2002 Press Releases

U.S. Embassy, ACCELS to Hold International Education Week Activities in Turkmenistan

Nov. 15, 2002

The American Councils for International Education (ACCELS) and the U.S. Embassy Ashgabat are promoting international education by conducting numerous educational activities in Turkmenistan during International Education Week, November 18-22, 2002.

ACCELS and the U.S. Department of State-funded Educational Advising Center will hold a variety of events in Ashgabat, including seminars on diversity and critical thinking issues on November 19, a roundtable discussion with U.S. Vice-Consul in Turkmenistan Jennifer Hall on U.S. student visas on November 21, and a sample TOEFL test with over 200 participants on November 23. Throughout the week, alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs will give lectures at high schools across Turkmenistan on the U.S. education system. Twenty-five winners of the nationwide high school essay-writing contest will be invited to a special one-day seminar on November 20 on various aspects of education in the United States. On the same day at the Educational Advising Center, alumni of the Freedom Support Act Undergraduate Program, Junior Faculty Development Program and Muskie Graduate Program will answer visitors' questions about studying at an American university. Also, answers to a quiz on the U.S. Education system will be accepted throughout the week, the winner to be announced on November 25.

Representatives from the U.S. Embassy and ACCELS will open American Center branches in Turkmenbashi City on November 18, in Dashoguz City on November 20, and in Turkmenabat City on November 22, 2002. They will be called "American Corners" and will serve as a source of information about the U.S. for people living in these provinces. Educational fairs and English language teaching conferences on methodology, curricula, and parent involvement will be held in Turkmenbashi, Dashoguz, and Turkmenabat right after the opening ceremonies of the American Corners. Informational and educational materials will be available as well.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige advocate the celebration of International Education Week, November 18-22, 2002. International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programs that prepare Americans for the global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

"People-to-people diplomacy, created through international education and exchanges, is critical to our national interests," says Secretary Powell. "Americans who study abroad expand their global perspective and become more internationally engaged. Foreign students and individuals who participate in citizen exchanges return home with a greater knowledge of our democratic institutions, and America's enduring values."

The International Education Week website provides useful resources about International Education Week activities throughout the world and may be found at http://exchanges.state.gov/iew/. Information about IEW activities in Turkmenistan is available at www.geocities.com/iewashgabat.