- America's Lacking Language SkillsThe Atlantic Just seven percent of American college students are enrolled in a language course and 95 percent of these enrollments are in European languages like French or German, despite an increasing demand for fluency in non-Western languages. Through alarming statistics and anecdotal evidence, journalist Amelia Friedman describes the current state of decay of language education in the United States. Why Global Competence Matters: It's Not Really a Small… Read More
- A trash-strewn public playground gets a makeover. A museum expands the reach of its artwork online by installing an Internet connection. A historical site gains a sewage system. These aren't random instances of good fortune, but collective acts of goodwill conducted by a group of young Ukrainian adults wearing bright yellow t-shirts. The group's yellow t-shirts read "Help and Travel," an organization with a bold vision: HELP build a network of community-minded individuals to encourage social… Read More
- Corruption in higher education casts a shadow on many countries that are working towards more modern and progressive political and economic systems. While this is slowly changing, Ukraine has been no exception. With the introduction of a new higher education law in September 2014, reforming the education system in Ukraine has been a key priority for its government. As part of this focus, American Councils is carrying out the Reforming Ukraine's Higher Education System Project (RUHESP), a 10-… Read More
- By Carter Johnson, American Councils Regional Director for Russia and Moldova How it Began In fall 2013, as the new co-chairs of the US-Russia Higher Education Working Group, Irina Arzhanova and I met at the National Training Foundation in Moscow to identify the greatest challenges facing US-Russia cooperation in higher education. Our goal was to select a central challenge and create a project that could address it with tangible and lasting results. By the end of the meeting, we agreed… Read More
- Armenia EducationUSA Armenia welcomed a new group of Competitive College Club (CCC) students this spring. Students from high schools throughout Armenia will participate in events during the academic year to strengthen their applications to study at US colleges and universities. CCC students will participate in lectures, book clubs, community service activities, cross-cultural exercises, and test preparation all conducted in English. The activities ensure that students are properly advised… Read More
- Navruz, the Persian New Year, is a time of celebration and renewal for the people of Tajikistan. American students studying Tajik and Farsi on the Eurasian Regional Language Program (ERLP) in Tajikistan and alumni of the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) came together to celebrate Persian language and culture in the capital, Dushanbe. The American students sang songs to demonstrate their new Farsi language skills. One American student even recited a famous poem in Farsi, Shahnameh, written… Read More
- Half of Kosovo's population is under the age of 30, but according to Brikena, Kosovo's youth feel their voice doesn't matter. Brikena Avdyli, a native Kosovar, is working tirelessly to change that. "Only when we see one another as equals can we start working together to contribute to a better future for our city, country, and ultimately, the world," says Brikena. "This belief, which seems na ve some days, is the reason I choose to work with youth, women, and people with disabilities." Brikena… Read More
- Branko Backovic, a dynamic and motivated student from Despotovac, Serbia, worked hard to pass three rigorous rounds of competition to win an A-SMYLE scholarship. He spent the 2006-07 academic year in the US living with a host family in Lisle, Illinois. Now a graduate of Yale University, Branko works in the financial services industry in New York and is dedicated to helping other students from Serbia. Directing a campaign that has raised $27,000 in scholarship funds for the A-SMYLE Program,… Read More
- Not a Small World After AllInside Higher Ed Enrollments in foreign language courses in the US have decreased by 6.7 percent since 2009 after increasing steadily since 1995 according to a new report by our colleagues at the Modern Language Association (MLA). Language advocates investigate what caused the drop and debate whether it is the beginning of a new trend of moving away from foreign language study. Why Presidents Aren't Bilingual AnymoreMashable Not a single US president since… Read More
- Karen Smith, American Councils Country Director for Armenia, is a big supporter of youth initiatives and cooperation with youth organizations in the country. She often devotes her personal time to share expertise with Armenian students and young professionals interested in learning about other cultures, applying new ideas, and developing professional skills. Karen conducted two workshops in February for students and young professionals at the Leadership School Foundation and American Corner… Read More
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