THE REDUCTION OF CONFLICT". THIS GOAL HAS TAKEN ON INCREASED SIGNIFICANCE AS A RESULT OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS. THIS CABLE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT PLANS AND APPROACHES FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK, NOVEMBER 12-16. WHERE STAFF RESOURCES PERMIT, WE ENCOURAGE MISSIONS TO COMMEMORATE THE WEEK WITH ACTIVITIES APPROPRIATE TO YOUR IN-COUNTRY ENVIRONMENT.

2. IN ECA'S RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR EXCHANGE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS, A CONSENSUS EMERGED THAT A REAFFIRMATION OF, AND REDEDICATION TO THE GOALS OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WOULD BE OUR APPROACH TO THE EVENT THIS YEAR. IN MANY WAYS, THE PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. SEVERAL EVENTS ARE PLANNED IN WASHINGTON, INCLUDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE LATEST "OPEN DOORS" DATA ON INTERNATIONAL STUDY. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS DEVELOPING PROGRAMS TO CHALLENGE K-12 STUDENTS IN THE U.S. TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER CULTURES AS WELL AS TO EMPHASIZE MUTUAL RESPECT AND TOLERANCE. UNIVERSITIES ARE PLANNING EVENTS TO BRING INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. STUDENTS TOGETHER, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND AFS AIM TO USE THE WEEK TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF THE ROLE OF EXCHANGES IN DEVELOPING A BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD.

3. EMBASSIES SHOULD DETERMINE THEIR OWN CAPACITY TO CONDUCT ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK THIS YEAR. WE UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC EVENTS MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE FOR SOME POSTS. HOWEVER, ECA ENCOURAGES MISSIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, EXCHANGES, AND UNDERSTANDING OF U.S. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TO ENCOURAGE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HOST-COUNTRY AND U.S. SCHOOLS. LIKELY PARTNERS INCLUDE LOCAL SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, EDUCATIONAL ADVISING CENTERS, AMCHAMS, FULBRIGHT COMMISSIONS, CURRENT AND FORMER FULBRIGHTERS, AND OTHER EXCHANGE PROGRAM ALUMNI. IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11, POSTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF CONCERN SUCH AS VISA POLICY AND STUDENT SAFETY.

4. POSTS ARE ASKED TO REPORT PLANNED ACTIVITIES TO ECA/A IN EARLY NOVEMBER. WE WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE ONE-PARAGRAPH SUMMARIES TO FEEDBACK@PD.STATE.GOV USING THE FORMAT GIVEN ON HTTP://EXCHANGES.STATE.GOV/IEW2001/RESPONSE.HTM. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE <HTTP://EXCHANGES.STATE.GOV/IEW2001/; THIS SITE WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY IN THE COMING MONTHS.

5. THANKS AND REGARDS.(ECA/A/S/A) POWELL

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Printed By: Catherine Friend 10/09/2001 01:49:25 PM