August 10, 2022

US Foreign Policy: US Department of State Prioritises Keeping USA the Top Study Destination

A At the recent EducationUSA Forum, stakeholders from the US Department of State emphasised the importance of maintaining the US as the top study destination in the world. Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, welcomed attendees to the event and said, "What you are doing to promote study in the United States, for the best and the brightest to come together to solve the world's problems, is critically important."

In reference to the conference's theme, Connecting You to the World, Satterfield said to the audience, "We do this work because we know that the experience of studying in the US shapes both the lives of individuals and the future of our interconnected world."

…the five-prong plan is intended to connect US institutions with foreign groups interested in US education, promote the US as a premiere study destination through marketing campaigns, highlight the importance of international education as a US export system, align resources to promote US education in the global market, and level the playing field in the export market…

Speaking further on the issue, a speaker at the forum outlined some benefits of having international students reside in and pursue their education in host communities in the US, such as the "unique cultures and perspectives" they bring as well as the fact that they supported more than 300,000 jobs and more than $31 billion in the country's economy in 2017.

The value of international education was emphasised by a speaker at the event, who also covered the US Department of State's priorities and emphasised the joint statement of "principles in support of international education" from the previous year.

At the Forum, a panel discussion with standing room only discussed a joint statement. Anthony Koliha, director of the Office of Global Education Programs at ECA, was joined by Rafael Nevárez from the Department of Education, Marissa Tinsley from the Department of Homeland Security, and Gabriela Zelaya from the Department of Commerce to talk about the advancement of the objectives in the Joint Statement and opportunities for the future.

Speaking to the panel, Gabriela Zelaya of the Department of Commerce, said,” the five-prong plan is intended to connect US institutions with foreign groups interested in US education, promote the US as a premiere study destination through marketing campaigns, highlight the importance of international education as a US export system, align resources to promote US education in the global market, and level the playing field in the export market.”

The conference planners offered a variety of opportunities for stakeholder participation throughout the forum, from thought-provoking sessions to an engaging reception to the global showcase, where regional educational advising coordinators and country advisors highlighted the work, they are doing in countries around the world to promote studying in the United States.

Posted in News and tagged News, USA, US Foreign Policy, Study Destination, EducationUSA Forum, US Department of State's Priorities
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