To celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month this April, the U.S. Department of State is hosting a panel discussion, jazz performance and cultural diplomacy exhibit at the U.S. Diplomacy Center. On April 20, a State Department representative and special guests will discuss the role of jazz diplomacy during the Cold War and the continuing role of cultural diplomacy in U.S. foreign policy. Panelists include:

  • Dr. Penny Von Eschen, Professor of Humanities and History from Cornell University and author of Satchmo Blows Up the World:  Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold War
  • Jay Raman, Director of the Cultural Programs Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State
  • Kenny Wesley, songwriter, pianist, vocalist, and alumnus of American Music Abroad

A jazz performance by middle and high school students from the Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education (FAME) will follow the panel. RSVP to the panel and performance here.

Guests can also return to the U.S. Diplomacy Center through June to view Meridian International Center’s temporary photography exhibit, Jam Session: America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World. The exhibit chronicles the international tours of legendary jazz musicians who were selected by the State Department to serve as roving cultural ambassadors from the 1950s-1970s, including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and Dave Brubeck. These musicians interacted with foreign audiences to promote a positive view of the United States during the height of Cold War tensions. 

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the inaugural list of U.S. higher education institutions that sent the most students overseas on the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program in academic year 2016-2017.  The list recognizes the institutions that made international study and internships more accessible and inclusive for the highest number of American students of all backgrounds through the Gilman Program.

The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Institute of International Education, compiles the list, organized by institution size and type.

Topping this year’s list of four-year institutions sending the highest number of Gilman Scholars abroad are Spelman College (GA), Georgetown University (DC), and University of California, Berkeley (CA).  Portland Community College (OR) topped the list of associate’s colleges.

Top producing institutions are highlighted for their success in sending the most first-generation college students, racial or ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, and students studying in STEM fields.  Institutions that sent the most Gilman Scholars to the largest number of different overseas destinations also receive recognition for their role in broadening geographical diversity in study abroad.

For a full list of the institutions by category, please visit the Gilman Scholarship website at GilmanScholarship.org.

More exchange program alumni than ever are fostering change in their home communities as a result of their international exchange experiences. The U.S. Department of State received over 1,300 eligible proposals – 30% more than last year! – to the 2018 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) for grants to enable alumni to establish trainings, awareness campaigns, and leadership and empowerment programs.  Alumni teams from all over the world, from Afghanistan to Zambia, are connecting, building networks, and investing in their communities through AEIF.

Global Reach

Regardless of the type or length of their exchange – academic or professional, short or long term -- alumni showed strong interest in AEIF.  International Visitor Leadership Program alumni submitted the most proposals (248), followed by Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni (146), and alumni from Young African Leadership Initiative Regional Leadership Centers (95).  Alumni of these ECA programs submitted 30 or more proposals:

  • Fulbright Student Program (84)
  • Professional Fellows (59)
  • Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program (52)
  • Study of the U.S. Institutes (41)
  • Young African Leaders Initiative (36)
  • Global UGRAD (30)

In 26 countries, alumni submitted more than 15 eligible proposals. Regionally, Sub-Saharan Africa had the most submissions at 430, followed by Europe and Eurasia with 225, and South and Central Asia with 214.

Topics of Interest

The most popular project theme, with 321 proposals was empowering women and girls.  Over 300 focused either on promoting inclusion and educational opportunity or building civic participation, good governance, and resilient communities. 205 alumni teams proposed activities to fostering economic prosperity, and 185 teams seek to advance science, technology, health, and innovation.

In the coming months, the State Department will review and evaluate these projects, and 2018 AEIF winners will be announced in summer 2018. Follow #AEIF2018 and @ExchangeAlumni on social media for updates.  Thanks to our great alumni community for making this year’s competition such a success, and good luck!

The Cultural Property Advisory Committee will meet May 2-4, 2018, to review Ecuador’s request for U.S. import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological material. The Committee will also consider the proposal to extend the U.S.-China cultural property agreement (or "Memorandum of Understanding"). The Committee invites public comment on the request and extension. The public may participate in the virtual open session of the meeting on May 2, 2018, from 3-4 pm EDT.

Ecuador’s Request

The Government of the Republic of Ecuador has requested U.S. import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological material from Ecuador representing cultural patrimony from the pre-Columbian through Republican periods. This request was submitted pursuant to Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property as implemented by the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (the CPIA).

A public summary of the request includes background information, evidence of jeopardy to the cultural patrimony of Ecuador from pillage, an outline of measures consistent with the 1970 UNESCO Convention that Ecuador has taken to protect its patrimony, and information about the U.S. and international markets for Ecuador's cultural property.

China's Extension

The Government of the People’s Republic of China has expressed interest in an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of United States of America and the Government of the People's Republic of China Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Categories of Archaeological Material from the Paleolithic Period through the Tang Dynasty and Monumental Sculpture and Wall Art at Least 250 Years Old. This request was submitted pursuant to Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property as implemented by the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (the CPIA). A history of U.S. actions concerning the agreement can be found on the China Country Page of the Cultural Heritage website. 

The Review Process

The State Department will decide whether to enter into or extend a bilateral agreement that creates U.S. import restrictions based on four determinations. If a specific emergency condition exists, the Department may also impose import restrictions on an emergency basis. Before making a decision, the Department will consider the findings and recommendations of the Committee.

The four determinations (summarized):

  1. The cultural patrimony of the State Party is in jeopardy from pillage of its archaeological or ethnological materials;
  2. the State party has taken measures consistent with the Convention to protect its cultural patrimony;
  3. application of import restrictions, in the context of a concerted international effort, to archaeological or ethnological material of the State Party would be of substantial benefit in deterring a serious situation of pillage, and less drastic remedies are not available; and
  4. application of import restrictions in the particular circumstances is consistent with the general interest of the international community in the interchange of cultural property among nations for scientific and educational purposes.

Comments on the Ecuador Request and China Proposed Extension

Comments should focus on the four determinations. All comments must be submitted in writing no later than April 15, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). Use regulations.gov, enter docket DOS-2018-0013, and follow the prompts to submit written comments.

Participate in the Virtual Open Session

The virtual open session of the Committee meeting will be held on May 2 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm EDT using Zoom, a web conferencing service. Anyone may attend and/or participate. If you are new to Zoom, these tips will help you get started. If needed, please request reasonable accommodation not later than April 15 by contacting the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at culprop@state.gov. Requests made after that date will be considered, but it may not be possible to fulfill them.

To make an oral presentation

If you wish to make oral comments during the virtual open session, you must pre-register and submit written comments. Instructions will be posted soon on this web page. In addition, you must pre-register by phone, (202) 632-6301, or email: CulProp@state.gov by April 15. After you pre-register, you will be provided with instructions on how to participate as a presenter.

To observe
It is not necessary to pre-register. The webinar will include a chat space for conversation among observers. The chat space will not be monitored by the Committee and will not be incorporated into the record of the meeting.

To join as an observer:
Click the link to join the webinar: https://eca-state.zoom.us/j/938121761
Or Telephone:
   Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 

        US: +1 646 876 9923  or +1 669 900 6833  or +1 408 638 0968 

    Webinar ID: 938 121 761

    International numbers available: https://eca-state.zoom.us/zoomconference?m=_UJrgcvSf97OXY4EHTos0dMmGRj8zSdi

On February 23, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs I. Steven Goldstein and Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary for Political Affairs Lutfi Almughrabi signed a landmark bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on cultural property protection at a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State’s Treaty Room. This agreement is part of the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Libya’s Government of National Accord.  It also underscores the United States’ global commitment to cultural heritage protection and preservation.

The Libya request for a cultural property agreement was reviewed by the President’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee which submitted its recommendation to the State Department prior to agreement negotiation under the U.S. law implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.  Categories of archaeological material representing Libya’s archaeological heritage dating from 12,000 B.C. through 1750 A.D. and Ottoman ethnological material from Libya dating from 1551 to 1911 A.D. are included in import restrictions that are implemented through the agreement. Restrictions are intended to reduce the incentive for pillage and trafficking and are among the many ways the United States is combatting terror financing and disrupting the global market in illegal antiquities. These restrictions continue similar restrictions implemented by the U.S. government on an emergency basis on December 5, 2017.

Through this agreement, the United States and Libya have also agreed to work together on several areas including:

  • To encourage further interchange of Libya’s archaeological and Ottoman ethnological heritage for cultural, educational, and scientific purposes.
  • For the Libyan government to engage other countries having a significant import trade in archaeological and ethnological materials from Libya to deter pillage of its cultural property.
  • For the U.S. government to facilitate technical assistance to Libya in its efforts to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of Libya.

The United States now has similar bilateral agreements with 17 countries around the world, as well as emergency import restrictions on cultural property from Iraq and Syria. 

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has a steadfast and enduring commitment to safety and security. This commitment extends not only to U.S. citizens and diplomats overseas, but also to the thousands of participants from every sector of society who participate in educational and cultural exchange programs abroad and here in the United States.

On February 26, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Zimdahl Galt hosted a dialogue with ECA cooperative partners and sponsors that administer exchange programs to discuss how to continue to strengthen efforts to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of exchange participants.

During the webinar, Ambassador Galt reaffirmed the paramount importance of keeping all exchange participants safe and reinforced a culture of accountability across partner organizations. She said: “Ensuring the safety and security of more than 300,000 exchange participants a year is a weighty responsibility; it is one that I take to heart each and every day and that requires our collective, sustained focus. We must continuously strive, working together, toward that goal.”

Safety and security considerations are infused in every step of the Department’s implementation of exchange programs. Safety and security continues through all phases of the program including pre-departure and arrival briefings, monitoring and oversight, 24/7 hotlines, health benefits programs, and providing active, skilled and compassionate responses when emergencies arise.

“We want every exchange participant who has a problem to feel comfortable reaching out to their host employers and sponsor, to know that their concerns will be taken seriously, to report incidents without fear of retaliation, and to receive the best qualified assistance as quickly as possible,” said Ambassador Galt. “No exchange participant – wherever they are in the world – should ever be alone without recourse.”

Participants, or anyone concerned about a participant, can contact the State Department at any time via the hotline 1-866-283-9090 or at jvisas@state.gov with concerns about health, safety, or welfare.

Together, the Department, cooperative partners, and sponsors are striving to strengthen and improve safety and security measures to ensure the best experience possible for exchange participants and their American communities.

Read Acting Assistant Secretary Galt’s full remarks

The lists of more than 150 U.S. higher education institutions that sent the most Fulbright U.S. Students and Scholars abroad in academic year 2017-2018 are now available and highlight the Fulbright Program’s strong institutional diversity and impact on American communities.

The lists are compiled by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Institute of International Education, and are organized by Carnegie Classification. 

Topping this year’s lists of institutions that sent the most U.S. Students abroad on the Fulbright Program are:

Doctoral and Research Universities
Brown University (RI)

Master’s Colleges and Universities
Truman State University (MO)

Bachelor’s Colleges
Bates College (ME)

Specialized Institutions
Rhode Island School of Design

Fulbright Students are recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals.

Topping this year’s lists of institutions that sent the most U.S. Scholars abroad on the Fulbright Program are:

Doctoral and Research Universities
University of Michigan

Master’s Colleges and Universities
Ithaca College (NY)

Bachelor’s Colleges
Middlebury College (VT)
University of Richmond (VA)

Specialized Institutions
Oregon Health and Science University

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Rhode Island School of Design

Fulbright Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals.

Twenty-five U.S. community colleges also sent Fulbright U.S. Scholars abroad in 2017-2018 and are recognized in the top producing lists.  To see a full list of the institutions by category, visit the Fulbright Top Producing Institutions website.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 380,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Over 1,900 U.S. students, artists and early career professionals in more than 100 different fields of study receive Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants annually to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas, and more than 800 U.S. scholars, artists, and professionals teach or conduct research overseas through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually.

 

Using Virtual Exchange to Connect Robotic Clubs in Italy and the U.S.

Through the Virtual Communities Connect initiative, the ECA Collaboratory funded a series of pilot projects that allowed U.S. Embassies around the world to develop meaningful virtual programming with American communities and institutions that help advance American foreign policy goals.

The U.S. Embassy in Rome, building on their previous work in space and science programming, established a virtual exchange program between the Italian high school Istituto Tecnico Fedi Fermi of Pistoia and two U.S. high schools: Brunswick High School in Georgia and Northwest High School in Pennsylvania. All three schools built robotic telescopes with the assistance of the collaborative U.S. citizen-science project, PANOPTES (Panoptic Astronomical Networked Observatories for a Public Transiting Exoplanets Survey), which aims to build a worldwide network of low cost, robotic telescopes to detect transiting exoplanets.

The project included a series of virtual connections between the U.S. and Italian students to compare their builds, observations, and scientific discoveries. Between the synchronous connections, the students connect via social media platforms to tackle challenges they face throughout the build and observation processes.

As a result of their participation in the virtual program, students at the Fedi Fermi high school won the Tuscan Regional P.E.Z. (Progetti Educativi Zonali) First Award for best practices in creativity and promotion of self-entrepreneurship. The award included 6,000 Euros and an exhibition booth at Fiera Didacta in Florence, where the students showcased samples of the robotics telescope they are building along with their virtual exchange partners the United States to explore exoplanets.

Ambassador Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, welcomes the Board.

278th Meeting: J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Welcomes Insight from the Institute of International Education and Alumni from Fulbright Teaching Program

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board convened on February 8 at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. for its 278th quarterly meeting.

Ambassador Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, welcomes the Board.

Ambassador Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, gave a warm welcome to the members of the Board, followed by discussions about exciting new initiatives and ways to strengthen collaboration among the Fulbright Program’s stakeholders.

Dr. Allan Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education (IIE), which administers several components of the Fulbright Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, provided the board with an update.

In addition, Dr. Allan Goodman, President and CEO of Institute of International Education (IIE), which administers several components of the Fulbright Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, provided the board with an update.

Alumni of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program shared their stories with the Board, including how Fulbright has helped advance their professional goals, and the contributions they continue to make to their local communities as a result of their Fulbright experiences.

Finally, several alumni of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program shared their stories with the Board, including how Fulbright has helped advance their professional goals, and the contributions they continue to make to their local communities as a result of their Fulbright experiences.

Alumni of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program shared their stories with the Board, including how Fulbright has helped advance their professional goals, and the contributions they continue to make to their local communities as a result of their Fulbright experiences.

Yemen is an important partner to the United States, and key to stability in the wider region. In response to the civil war in Yemen in 2015-2016 and in an effort to help protect endangered Yemeni art and antiquities for future generations, the Department of State asked the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to produce an Emergency Red List of Cultural Objects at Risk for Yemen. It was launched at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on January 31.

With support from ECA’s Cultural Heritage Center the Yemen Red List was developed in consultation with international experts from Yemen, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany. As a tool, Red Lists highlight the types of artifacts that are in demand on the art and antiquities market, protected by legislation, and vulnerable to being looted, stolen or illegally exported. The Yemen Red List will be distributed to police and customs officials worldwide as well as to INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization. It will also be distributed to museums, auction houses and art dealers.

The State Department’s support of the Red List reflects the United States’ commitment to cultural preservation and respect for world heritage.  In addition to the Yemen Red List, ECA’s Cultural Heritage Center, through its Cultural Antiquities Task Force,  has supported the publication of similar lists for West Africa, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Egypt, Cambodia, China, Central America and Mexico, Haiti, Colombia, and Peru, with more on the way.

For more information, please contact ECA-Press@state.gov. For information on ICOM, its action against illicit traffic in cultural goods and its Red Lists of cultural objects at risk, please contact icom.presse@icom.museum.

 

 

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