The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) Program is pleased to announce the launch of its 2022 IDEAS small grant competition, which will provide approximately 40 grants of up to $35,000 to U.S. colleges and universities to assist with expanding and diversifying study abroad programming in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. 

To help more U.S. colleges and universities rebuild their study abroad programs following the impact of the global pandemic, the IDEAS Program is offering a one-time doubling of the number of grants it awards under this 2022 competition – from approximately 20 grants to approximately 40.  This support is in alignment with the Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education issued in July 2021 by U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Education Cardona, which emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to promoting global academic engagement for all Americans. 

“As U.S. higher education and the study abroad field begin to emerge from the global pandemic and resume programming, the State Department remains committed to ensuring that all U.S. students have the opportunity to safely study abroad and gain important cross-cultural career skills,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs Ethan Rosenzweig. “Access and equity matter, and by doubling the number of our IDEAS Grants, we aim to help diverse institutions offer study abroad programming for students who otherwise may not have access to global engagement opportunities.”  

Along with this one-time increase in the number of grants awarded,& IDEAS Program has adjusted its 2022 request for proposals (RFP) process to make the small grant competition more accessible and equitable, in particular for lower-resourced institutions that may not have extensive grant-writing experience. 

The IDEAS Program aims to engage the full diversity of U.S. colleges and universities in the grants and trainings it provides to help build study abroad capacity at U.S higher education institutions. It particularly focuses on increasing the number of U.S. higher education institutions offering study abroad programming, diversifying the population of U.S. students that study abroad, and expanding the destinations where they study. Current grant recipients are located in 37 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, one-third are Minority Serving Institutions, and nearly a quarter are two-year institutions. Past grants have supported diverse projects such as establishing the first ever study abroad office at a Historically Black University in Louisiana, developing a study abroad program focused on agriculture in Kentucky aligned with state economic goals, and creating resources on study abroad for Hispanic students and families.

To learn more about the IDEAS Program and how to apply for a grant, visit the program website at studyabroadcapacitybuilding.org.

The competition phase of the Cultural Heritage Game Jam came to an exciting end on November 21, 2021, as the 847 jammers who competed from 72 countries raced to submit their games before the deadline.  The four countries with the greatest number of participants were Algeria, the United States, Morocco, and Peru.  In total, 115 games were developed around the theme of protecting and preserving cultural heritage.  Sub-themes challenged jammers to create games that:

  • Celebrate diverse cultural art, artifacts, traditions, and places;
  • Help disrupt cultural heritage looting, theft, trafficking, and destruction;
  • Reinforce the importance of protecting and preserving cultural heritage; and
  • Educate about the effects of climate change on cultural heritage

The U.S. Government’s Cultural Antiquities Task Force (CATF) and the Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center worked with and Global Game Jam, Inc. (GGJ) to launch the global videogame development competition on November 5.  The kickoff event featured an announcement of the theme and a keynote address by well-known game developer Osama Dorias (“Angry Birds:  World Tour” “Mickey Mouse:  Date Dash” and “The Incredibles:  Jack-Jack's Escape”).  Dorias urged the jammers to resist complacency and not lose sight of storytelling through games.  “We have a responsibility, collectively and individually, to bring forward that which is unique to us and our experiences.  As the business of game making continues to grow, seemingly without an end in sight, we are in need to have games that reflect who we are and where we’re from.”  A link to that video can be found here:  https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1196898226

State Department personnel and interagency partners interacted with the jammers throughout the game development process through a series of Ask Me Anything (AMA) chats hosted by GGJ.   Each AMA gave jammers a chance to hear about cultural heritage protection from a different viewpoint.  

Dr. Catherine Foster of the CATF discussed the power of storytelling in person-to-person diplomacy.  

“There are a lot of stories out there about communities and cultures that people are not aware of or not familiar with.  That’s where videogames are really special in that they can show those stories.  People can play those stories and learn about other cultures in a way that is approachable and immersive.”

A complete recording of Dr. Foster’s AMA can be found here:  https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1195879819

Ashley Fry, an Indigenous Affairs Officer from the Department of State, participated in a panel discussion with women from the game industry highlighting the threat from climate change to Indigenous cultural heritage.  They stressed the importance of “working directly with a population or community that you are representing and working with them from the beginning” in videogame development.  A complete recording of the AMA panel, including Ms. Fry’s remarks, can be found here:  https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1197817822

Special Agent Jake Archer of the FBI Art Crime Team participated in a final AMA where he shared that videogames can help the FBI protect cultural heritage by raising awareness.

“I care a lot about how efficiently we can do our job here for the federal government, and any games that bring awareness about cultural heritage matters and are able to do so in a thoughtful way, is beneficial to us all.  I am not sure what they would look like in a video game format, but I can’t wait to see what some of the results might be.”  

A recording of Special Agent Archer’s AMA can be found here:  https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1203531091

All 115 submissions to the Cultural Heritage Game Jam are playable for free here: https://itch.io/jam/cultural-heritage-game-jam/entries  

A panel of judges from the State Department, GGJ, and the game industry are evaluating the entries.  The winning games will be announced on December 16, 2021 at the USA Pavilion at Expo2020 in Dubai:  https://usapavilion.org/

 

About the Cultural Antiquities Task Force  

Created by the State Department in 2004 at the direction of Congress, the CATF comprises federal agencies that share a common mission to disrupt cultural property trafficking in the United States and abroad. Since its creation, the CATF has supported more than 100 domestic and international cultural property training programs. CATF is a law enforcement-focus working group of the Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee.  Both are managed by the State Department’s Cultural Heritage Center.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is pleased to announce that it will host a celebration of the Fulbright Program’s 75 years of impact at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on November 30 at 7:00 PM EST. This special event will be livestreamed for virtual viewers.

The program will feature personal stories and performances by some of the Fulbright Program’s most extraordinary alumni, including recent participants and those who have had long and distinguished careers. The celebration will highlight the Fulbright Program’s impact in five important areas: The Environment; Education; Public Service; Science, Technology, and Public Health; and The Arts. Speakers will recognize the accomplishments of the Fulbright Program and its alumni over the past 75 years and look ahead to the exciting future of the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program.

The evening will feature a special greeting from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as performances by Fulbright alumni including the gifted trumpet player Sam Nester and Alito Alessi and his remarkable DanceAbility International performers.

More than 40 Fulbright alumni will appear live on stage or via specially recorded remarks.

The event will be streamed online at https://Fulbright75.org/celebration on November 30, 2021 at 7:00 pm Eastern Time. Please register to receive information about the live broadcast. Viewers who are unable to join at that time may register to receive a link to view the video after the event. The full program will be available on Fulbright75.org/celebration on November 30.

About Fulbright
Since its founding 75 years ago, the Fulbright Program has given over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges. Fulbright alumni include 40 heads of state or government, 61 Nobel Prize Laureates, 75 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, 89 Pulitzer Prize Recipients, and 16 U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients. Learn more about Fulbright opportunities and visit Fulbright75.org to connect with activities, events, and alumni stories.


The Cultural Antiquities Task Force (CATF) in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is diving into the world of videogames.  CATF and Global Game Jam, Inc. are hosting a global videogame development competition, or “game jam,” to increase awareness of threats to cultural heritage.  From November 5 to 21, 2021, teams will participate in-person or virtually to create videogame prototypes and to compete for a chance to attend the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California in March of 2022.

The Cultural Heritage Game Jam challenges teams to create games that:

  • Celebrate diverse cultural art, artifacts, traditions, and places;
  • Help disrupt cultural heritage looting, theft, trafficking, and destruction;
  • Reinforce the importance of protecting and preserving cultural heritage; and
  • Educate about the effects of climate change on cultural heritage

Participants, or  “jammers,” include game developers, students, faculty, and nongovernmental organizations, among others.  Teams can register throughout the competition using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddxlLqWZEb_WYEx_3tZMcdGMvjpLKfiPPNQRymClXq3YSeB
w/viewform

Follow @HeritageAtState @GlobalGameJam #GameDevs #IndieGameDevs and #ProtectHeritage on social media for updates on the Cultural Heritage Game Jam.

  

About the Cultural Antiquities Task Force  

Created by the State Department in 2004 at the direction of Congress, the CATF comprises federal agencies that share a common mission to disrupt cultural property trafficking in the United States and abroad. Since its creation, the CATF has supported more than 100 domestic and international cultural property training programs. CATF is a law enforcement-focus working group of the Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee.  Both are managed by the State Department’s Cultural Heritage Center.

The United States cannot afford to be absent from the world stage: U.S. leadership and engagement makes an essential difference abroad, as well as at home. Indeed, in today’s interconnected world, our foreign and domestic policies are inextricably intertwined in pursuit of a preeminent goal – improving the lives of the American people.

Many of our most pressing challenges are inherently global in scope and impact and can only be addressed by nations and individuals working together. From tackling pandemics and the climate crisis, to reducing economic disparities and building prosperity, to countering threats to democracy and maintaining peace – resolving these global challenges requires partnership and collaboration across borders. It is imperative that we continue to cooperate with our allies, invest in our relationships, and broaden our engagement worldwide.

The robust exchange of students, researchers, scholars, and educators, along with broader international education efforts between the United States and other countries, strengthens relationships between current and future leaders. These relationships are necessary to address shared challenges, enhance American prosperity, and contribute to global peace and security.

READ THE FULL JOINT STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce a new initiative recognizing the strong engagement of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) with the Fulbright Program. Through this inaugural “Fulbright HSI Leader” designation, ECA recognizes 35 HSIs that have demonstrated noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program during the 2019-2021 academic years and have promoted Fulbright Program opportunities on campus.

The inaugural Fulbright HSI Leaders were announced today, October 27, 2021, during the international plenary session at the annual conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). The honored colleges and universities include three Associate and Baccalaureate Institutions, 16 Masters Institutions, and 16 Doctoral Institutions.

This initiative is part of the U.S. State Department’s long-standing commitment to build diversity and inclusion within the Fulbright Program and within all the Bureau’s international exchange programs. ECA has established this designation to acknowledge the strong partnerships between the Fulbright Program and HSIs, and to encourage the entire network of HSIs to increase their Fulbright engagement. Having strong HSI participation in the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program is critical to fully representing the diversity of the United States through the Program. ECA congratulates the 35 institutions on achieving this new honor.

On July 28, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a “Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education,” which outlines the many benefits of international education and the need for “all Americans [...] to be equipped with global and cultural competencies.” The Fulbright HSI Leaders Initiative supports the goals of the Joint Statement, including the principle that U.S. participants in international exchanges should reflect the diversity of the United States.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs Ethan Rosenzweig, speaking on behalf of ECA, which sponsors the Fulbright Program, congratulated and thanked the leadership of the designated institutions for recognizing the impact of the Fulbright Program, saying, “Thank you for creating a campus culture that celebrates the mission of Fulbright and international exchanges. Thank you for epitomizing the principle that mutual understanding between peoples of the United States and other countries will lead to a more just and peaceful society at home.” He also praised the faculty, staff, and administrators on campus who recruit, advise and support future Fulbrighters throughout the application process, stating that their work represents “why we all come to our jobs each and every day. . .to ensure our students have every opportunity to excel beyond goals they may not have believed were ever obtainable.”

Seven of the 35 Fulbright HSI Leaders are part of the City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, CUNY Chancellor, praised the Fulbright Program for its “solid record of recruiting and selecting people from diverse backgrounds and helping to ensure that those individuals have successful and rewarding experiences abroad.” Rodríguez, who is also a member and past chair of the HACU Board of Governors, as well as a member of HACU’s Commission on International Education, went on to say, “I salute the State Department for launching this Fulbright HSI Leaders Initiative, to build on that record by expanding the representation of HSIs in the Fulbright Program.”

The Fulbright Program’s robust diversity strategies and initiatives have included collaboration with diversity-related associations and organizations such as the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU); the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence, Equity, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics; the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange; the American Association of Community Colleges; Diversity Abroad; and many more. The Program also works with diversity-focused media outlets and is engaged with minority serving institutions and other diverse colleges and universities. The Fulbright Program is keenly aware that its efforts to increase and enhance diversity must necessarily be coupled with inclusion. The Program has taken measures to help ensure that all participants have successful and rewarding exchange experiences.

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program. Celebrations throughout the year are highlighting the impressive accomplishments and legacy of the program and its alumni over its first 75 years, both in the United States and around the world. A dedicated 75th anniversary website (https://fulbright75.org) showcases Fulbright alumni, partners, and anniversary events.

The Fulbright Program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Fulbright is active in more than 160 countries worldwide and partners with governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States. Many of these organizations also provide direct and indirect support. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.

Associate & Baccalaureate Institutions: CUNY LaGuardia Community College; Skyline College; Whittier College.

Masters Institutions: California State University-Chico; California State University-Dominguez Hills; California State University-Fullerton; California State University-Long Beach; California State University-Northridge; CUNY Hunter College; CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice; CUNY Lehman College; CUNY Queens College; Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus; Mills College; New Jersey City University; Saint Edward's University; San Francisco State University; San Jose State University; Sonoma State University.

Doctoral Institutions: CUNY City College; CUNY Graduate School and University Center; Florida International University; Montclair State University; Rutgers University-Newark; San Diego State University; Texas Tech University; University of Arizona; University of California-Irvine; University of California-Riverside; University of California-Santa Barbara; University of California-Santa Cruz; University of Central Florida; University of Houston; University of Illinois at Chicago; University of New Mexico-Main Campus.

When the global pandemic halted in-person interactions, the team at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the University of Iowa immediately began thinking through creative ideas to engage artists who were eager to participate in the International Writing Program (IWP). Through funding from ECA’s Arts Envoy Program, IWP piloted a series of virtual creative writing courses entitled “Crafting the Future: Writing and Workshopping in Speculative Forms”. 

The virtual course was created for artists to imaginatively construct a better future through creative writing. Participants ages 18-35 from Argentina, Bolivia, Ghana, Guatemala, Iraq, Mexico, Poland, and Russia attended four virtual writing workshops taught in English, Spanish, or bilingual English/Spanish.  The interactive sessions prompted the artists to share their work in a group setting, taking turns reading aloud and receiving feedback from peers and mentors.  They were taught by an all American teaching faculty including award-winning writers José Olivarez, Joyelle McSweeney, Sabrina Orah Mark, Juan Vitulli, Maria Melendez Kelson, Nisi Shawl, and Terese Svoboda.  

Participant Paolita Patino from Bolivia wrote a children’s story in Spanish.  A rough English translation, starting partway through can be found below:  

[… As I read I came to have more questions in a day than coins in my pockets.  Imagine how happy the big fish would be among the small fish and how sad the small fish would be among the big fish.  
Being so, I sighed. Since after that, many more questions arose. What if you are a large fish that looks like a small one, or if you are a small fish that looks like a large one? 

Who would be able to catalog them in a system as large as the ocean, or in this case, the fish tank? How does the fish know where it belongs if there are no mirrors in the ocean to see itself or a ruler to measure itself? 

Mama told me one day, people are not defined by their body size or by how they look, they are defined by their way of being and by what they give to others. 
After drowning in endless unsolved questions for a while, I was eventually able to get something clear: 
I concluded that in this fish tank called life, I could be the fish that I wanted. 

[This piece is] dedicated to all the fish that swim in this ecosystem we call life.] 

Crafting the Future Coordinator Alisa Weinstein said, “The feedback we received from writers in so many countries was very encouraging! The artists found inspiration to write during a time of isolation and way to share their work in a safe space. It also shifted their perspective on how to use their writing for social justice. It was just thrilling to see how well they supported each other.”   

Most importantly, participants also imagined new ways to use their writing: “Honestamente, el curso me ha dado mayor seguridad para escribir lo que deseo expresar, creo que además, me ha proporcionado una luz verde para usar la escritura y los distintos géneros narrativos para militar por la justicia social.” [Honestly, the course has given me more confidence to write what I want to express. I think that it has also given me a green light to marshal writing and the different narrative genres for social justice.] — 2020 Crafting the Future participant from Bolivia 

The mission of the International Writing Program, sponsored by ECA and implemented by the University of Iowa, is to promote mutual understanding by providing writers from every part of the world the necessary space, physical or imaginative, for creative work and collaboration in an intercultural setting. To learn more about the program visit, https://iwp.uiowa.edu/about-iwp. 

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Sports Diplomacy Division hosted a global film screening of the documentary “City of Ali” for U.S. embassies in 20 countries around the globe. The film focused on the life and legacy of boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, who was an inspiration to the world, not only for his athletic accomplishments, but also for his fight against racial injustice and all forms of hatred and prejudice.

The documentary begins with the international celebration of life for Ali, in his beloved hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Growing up in the segregated neighborhood of Parkland taught Ali valuable life lessons in self-worth and resiliency. He also received support from the local business community who provided him with the financial backing to launch his boxing career. The Mayor of Louisville admired him for being a fierce warrior in the ring but also a fierce warrior of kindness and compassion, which led him to become one of the greatest humanitarians of all time.

Although Ali experienced much success, it didn’t come without adversity. As a young adult he became invested in political issues in America and his stances were unpopular with the public. His decision to refuse induction into the draft for the Vietnam War brought on criticism, which ultimately cost him his title and earned him prison time. He found it hypocritical to fight a war in another country when he believed Black people in America were being treated unfairly. As a man guided by his principles and values, Ali stood firm in his decision to protest the war but eventually became well respected again for his undeniable boxing talent and strong moral character.

The City of Ali project also featured a timely and dynamic panel discussion with prominent athletes, activists, scholars, filmmakers, and government officials on the role of sport in the promotion of peace, equality, and social change. The discussion featured NBA All-Star and Team USA Gold Medalist, Allan Houston, the Mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer, City of Ali filmmakers, Graham Shelby and Jonathan McHugh, and Muhammad Ali's wife and activist, Lonnie Ali. Farah Pandith, Muslim-American scholar and leading expert on countering violent extremism, moderated the informative and engaging discussion.

“City of Ali” director Graham Shelby gave his inspiration for creating the film. He said “the documentary is a unique celebration and no one lived a life in human history quite like Ali.  Combined with being a civil rights humanitarian and world champion, what made him special is that he made people feel good about themselves. He used his celebrity to inspire people.  His choices were true and authentic to who he was.” Shelby and the film’s producer Jonathan McHugh felt compelled to tell Ali’s amazing story to ensure that he will always be remembered for his great work for generations to come.

The panel discussion also explored sports as a common thread, which unites people from all walks of life. Ali’s wife and activist “Lonnie” Ali said the documentary expresses how Ali wanted to be remembered.  He saw goodness in all people during his travels around the world and just as we are different, we still have universal truths.  Although Ali was a devout Muslim, his last wishes included a memorial service that included people from different faiths. He wanted the service to be a teaching moment that people from different beliefs can come together and be respectful.

Sports diplomacy uses the universal passion for sports as a way to transcend linguistic and sociocultural differences and bring people together. Participation in sports teaches leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that help young people succeed in all areas of their lives. To learn more about State Department Sports Diplomacy, follow the program on Twitter @SportsDiplomacy and Facebook @sportsdiplomacy division. 


Ambassador Pyatt and Minister Mendoni at the Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens.

September 22, 2021. Athens, Greece: The United States and Greece signed a bilateral cultural property agreement extending existing import restrictions for Greek cultural property and expanding the terms of the agreement to include additional categories of ecclesiastical ethnological material.  

This agreement solidifies our shared commitment to combat looting and trafficking of cultural artifacts. The pillage of heritage sites and the sale of antiquities on the international market not only benefit transnational criminal organizations but also represent an irretrievable loss of historical information.  

This agreement allows the United States to continue import restrictions on certain categories of Greek cultural property, reducing the incentive to loot sites in Greece. The agreement allows U.S. law enforcement to return trafficked cultural objects to Greece and fosters interchange between U.S. and Greek cultural institutions. It will protect cultural heritage in Greece, promote a clean U.S. market, build respect for the cultural heritage of minority communities, and increase academic exchanges, museum exhibitions, and research opportunities for the American public.  

The United States has been unwavering in its commitment to protect and preserve cultural heritage around the world and to restrict trafficking in cultural property, which is often used to fund terrorist and criminal networks. This cultural property agreement was negotiated by the State Department under the U.S. law implementing the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The United States has cultural property agreements with more than twenty countries around the world, as well as emergency import restrictions on cultural property from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

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