University Hosts Re-Entry Workshop for International Exchange Students

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Graduate School and International Education at the University of Arkansas will host the upcoming Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program, part of the U.S. Department of State’s Global Undergraduate Exchange Program administered by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. Joining the five students who are currently attending the University of Arkansas, 78 outstanding undergraduate students from 17 countries and the Palestinian Territories (listed below) from underrepresented sectors will be arriving on campus on Friday, April 15, to prepare for the return to these countries at the end of the spring semester. The Re-Entry Workshop will be held Saturday, April 16, and Sunday, April 17, at the Arkansas Union.

These students have been pursuing their studies and sharing their cultures at 16 other geographically and demographically diverse host campuses, and in communities throughout the United States. International educational exchanges represent a strategic investment by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to provide students with a transformational educational experience, from initial selection to the creation of a vibrant alumni network. These students have been focusing on academic programs that include American studies courses, while also becoming active members of the community by participating in volunteer projects and local community events.

International student exchange at the undergraduate level is one of the most effective public diplomacy tools available to the American people. This undergraduate exchange program provides a unique opportunity for young adults from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia to study in the U.S. for an academic year and learn first-hand about American culture. At the same time, Americans who interact with these international students will come to understand a different way of life and broaden their knowledge of other cultures.

Another aspect of the program includes an internship that has allowed students to explore their specific field of study through practical experience. As young people struggle to make sense of events occurring both in their own neighborhoods and overseas, the exchange program provides the opportunity for international students and Americans to develop relationships based on personality, mutual interests, and respect for one another as individuals, while dismissing assumptions and stereotypes that are based solely on an individual’s nationality or ethnic origin.     

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About the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

The Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program is part of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which provides scholarships for one semester or one academic year to outstanding undergraduate students from underrepresented sectors in East Asia, Eurasia and Central Asia, the Near East and South Asia and the Western Hemisphere for non-degree full-time study combined with community service, internships and cultural enrichment. Global Undergraduate Exchange Program participants are among over 40,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. For more than 60 years, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has funded and supported programs that seek to promote mutual understanding and respect between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Other bureau programs include the Fulbright Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. For more information about the bureau programs, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/.

About American Councils 

The American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, an international nonprofit organization, advances scholarly research and cross-border learning through the design and implementation of educational programs that are well grounded in key world languages, cultures and regions. Since its founding in 1974, American Councils has administered over 100 U.S. government-sponsored educational programs, and the organization has had a significant impact on promoting mutual understanding and developing positive relationships between people in the U.S. and the international community. American Councils contributes to the creation of new knowledge, broader professional perspectives, and personal and intellectual growth through international training, academic exchange, and collaboration in educational development. With a presence in the U.S., Russia and Eurasia for nearly four decades, in addition to representation in over thirty countries across Asia, the Middle East and Southeastern Europe, American Councils strives to expand dialog among students, scholars, educators and professionals for the advancement of learning and mutual respect in the diverse communities and societies in which we work. For more information, visit http://www.americancouncils.org.