Secretary of State John Kerry touches on multiple topics including "Deepening People-to-People Ties" in his Cabinet Exit Memo to President Obama

Secretary Kerry's Cabinet Exit Memo available here

Video Webchat of People-to-People Ties: The Heart of the U.S.-India Partnership

As a follow-up to the U.S.-India Higher Education Summit on June 12, 2012 [see videos below], Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy Tara Sonenshine and Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirumpama Rao met on July 19, 2012 to discuss the importance of and value placed on people-to-people exchanges between these two nations.  This webcast discussion was moderated by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Ambassador Robert Blake.  I have embedded the recorded webast below:



You can read the full transcript of this webcast discussion here.

If you are interested in watching the webcast of the 2012 U.S.-India Higher Education Summit you can do so via the following videos:

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

Celebration of the first year of the Consultation on People-to-People Exchange

This week the United States Department of State celebrated the achievements during the first year of the Consultation on People-to-People Exchange between the United States and China.  I wanted to post a bit about this this week but given my family move to a new house and no internet connection at home that has proved difficult.  I did want to post about the various videos and transcripts available for you to link to when you have some free time.


Video "Secretary Clinton Celebrates Achievements of U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange" on DipNote.  Text of Secretary Clinton's remarks are available here.  (I'm trying to find a way to embed the video here in this post and will do so if I find a way)


Fact sheet on the U.S.-China CPE Cooperation on the 100,000 Strong Initiative





For me, what is really awesome about this video is that one of the Fulbright alumni featured in the video is a someone I advised on the Fulbright here at The University of Chicago (1:03 & 1:43 minute marks)!

Two Last Minute International Education Professional Development Activities Today Should Your Location and Schedule Allow

Church Clock, St. Andrew's Wootton

1. Live NAFSA Collegial Conversation - Optimizing Your Use of Social Media [in International Education].  Julie Schwietert Collazo from the Matador Network and Jeramy Johnson from API (Academic Programs International) will lead this exciting live discussion on effective and efficient uses of social media in international education.

The discussion will focus on the uses of Twitter and Facebook, today's most popular social media tools. Join the conversation here and ask your questions about how best to use social media within the ever-changing field of international education.

Date: Wednesday February 9, 2011

Time: 2:00PM EST

and

2.  US Cuba People to People Partnership: A Conference Sponsored by the Columbia

University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and the Center for International Policy (CIP)

Wednesday, 9 February 2011, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Room 1512, SIPA, 420 West 118th St, New York, NY 10027

TOPICS

- What is a Treasury Department “general license” for academic programs in Cuba, and what institutions will qualify for one?

 -  How is a U.S. academic program arranged in Cuba.

- The requirement that courses must be given for “academic credit”, what does it mean?

- The permitted roles in U.S. academic programs in Cuba of adjunct faculty and students from other colleges and universities.

- Permitted expenditures in Cuba by U.S. universities and colleges.

- Record-keeping and other compliance issues arising from the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

-  “People-to-people” travel. What does it mean and what organizations are qualified to sponsor and organize such travel?

- How will an organization apply for a people-to-people license and what supporting certifications and documentation will be useful? And what itineraries are likely to be acceptable under the new rules.

- Per diem limits on expenditures per traveler, and what can and cannot be purchased in Cuba to bring back into the U.S.

- Securing Cuban approvals for proposed educational programs and obtaining necessary visas.

- Booking accommodations in Cuba and making other on-the-ground arrangements there, the role of licensed U.S. Travel Service Providers (TSPs).

       

More information about this conference available US Cuba People to People Partnership blog here.

Photo credit: D H Wright

The U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange

Good things are happening at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai!  During Secretary Clinton's remarks today at the signing of the U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange she reaffirmed President Obama's bold plan to send 100,000 U.S. students to China to study abroad.  Additionally, Secretary Clinton announced that 10,000 Chinese students will be supported to get their Ph.D.'s in the United States.  In addition to establishing the U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, Secretary Clinton and Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong renewed the the Implementing Accord for Cultural Exchange and as well as the Agreement for Cooperation in Educational Exchanges.

I won't go into all the details in this post as you can read more information in the fact sheet as well as text of Secretary Clinton's remarks at http://www.state.gov/headlines/142186.htm.
Embedded photo credit via @KateAtState at http://yfrog.com/5cj4yj

Americans Encouraged to Travel to Countries Previously Off Limit

I just read a great article by Mark Dillen entitled "People-to-People People" on the Foreign Policy Association, Public Diplomacy: The World Affairs Blog Network that I thought I would share with IHEC Blog readers. In his article, Dillen argues for Americans to resume travels to countries previously off limits. You can access this article here.