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International Education MattersA
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Advisory Group Recommends Major Structural Changes in U.S. Public Diplomacy Efforts -- Dramatic Increase in Funding; Expansion of Professional Exchanges Short-term Exchange Programs Proposed October 3, 2003 - Portraying the structure of U.S. public diplomacy as “inadequate” and “outmoded”, especially in the Arab and Muslim world, Edward Djerejian, chair of the bipartisan 13-member Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World, Wednesday called for a “dramatic transformation” in the way the U.S. communicates its values and policies overseas. The group released its recommendations, which included the creation of a new, Cabinet-level position to oversee U.S. public diplomacy efforts and called for more resources and an expansion of some exchange programs. Djerejian called the report a “wake up call for the U.S. to face effectively the challenge for the battle of minds we have out there.” Djerejian emphasized the “critical” role of public diplomacy in the United States’ effort to “understand, inform, engage, and influence people” in the Arab and Muslim world, and noted the current system’s lack of “strategic direction and resources.” The new report calls the current level of funding for public diplomacy “absurdly and dangerously inadequate”, states that “no amount of reprogramming of existing resources can correct this”, and concludes that “the importance of public diplomacy in meeting the strategic challenge that America faces in the Arab and Muslim world requires a dramatic increase in funding.” In his remarks Wednesday, Djerejian cited the promotion of educational exchanges, including traditional programs like Fulbright, as “key” to public diplomacy efforts. The group’s recommendations, compiled in a report entitled “Changing Minds, Winning Peace”, specifically state that “professional exchanges and educational programs of shorter duration that reach more diverse segments of the Arab and Muslim world should be expanded.” The report calls for programs to take into account the youthful demographics of the Middle East. “High school students must be added to the priority group, and more short-term exchanges two to three weeks, rather than a semester to a year should be launched as a way to get immediate benefits in a time of crisis.” The advisory group was mandated last year by Congress to “recommend new approaches, initiatives and program models to improve public diplomacy results.” Djerejian thanked the sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary, for his insight and leadership in calling for the group to be constituted. Exchanges called the “single most effective means to improve attitudes toward the U.S.,” yet report requests research to demonstrate their value The Djerejian report states that, “since 9/11, there has been a serious effort to increase the number of civilian exchanges from the Arab and Muslim world,” noting that, in fiscal 2003, “about one-fourth of the total exchange budget was directed to countries in the region.” It highlights the launch of the Partnership for Learning program, a $6 million program that brings Arab and Muslim university students to the U.S. to complete their education. It notes that, “Considering the gravity of today’s threat and the cultural preference for face-to-face exchanges in the Arab and Muslim world, the Advisory Group considers this shift in resources only a modest beginning. Wherever we went from Egypt to Senegal to Turkey we heard that exchange programs are the single most effective means to improve attitudes toward the United States. But today, large sums are devoted to parts of the world where the threats and needs are nowhere near as pressing as they are in Arab and Muslim nations.” The report also states that, “Educational exchange programs appear to have been broadly effective. Many people in positions of leadership in the Arab and Muslim world have studied at U.S. universities. For example, 80 percent of the members of the Saudi cabinet have an American master’s or doctoral degree. Two women who are former prime ministers of Muslim countries also studied here.” The Djerejian report points to the two-country selection model for exchanges that has long been associated with the Fulbright program, where the U.S. and the home country of the person coming to America share the selection process and the certification process and both become invested in the outcome, as a good one. It also notes “the State Department should find new ways to send young Americans abroad, with U.S. Government financing, if necessary. These youthful Americans studying in the Middle East can quickly change inaccurate perceptions about U.S. society.” Exchanges and cooperative agreements in areas like journalism and media studies are cited in the report as having a direct impact on how the United States and its policies are viewed in the Muslim world. The report mentions professional education partnerships in medicine and business, for example, as areas where common ground can be built. Citing the September report of the General Accounting Office (GAO) on public diplomacy which referred to exchanges as “an example of a program that lacks information that can 'demonstrate progress toward the more fundamental objective of achieving changes in understanding and attitudes about the United States,’” the new report indicates that “While anecdotal information on the value of exchanges is persuasive and while 94 percent of exchange participants believe the program is ‘highly successful’ or ‘valuable,’ more sophisticated research is needed.” The advisory group calls for more resources for ECA to develop its database and perform useful measurements, and states, “We believe that exchanges are a highly effective tool of public diplomacy, and our strong inclination is to recommend a substantial increase in current programs, at least to the level requested for fiscal 2005. But research that confirms the value of the programs and that helps target them must come first.” Importance of access to American education highlighted The report highlights education as an area where Americans and peoples of the Arab and Muslim world have solid common ground. It notes that, “key programs, such as funding scholarships for future leaders, have been cut to the bone”, and recommends “major increases in resources to help Arabs and Muslims gain access to U.S. education and urge creativity in finding ways to link U.S. educational institutions with those in the Middle East.” The report goes on to state that, “Even today, when many Arabs and Muslims harbor an extremely negative opinion of the United States, they maintain a positive view of American education.” Among the report’s recommendations for access to American education, the group, “advocate(s) more general cooperation as well: joint ventures between American universities in the United States and universities in the Arab and Muslim world with collaboration in curricula, teaching methods and testing. Partnership between American universities and regional universities can help both sides and promote shared values; in fact, such partnerships can begin at the high-school level.” English language programs called a “critical instrument of outreach” Describing the group’s travels in the Arab and Muslim world, Djerejian noted its members were “very impressed” by the English language training programs which he called a “phenomenal vehicle” and a “critical instrument of outreach.” The report states that these programs “must be expanded and supported by increased funding and human resources.” The report notes that, “our very success [in English language teaching programs] weakened government support for English teaching in public diplomacy. Since English has clearly become the global language of commerce, the assumption was that English could make its own way in the world. Indeed it can, but by disassociating ourselves from its teaching we lose an enormous opportunity to influence and inform.” The report includes a series of specific recommendations to improve opportunities for English teaching. The report also calls for the professional level of fluency in local languages and the level of knowledge about Arab and Muslim societies to be “dramatically enhanced.” In his remarks, Djerejian called attention to the importance of changing the training of Foreign Service Officers going overseas to improve proficiency in language to a level that will enable officers to “get on local television to discuss and debate” U.S. policy issues. He mentioned a two-hour television program on the “Americanization of Islam” his group encountered in their travels, noting the absence of an American perspective. Djerejian remarked that of the “56-odd Arabists” currently in the Department, about “5 could play this role,” but, he said, we need hundreds who know how to engage in dialogue. Visa concerns raised; Fast-track procedure for exchange participants recommended The report recognizes the security concerns that exist in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and notes, “these concerns have caused a decline in student visa applications and issuance.” It cites declines throughout the Arab and Muslim world, which is “generating ill will among a population we want to reach.” The report recommends striking the right balance between security and openness, and the “Advisory Group urges a closer look at visa policies in light of the important value of educational programs in promoting national security.” The group also urges that “potential Arab and Muslim exchange students be better informed about actual policies, since many are deterred by false rumors that Americans simply don’t want them in our country. In particular, we recommend the establishment of a fast-track procedure to accommodate individuals participating in educational and other exchange programs.” The report also recommends that the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs “work to expand the network of U.S. volunteer sponsors and pair exchange alumni with prospective visitors to allay fears.” It notes that the State Department urgently needs an alumni database for this effort. Other major recommendations from the report The report calls for a new strategic direction for public diplomacy that “must be led by the political will of the President and Congress and fueled by adequate financial and human resources.” It recommends specific structural changes to manage the strategic direction and government coordination of public diplomacy between the White House, the National Security Council interagency process and the State Department. Among the structural changes, a new White House Special Counselor with Cabinet rank, backed by an advisory board of experts, would be created to set government-wide public diplomacy strategy. In its travels in the Arab and Muslim world, Djerejian reported that the group was “disturbed” to find that the U.S. is “not in any significant way present” in local discussions, debates, and television programs about U.S. policy. To counter this trend, the report also recommends that the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) and the Defense Department (DOD), both of which engage in activities with a significant public diplomacy dimension, be more closely tied to the reinforced strategic direction and coordination proposed in the report. The State Department would remain the lead agency for enacting policy. The report calls for a new culture of measurement to be established within all public diplomacy structures. Recommendations also include: a rapid expansion of the scope of the American Corners program for local institutions and the launch of a new initiative known as the American Knowledge library that will translate thousands of American books into local languages and make them available to libraries, American Studies centers, universities and American Corners. Expansion of Middle East television, Radio Sawa and other broadcasting tools were cited as well. At Wednesday’s press briefing, Djerejian was asked if the group had examined the structure of the USIA in its research. He replied that that structure was given “extensive thought”, but the group decided to move in a different direction with the creation of a White House Office of the Special Counselor. He said that the role of strategic coordinator would “replicate what was once USIA.” Copyright 2003 by Used with permission of Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange This file was updated on November 8, 2003 |
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