Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Latest News & Highlights

	>> African-American Fulbright Alumni Reaching out to the World The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S Department of State is proud to recognize the many African-American Fulbright Program alumni who make significant contributions to international understanding through educational and cultural exchange. There are more than 267,000 Fulbright alumni worldwide who are working to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. More (PDF, 261KB - Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
>> New CultureConnect Ambassador Bernie Williams Visits Venezuela and Colombia Bernie Williams, star centerfielder for the New York Yankees and newly selected U.S. Department of State Cultural Ambassador, is traveling to Venezuela and Colombia for his inaugural CultureConnect trip, starting February 11. He will conduct baseball clinics with young baseball players in Caracas, Venezuela, before traveling to Cartegena and Baranquilla in Colombia, to lead additional baseball clinics. In addition to the baseball events, Williams, who is an accomplished jazz and Latin guitarist, will perform with the Etnia Latin Jazz Band at the Uni Norte Auditorium in Baranquilla. More
>> National Council for International Visitors Annual Meeting, February 9-12 Representatives from more than ninety communities across the United States who work on local programming for the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) will convene in Washington, D.C. this week. The representatives will be in Washington for the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) annual meeting, February 9-12. Centered on the theme "Public Diplomacy, Citizen Diplomacy, Power for Positive Change," attendees will discuss their work with foreign professionals in their local communities. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Patricia de Stacy Harrison will deliver the conference keynote address. More
>> Undergraduates from Middle East to come to Washington for Leadership Workshop The U.S. Department of State will welcome the first group of students in the “Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies” (PLUS) program to Washington DC for a Leadership Workshop January 13-16. The students have completed one semester of academic study at American universities. More

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational and training programs. The bureau does so by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences.

The Fulbright Program provides grants for Graduate Students, Scholars and Professionals, and Teachers and Administrators. This site includes Fulbright Commissions and other information on the program.

EducationUSA promotes U.S. higher education abroad, supports overseas advising centers, collaborates with U.S. educational organizations to strengthen international exchange, and manages the Gilman study abroad scholarship program.

The Office of English Language Programs creates and implements high quality, targeted English language programs overseas to promote mutual understanding between the United States and other countries. Staff, including overseas-based Regional English Language Officers, plan, conduct and support programs sponsored by American Embassies and Consulates.

Programs for Eurasia and Southeast Europe include activities involving individual fellowships or institutional linkages.

Requests for Grant Proposals announce the latest bureau funding opportunities for academic, and non-profit institutions seeking exchanges and training grants.

The Humphrey Fellowships bring mid-level professionals from developing countries to the United States for a year of academic study and professional experiences.

Study of the U.S. promotes better understanding of the U.S. through Summer Institutes for foreign university faculty. This site also contains an extensive number of links to on-line American Studies resources.

Educational Partnerships Program supports educational linkages between U.S. and foreign post-secondary institutions through faculty and staff exchanges on themes of mutual interest.

The International Visitor Leadership Program brings participants to the U.S. to meet and confer with professional counterparts and to experience firsthand the U.S. and its institutions.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges develops professional, cultural and youth programs with nonprofit American institutions, including voluntary community organizations, professional associations, and universities. Thematic categories for grants include civil society, NGO development, civic education, media development, judicial training, intellectual property rights, and public administration among other themes. The office has three geographic divisions — Europe/Eurasia; Near East, South Asia and Africa; and Western Hemisphere and East Asia — as well as divisions for youth and cultural, including ECA's CultureConnect web site.

The Alumni Affairs Division is committed to continuing to engage with the alumni of Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) exchange programs in order to increase the mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries.

International Cultural Property Protection represents U.S. responsibilities in protecting the cultural patrimony of other countries.

The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, established by Congress for the fiscal year 2001, aims to assist less developed countries in preserving their cultural heritage and to demonstrate U.S. respect for other cultures.

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