FLEX Alumni Spread the Word for International Education Week

FLEX alumni across Eurasia took part in the global movement to share the benefits of international education during International Education Week (IEW) on November 16-20. This annual event gives FLEX alumni the motivation to tell others about their personal experiences of studying in the U.S. and share information about various U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs.

In Moldova, alumni across the nation celebrated IEW through the Bridges Between Us Project, a grant project designed to unite alumni of various U.S. Government-sponsored programs through project management trainings. Teams of recently returned alumni made presentations about their experiences living in the U.S. and studying in U.S. high schools in seven regions of the country. Alumni in the capital of Chisinau organized a seminar at the U.S. Embassy Alumni Resource Center for 35 high school students on higher education opportunities and scholarship searches. Angela Muset, director of the Educational Advising Center, talked about admission tests and scholarship opportunities at the American University in Bulgaria.

An educational training on job interviews and resume writing was held by Ufa, Russia alumni for IEW. Meanwhile, alumni in Yekaterinburg, Russia took the opportunity to learn more about the NYU Abu Dhabi University with a presentation by Lubov Kovalenko, NYU Abu Dhabi Global Scholars Program officer.

Georgian alumni took part in a Wikitravel training course by Joshua Noonan, former Peace Corps volunteer. Mr. Noonan started his presentation by speaking about his experience studying in the U.S. at the University of Nebraska, and his tenure with the Fulbright Program. He also talked about Internet travel guides for Georgia to encourage friends and host family members from the U.S. to visit Georgia.

Azeri alumni took advantage of IEW to inform students about the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia (UGRAD) at the State Economic University. Ruslan Asadov 04, former FLEX Alumni Coordinator and UGRAD alumnus of 2008 who studied at Michigan State University's Department of International Relations, shared his experiences with 15 students.

Moving on to Central Asia, alumni in Tajikistan held a competition between the students of School #14 on the theme of Exploring America. FLEX alumni introduced the children to IEW and organized a quiz show about U.S. history and culture. Students answered questions and won small prizes. Following the game, alumni handed out brochures about U.S. universities and colleges to the students.

Turkmen FLEX alumni also held a number of events for IEW. One of the most interesting was the launch of IEW in Ashgabat, the Memories That Last Photo Contest. Alumni posted pictures from their experiences in the U.S., and over 50 American Corner visitors voted on their favorite pictures and talked to alumni about their experiences on the FLEX Program. Alumni held daily events for IEW in Turkmenistan, including an American Culture quiz show, debates on the U.S. versus Turkmen systems of education, and presentations about universities and U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs.

To learn more about events that took place in Turkmenistan for IEW, check out this link.