SUMMARY: THE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES BRANCH (ECA/A/S/A) REQUESTS NOMINATIONS OF MID-LEVEL OVERSEAS EDUCATIONAL ADVISERS FROM STATE DEPARTMENT-AFFILIATED CENTERS FOR THE 19^TH ANNUAL U.S. BASED TRAINING PROGRAM.

ECA/A/S/A WILL FUND TWO PROGRAMS TO TAKE PLACE IN MAY 2002 AND OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2002. INTERESTED POSTS ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS ON BEHALF OF EDUCATIONAL ADVISERS TO ECA/A/S/A (ATTN: DOROTHY MORA) NLT OCTOBER 30, 2001. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 14 FOR REQUIRED INFORMATION FORMAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE U.S. BASED TRAINING PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATIONAL ADVISING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES. --

THE TRAINING PROGRAM WILL LAST APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS AND WILL INCLUDE WORKSHOPS ON TECHNOLOGY, ACCREDITATION AND DEGREE EQUIVALENCY, EDUCATIONAL TRENDS AND OTHER ADVISING ISSUES OF CONCERN, AN INTERNSHIP OR OTHER FORM OF SUBSTANTIVE PROFESSIONAL STAY AT A U.S. ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, AND ATTENDANCE AT A NATIONAL OR REGIONAL NAFSA: ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS CONFERENCE. PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROGRAM USUALLY NECESSITATES SHARED ROOMS FOR BUDGETARY AND PROGRAMMATIC REASONS. ADVIERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS.

END SUMMARY ---

1. ECA/A/S/A WILL AGAIN PROMOTE CONTINUITY AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE FIELD BY OFFERING U.S. TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATIONAL ADVISERS FROM STATE DEPARTMENT-AFFILIATED CENTERS IN THE FY 2002 U.S.BASED TRAINING USBT) PROGRAM. ADVISERS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE PROFESSION TO BE CONSIDERED COMPETITIVE. THIS TRAINING IS INTENDED TO BUILD ON BEGINNING LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMS AND REGIONAL WORKSHOPS. ECA/A/S/A CONTACT IS PROGRAM OFFICER DOROTHY MORA. ---

2. PARTICIPANTS WILL TRAVEL TO THE U.S. FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS IN MAY OR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2002 (EXACT DATES TO BE DETERMINED). EACH COMPONENT OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM WILL BE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DETAILED, HANDS-ON LEARNING IN AREAS SUCH AS FACILITATING ACCESS TO U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION, COMMUNICATING CROSS-CULTURALLY, AND MANAGING AN ADVISING CENTER. SPECIAL ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, BOTH AS A NECESSARY ADVISING SKILL, AND AS A POTENTIAL TOOL TO DEVELOP NEW AND CREATIVE ADVISING APPROACHES; AND TO OUTREACH, PARTNERSHIP AND COST-SHARING STRATEGIES AND SKILLS. ---

3. OTHER TOPICS MIGHT INCLUDE: DEGREE EQUIVALENCY AND ACCREDITATION; INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSIONS; FINANCIAL AID; STANDARDIZED TESTING; ESL PROGRAMS; IMMIGRATION AND VISA ISSUES; FIELDS OF STUDY; CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT/U.S. SOCIETAL DIVERSITY; SPECIALIZED INTERNET USAGE; DISTANCE LEARNING; PROPOSAL WRITING; FUNDRAISING; PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING; DETERMINING APPROPRIATE FEES FOR STUDENTS ANDOTHERS, GIVEN EACH HOST COUNTRY'S ENVIRONMENT; TRENDS IN ADVISING CENTER SELF-SUFFICIENCY; AND TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT OF VOLUNTEER STAFF. ---

4. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN A NATIONAL OR REGIONAL NAFSA CONFERENCE. THE CONFERENCE WILL GIVE PARTICIPANTS A CHANCE TO DISCUSS AND REVIEW A RANGE OF ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, PROVIDE A SETTING FOR THE ADVISERS TO NETWORK WITH THEIR U.S. COUNTERPARTS, AND ALLOW THEM TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE IN VARIED CONFERENCE SETTINGS. ADVISERS WILL ALSO ATTEND WORKSHOPS AND WILL BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN PANELS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS. ---

5. EACH MID-LEVEL ADVISER WILL ACT AS AN OVERSEAS ADVISER-IN-RESIDENCE ON A U.S. HOST INSTITUTION CAMPUS OR INTENSIVE HANDS-ON WORK AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE WITH COLLEAGUES IN U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION. ALL ASPECTS OF INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WILL BE SUBJECT MATTER FOR THE RESIDENCY. ---

6. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INTERNSHIP, THE ADVISER WILL BE ASKED TO SHARE HIS/HER KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN ADVISING WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS AT A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. ADVISERS MAY BE REQUIRED TO MAKE FORMAL PRESENTATIONS, THEREFORE A STRONG COMMAND OF ENGLISH IS REQUIRED. WE ALSO ASK THAT THEY DEVELOP A FACT SHEET ABOUT THEIR HOME COUNTRY, AND SERVE AS REPRESENTATIVES AND RESOURCES FOR THEIR COUNTRIES. ADVISERS MAY BE BROKEN UP INTO SMALL GROUPS AND ASSIGNED TO SPECIFIC U.S. REGIONS WITH EACH ADVISER GOING TO SEPARATE CAMPUSES REPRESENTING DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN THAT REGION. ---

7. ECA/A/S/A WILL SELECT CANDIDATES NOMINATED BY POSTS IN COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL ADVISING COORDINATORS. POSTS THAT NOMINATE MORE THAN ONE ADVISER MUST PRIORITIZE. ---

8. RESULTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM: HAVING COMPLETED THE MID-LEVEL TRAINING, ADVISERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO: - UNDERSTAND CURRENT ISSUES AND TRENDS IN U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION AND ORGANIZE A PRESENTATION ON THE TOPIC; AND RELATE THESE ISSUES AND TRENDS TO THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN THE ADVISER'S HOME COUNTRY - UNDERSTAND THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE HOW ADMISSIONS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT OFFICES OPERATE ON AMERICAN CAMPUSES - USE THE CAMPUS EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE MORE ACCURATE ADVISING TO STUDENTS; SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE AND MENTOR TO OTHER ADVISERS WHO ARE NEW TO THE PROFESSION - UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN OFFICE MANAGEMENT AND U.S. ADMISSIONS - UNDERSTAND METHODS FOR MANAGING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS - IDENTIFY AND USE FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES APPROPRIATE FOR THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE ADVISER'S CENTER AND HOME COUNTRY SETTING AS APPROPRIATE ---

9. FOLLOW-UP: UPON RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES, ADVISERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A REPORT ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATE HOW THE NEWLY ACQUIRED SKILLS FROM THE TRAINING PROGRAM POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE ADVISING CENTER'S OPERATION. WITH THE HELP OF FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONNAIRES, ECA/A/S/A WILL PERIODICALLY ASK ADVISERS TO SUBMIT PROGESS REPORTS AND REFLECT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES AND CHANGES. EMBASSY OFFICERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MEET WITH ADVISERS PERIODICALLY TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAINING PROGRAM.---

10. QUALIFICATIONS: THE TRAINING PROGRAM IS INTENDED FOR MID-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL ADVISERS, WHO ARE DEFINED AS PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE MASTERED THE FOLLOWING SKILLS: -KNOWLEDGE OF THE U.S. AND HOME COUNTRY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS; -FAMILIARITY WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING; -SKILLS IN ADVISING AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION; BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE MANAGEMENT THEORIES AND PRACTICES AS THEY RELATE TO EDUCATIONAL ADVISING. TO BE CONSIDERED COMPETITIVE, CANDIDATES SHOULD HAVE TWO OF ADVISING EXPERIENCE AND BE WELL-ESTABLISHED IN THE FIELD. NOMINEES MAY BE U.S. CITIZENS OR FOREIGN NATIONALS EMPLOYED AT STATE DEPARTMENT-AFFILIATED CENTERS LOCATED AT U.S. EMBASSIES, USAID POSTS, LIBRARIES, BINATIONAL CENTERS, FULBRIGHT COMMISSIONS, HOST GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, OR RECOGNIZED NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. CANDIDATES MUST BE A PRIMARY SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT STUDY IN THE U.S. AND BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN EDUCATIONAL ADVISING; MUST SPEND A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR TIME IN EDUCATIONAL ADVISING; MUST EXPECT TO CONTINUE IN THEIR CURRENT POSITION FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS FOLLOWING PROGRAM PARTICIPATION; AND MUST BE COMPETENT IN SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH. ---

11. ECA/A/S/A CAN OFFER THIS PROGRAM ONLY TO THOSE FULLY COMMITTED TO THE PROFESSION OF EDUCATIONAL ADVISING. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD PROVIDE POSTS WITH WRITTEN AFFIRMATION THAT THEY WILL REMAIN AS EDUCATIONAL ADVISERS FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS AFTER THE PROGRAM ENDS, BARRING UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. POSTS IN TURN ARE ASKED TO VERIFY PARTICIPANT'SINTENTIONS. ---

12. IMPORTANT: ADVISERS MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PREVIOUS REGIONAL OR LOCAL WORKSHOPS, BUT SHOULD NOT HAVE COME TO THE U.S. ON A U.S. GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED TRAINING PROGRAM DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS. EXCEPTIONS WILL ONLY APPLY IF SPECIAL JUSTIFICATION IS GIVEN OR SOME SORT OF COST-SHARING IS OFFERED. ---

13. THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS FOR PARTICIPANT FUNDING (ESTIMATED COST PER PARTICIPANT IS USD 11,000) A) ECA/A/S/A FULLY FUNDED: PARTICIPANTS WHOSE EXPENSES WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY ECA/A/S/A: NOTE: COMPETITION FOR THESE SPACES WILL BE KEEN, AND PARTICIPANTS WILL BE SELECTED FROM POSTS WHOSE CABLES BEST JUSTIFY AN ADVISER'S PARTICIPATION. POSTS ARE URGED TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN PREPARING NOMINATING CABLES. NOMINATING POSTS SHOULD ADVISE IF COST-SHARING WITH ECA/A/S/A IS AN OPTION IN THE EVENT FULL ECA/A/S/A FUNDING IS NOT POSSIBLE. B) COST -SHARED: SPACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPANTS WHOSE EXPENSES WILL BE COST-SHARED BY ECA/A/S/A AND ANOTHER SOURCE (E.G.: EMBASSY, FULBRIGHT COMMISSION, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATION OFFERING COUNSELING SERVICES. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION MAY FUND DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE (EST. 2,000 USD); ECA/A/S/A WILL FUND REMAINDER OF PROGRAM EXPENSES. C) SELF-FUNDED: SPACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPANTS WHOSE EXPENSES WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY NOMINATING ORGANIZATION.---

14. CONTENTS OF NOMINATION CABLE: NOMINATION CABLES SHOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ACCORDING TO THE LETTER DESIGNATIONS LISTED BELOW. CABLE SHOULD BE SLUGGED FOR ECA/A/S/A - DOROTHY MORA, WITH INFO COPY TO APPROPRIATEREGIONAL EDUCATIONAL ADVISING COORDINATOR (REAC).

• A. NAME OF NOMINEE (MR./MRS./MS./SURNAME, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL
• B. NATIONALITY, DATE OF BIRTH, PASSPORT NUMBER (IF AVAILABLE)
• C. SEX
• D. WORK ADDRESS, TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, E-MAIL ADDRESS
• E. JOB TITLE AND DUTIES
• F. FSN OR NON-FSN
• G. NAME OF ORGANIZATION/AGENCY EMPLOYING ADVISER
• H. TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT (E.G. USG EMPLOYEE, NON-PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACT, CONTRACTOR, OR OTHER)
• I. NUMBER OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ADVISING ABOUT U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION
• J. WHEN LAST IN THE U.S. AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE
• K. PREVIOUS PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOPS, TRAINING PROGRAMS
• L. HAS ADVISER STUDIED IN THE U.S.? IF YES, WHEN; NAME AND LOCATION OF INSTITUTION; AND DEGREE AWARDED
• M. ENGLISH ABILITY: NATIVE SPEAKER OR NON-NATIVE SPEAKER. IF NON-NATIVE SPEAKER, INDICATE PROFICIENCY USING FSI RATING DETERMINED BY INFORMAL EVALUATION BY PAO/CAO. PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED ENTIRELY IN ENGLISH, SO ADVISER'S ABILITY MUST BE AT A LEVEL ALLOWING FULL PARTICIPATION AND INTERACTION WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS
• N. NAME/TITLE OF NOMINATING EMBASSY OFFICER
• O. POST ENDORSEMENT, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHICH WOULD GIVE PRIORITY TO A PARTICULAR ADVISER. NOMINATING OFFICER SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT ADVISER'S EMPLOYER WILL GUARANTEE ADVISER'S AND CENTER'S FUNDING FOR FORESEEABLE FUTURE
• P. NUMBER OF VISIORS/CONTACTS THE ADVISING CENTER HAS EACH YEAR (NUMBER SHOULD INCLUDE CONTACTS BY PHONE, FAX, E-MAIL AND WEB IF APPLICABLE)
• Q. CENTER ID NUMBER - E.G. [EA-AS-020]
• R. INDICATE PREFERENCE FOR SPRING OR FALL PROGRAM
• S. ESSAY (500-750 WORDS): ESSAYS SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 1. PLANS THAT ADVISER HAS FOR STRENGTHENING ADVISING SERVICES. 2. DETAILS OF HOW PARTICIPATION IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM WILL HELP ACHIEVE ADVISER'S GOALS.

NOTE: SELECTION WILL BE MADE PRIMARILY ON ADVISER'S ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE NEED FOR TRAINING AND PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTING CONCRETE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON SKILLS ACQUIRED DURING THE TRAINING. PLEASE NOTE THAT COMPETITION WILL LIKELY BE KEEN. YOUR COMMENTS ON SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR NOMINEE MAY BE CRUCIAL IN DETERMINING INALISTS. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN THE SPECIFICS OF EDUCATIONAL ADVISING, AND THOSE SELECTED SHOULD EXPECT A VERY INTENSE AND DEMANDING TRAINING PROGRAM. WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS FACT WHEN SELECTING POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS. ---

15. ESSAYS SHOULD BE SENT VIA CABLE, ATTN: ECA/A/S/A-DOROTHY MORA NLT OCTOBER 30, 2001. FINAL SELECTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA SEPTEL IN DECEMBER 2001.REGARDS. (ECA/A/S/A) POWELL

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Printed By: Catherine Friend 10/09/2001 01:47:19 PM