International Education Week 2013

Fact Sheet

• First held in 2000• Celebrated in more

than 200 countries• Initiated by U.S.

Departments of State and Education

Goals

• Celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide

• Promote international understanding• Build support for international education

exchanges• Encourage the development of programs that

prepare Americans to live and work in a global environment

• Attract future leaders from abroad to study in the U.S.

Statistics

• Over 720,000 international students from more than 200 countries study in the U.S. each year.

• The Department of State’s ECA annually supports more than 40,000 students, scholars and other exchange participants.

• Approximately 270,00 Americans study abroad every year.

Benefits

• Develops mutual understanding and respect

• Builds leadership• Fosters an appreciation

for the U.S.• Invests in the future

relationship between Americans and world citizens

Almaz

Combining good ideas from Central Ukraine AC Olga Sokolova ’07 and Kyrgyzstan AC Iuliia Tokareva ’10 after the AC Conference, Eurasia FLEX ACs two years ago incorporated into their 2011 IEW events a screening of the documentary film Almaz, made by FLEX alumna Elnura Osmonalieva ’99.

Almaz

The film shows how exchanges open up the world to young people and how, in Almaz's case, it gave him great motivation to learn more.

Almaz“The movie made them think how many opportunities to study they are offered nowadays and decided not to be lazy and appreciate it more and be more active.”

-Taibat Kadiyeva ’11 in Yaroslavl

“While watching the movie, I remembered my exchange year and how it changed my life afterwards.”

-Keti Chitashvili ’10 in Tbilisi

Armenia 2011

American Councils and IREX had an Open Door Day, which allowed the public to visit.

Alumni joined a march from the American Councils office to the IREX office to promote these organizations and their contributions to international education.

Armenia 2012

In cooperation with NGO Emanuel and EducationUSA Advising, alumni read international fairy tales to disabled children. They also held a flashmob in Yerevan’s city center, to celebrate its appointment to World Book Capital of 2012.

Central Ukraine 2011

• FLEX alumni with a PCV in Poltava presented international education to the Poltava English Club at the local American Center.

• Special IEW activities were incorporated into EFL lessons at Korosten orphanage.

Georgia 2011

FLEX alumni and local partners organized a fair at which volunteers from Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Scotland, and the U.S., as well as Georgia, presented their countries at special booths and held 20-minute language workshops. There was also a children’s corner.

Georgia 2012

Alumni in cooperation with the American Corner and Youth Association DRONI organized a cultural presentation at the Youth Palace of Georgia for 45 visitors. Volunteers from different countries presented their culture and traditions via table displays, presentations, and music.

Kazakhstan 2011

• Cultural diversity tables• EducationUSA advising• A presentation on the U.S.

education system• Debates on the development

of Kazakhstan’s education system

• Roundtable discussions• Career counseling• A fair at a local mall

Kyrgyzstan 2012

Alumni organized a charity evening highlighting international literature and that of Kyrgyz writer Chyngyz Aitmatov. His sister Roza Aitmatova shared memories of her brother at the event and other famous authors read their work. Participants donated books for the Bishek Rehabilitation Center for Homeless Children.

Moldova 2012

Over 60 high school and university students took part in an alumni-organized event at the Alumni Resource Center of the U.S. Embassy to Moldova. Participants learned about American universities and high schools, how Americans spend free time, and U.S-Moldova exchange programs. Alumni, Peace Corps volunteers, and Embassy staff spoke at the event.

Northwest Russia 2011

• Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg and Vologda FLEX alumni learned about traditional Jewish holidays and discussed the book Everything is Illuminated and its movie adaptation.

• Murmansk alumni shared their impressions of the U.S. with residents of a nursing home, presenting books and photographs from their FLEX years. They also read aloud Hemingway’s short stories.

Tajikistan 2011

• An AUBG presentation for FLEX and an “open house” AUBG presentation

• Volunteering at an educational fair in the language learning center Bacteria

• English Language Fellow seminars on American-style essay writing

• Leadership seminar for trainers of the youth organization Nasli Navras

Turkmenistan 2012

Alumni and American Corner staff members organized a week of events at the center for the community. Alumni made presentations about studying in U.S. universities and high school, promoted the FLEX program and made presentations about their host communities, and explained standardized tests in the U.S. and the need to complete these tests for applying to universities.

Urals 2011

• After the Urals FLEX CR Conference, CRs joined AC Lyaysan Sultanova in sharing American high school life with Ufa’s English Discussion Club

• Tyumen’s CR spoke about her U.S. experience at the after-school program, “FLEXible English”

Resources

• American Councils• American Spaces (Corners, Centers, Windows)

• EducationUSA

• U.S. Embassies

• Local Universities

• Youth Organizations & Partner NGOs

• People you serve already!

What You Can Do

• Share this new ECA video promoting IEW• Spread the word about EducationUSA’s

November 13 international student virtual college fair, the world’s largest

• Consult the ECA’s suggested activities for secondary schools, universities and community organizations

• Register your FLEX IEW events at http://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/international-education-week/iew-events-2013 and http://www.bradleyherald.org/events/

Ideas?