Kevin Reiling, American Councils' Regional Coordinator for Belarus and Lithuania, was invited to participate on a popular Belarusian television program, Two vs. Two (in Belarusian, "Dva na dva"). The program, which aired on Belsat TV on Saturday, October 6, 2012, explored reasons why many Belarusian students choose to study abroad, as well as what they gain from studying at universities outside of their home country. The program reached an estimated Belarusian audience of one million viewers.
During the discussion, Mr. Reiling, and co-participant Volha Danishevich, discussed topics such as students goals for studying abroad, "brain drain," student experiences upon returning to their home countries, and employment opportunities after studying abroad. Mr. Reiling emphasized the role that educational exchange plays in the development of societies. He stressed the value of international education, particularly for Belarusians, sharing his own international education experience as the first Fulbright US Student Scholar in Belarus. Mr. Reiling believes that studying abroad is only becoming more critical in today's increasingly interconnected world.
Belsat TV broadcasts from Poland, and it reaches approximately 22 percent of Belarusians via satellite. The Belarus station is the first and only independent television station operating in the country.
Click here to watch the television program in Belarusian.