George P. Schultz, December 13, 1920 – February 6, 2021

George P. Schultz

December 13, 1920 - February 6, 2021

George Schultz served as the 60th United States Secretary of State from July 16, 1982 – January 20, 1989 under President Ronald Reagan. Secretary Schultz understood the value of international educational and cultural exchanges.

It's fascinating to read about how "General Agreement on Contacts, Exchanges, and Cooperation in Scientific, Technical, Educational, Cultural, and Other Fields" between the United States and the Soviet Union [one of the smaller outcomes of the Geneva Summit in November 1985] came about:

"Pact on Exchanges: 200-Hour Wrangle" via The New York Times, November 27, 1985

"General Agreement on Contacts, Exchanges, and Cooperation in Scientific, Technical, Educational, Cultural, and Other Fields" between the United States and the Soviet Union

Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Marie Royce Delivers Remarks on International Education Week #IEW2020

 

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Celebrates International Education Week 2020 #IEW2020

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Celebrates International Education Week 2020 #IEW2020

 

My daughter Gabriela is doing a quasi-virtual internship in Peru that she created for herself!

My daughter Gabriel just graduated high school and in fall she will start her college career at Temple University!  In April 2019 she participate on an exchange in spring 2019 in Lima, Peru through Spotlight Perú: A Performing Arts Company. In August 2019 she returned as an Invited Artist for Spotlight Perú. She misses her friends from Lima and is now doing a quasi-virtual internship through Spotlight Perú over the next few weeks. Essentially, she will be connecting with the students via Zoom every once in a while to talk to the students and to provide guidance and feedback! Very proud of her!

Here she is Zooming in to Spotlight Perú  from our home here in Chicago on May 15, 2020 

Below are several embedded Spotlight Perú Facebook posts that feature my daughter Gabriela!

My daughter’s passport photos over the years! ❤️

Yale Richmond, 1924-2020

I'm a huge fan of Yale Richmond's work and his scholarship!  His book "Cultural Exchange and the Cold War: Raising the Iron Curtain" (2003) is what led to my interest in and scholarship on public diplomacy!

His obituary highlights his life's work in the State Department and his leadership and commitment to international educational and cultural exchanges which you can read at https://legcy.co/3bFffaP.

My daughter and her friends in Lima, Peru

After a flight delay on Sunday and an unexpected night in a hotel in Panama City, Panama my daughter and her are now in Lima, Peru and spent their first night with their host families last night!

My 17 year old daughter is off on a nine day exchange to Peru!

Yesterday, my daughter drove our family through a blizzard to O’Hare where she is off to Lima, Peru for nine days on an exchange through her summer theater program. Will be able to post about her host family at a later date!

In the summer between 7th and 8th grade she participated on an eleven day service-learning trip to Ecuador through her middle school and you can see more about that trip here and here!

"Tough. Jog on." - Well done University of Reading!

We've had feedback over the last week that some people are unhappy with our plan to offer up to 14 scholarships to refugees living in the local area. To these people, we would like to say: Tough. Jog on. https://t.co/ioDLPp5crw

— Uni of Reading (@UniofReading) July 2, 2018

We agree with @UniofReading and are proud of our Equal Access Scholarships, which allow students fleeing conflict an opportunity to study at the University (see: https://t.co/6Qa8fYhXOO). Thanks to support by a range of donors including @YorkAlumni and @UniofYork staff. pic.twitter.com/7MeB17DXbd

— University of York (@UniOfYork) July 3, 2018

12 students from Gaza who are participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program visited and bowled at The White House

On Wednesday, August 16, 2017, 12 students from Gaza who are participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program visited and bowled at The White House.  A key figure who appears to have worked with the Government of Israel to bring these students to the United States and then welcomed them to The White House was Jason Greenblatt.  Greenblatt is Assistant to President Donald Trump and Special Representative for International Negotiation.  I have embedded four of Greenblatt's tweets pertaining to the visit by these students below:

Thanks to the Government of Israel for working with my office to get travel permits for these students. pic.twitter.com/zjkwLoZf0B

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

After, the students and some of our staff went bowling at the @WhiteHouse Truman Bowling Alley. pic.twitter.com/eQque20SCg

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

These students will spend the next year in the US at high schools. I know they and their hosts will learn much from their experiences. pic.twitter.com/DIVXcuqaJU

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

Today, I helped welcome 12 students from Gaza who are participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program to @WhiteHouse. pic.twitter.com/AZPvXq1vj6

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

Dear Foreign Students Coming to Study in the USA... via GoAbroad.com #YouAreWelcomeHere

The U.S. Bans Certain Electronic Devices Including Laptops, Tablets, Video Game Consoles and Cameras on Foreign Airlines from Eight Predominately Muslim Countries

How will this new policy impact students, scholars and faculty who are currently abroad for academic purposes who no doubt have such electronic devices with them and are scheduled to return to the U.S. on foreign carriers departing from the eight countries?

While this ban permits all banned electronic devices to be packed and transported in checked luggage on foreign flagged flights to the U.S. from these eight countries most people will not do so due to the risk of theft or damage.  A friend of mine who travels the globe extensively for work [non-international educator] just landed in Nairobi (with RT stopovers in Dubai) and just posted to Facebook wondering what to do with his laptop and iPad as he will return to the U.S. (O'Hare) on Emirates Airlines via Dubai.  His initial thought is to donate his laptop somewhere in Kenya...

Via the BBC, the nine airlines impacted are:  Royal Jordanian, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

Map and list of affected airports is via the BBC at http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39333424

What are your thoughts?


Additional articles related to this new ban:

U.S. Restricts Electronic Devices On Flights From 8 Muslim Countries [NPR]

U.S. Limits Devices for Passengers on Foreign Airlines From Eight Countries [New York Times]

Airline electronics ban: What you need to know [CNN Money]

Electronics ban on flights to US is indefinite, applies to 8 Muslim-majority nations [Fox News]

Experts criticize US electronic devices ban on some flights from Middle East [The Guardian]

US bans laptops, iPads in carry-on bags from airports in 8 Islamic countries due to bomb fears [CNBC]

Will We See the Elimination of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State?

According to Carol Morello of the Washington Post it appears that an early draft of President Trump's budget proposed the elimination of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. Even if ECA is not eliminated they should expect significant budget cuts!

You can read screen shots of the paragraphs in the article pertaining to ECA below and the full article at http://wapo.st/2mSLUD6

You can read "America First-A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again" by White House OMB, 03-16-2017 at http://bit.ly/2nvW0II

Alliance for International Exchange press release, 3-16-17

"Alliance Opposes Unprecedented Proposed Cuts to State Department" available at http://bit.ly/2mwGLNX

Follow the Twitter Backchannel from the 2017 NAFSA Advocacy Day #nafsaAD

Many thanks to all of our colleagues who have made their way to Washington, DC to advocate on behalf of international education.  Hoping you have very productive meetings!

#nafsaAD Tweets

Follow the Twitter Backchannel from the AIEA 2017 Annual Conference #AIEA2017

#AIEA2017 Tweets

Very welcome sign from the U.S. Department of State

Very welcome sign from the U.S. Department of State as they are continuing to issue Media Notes from the Office of the Spokesperson on international educational and cultural exchanges.

See "U.S. Entrepreneurs Travel to Latin America and the Caribbean for YLAI Reverse Exchange Program" from today [Feb. 15, 2017] at https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/02/267653.htm

"No Certificate of Global Citizenship" - Donald Trump in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 1, 2016

December 1, 2016 - During the first stop of his "Thank You Tour" in Cincinnati, Ohio, President-elect Donald Trump spoke on many issues but at the 15:00 mark his words signaled what could be his administration's approach to and support of international educational and cultural exchanges. You can view and listen below:

Foreign Students and the Beijing Imperial Academy (Temple of Confucius at Beijing) during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

Back in November 2013 I attended the Partnership in International Management (PIM) conference in Beijing, China.  After the conference I spent the weekend in Beijing with my friend Weidong (Jim) and he took me to all of the sites including the Great Wall of China.

One of the places he took me to visit was the Temple of Confucius at Beijing.  Built in 1302, it is the second largest Confucian Temple in China after the one in Qufu.  I really enjoyed my visit and learned that the Imperial Academy, also known as Imperial College, was the highest educational institution in feudal China and it was the only school to enroll foreign students coming from top sending countries such as Korea, Russia, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand among others.

Following are several photos of my visit to the Temple of Confucius at Beijing and a three photos are of display signs highlighting the recruitment of foreign students.

Richard Engel, NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent, Talks About the Value of International Educational Exchange and his AFS Experience in Italy 1990-1991 #AFSEffect