On Monday, November 16, Ambassador Pamela L. Spratlen opened International Education week at the U.S. Embassy. International Education Week (November 16-20) is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education which promotes the critical importance of international education and exchange opportunities and their roles in supporting U.S. foreign policy objectives.
At her opening remarks Ambassador highlighted the newest data available from the Open Doors report on International Educational Exchange which is published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The report states that worldwide, the number of international students in the U.S. increased by ten percent to a record high of 974,926 students in the 2014/15 academic year. Ambassador Spratlen highlighted that the number of students from Uzbekistan increased by 6%, which represents the highest growth rate of students studying in the United States from all of Central Asia. The number of students enrolled in undergraduate programs increased by 17% and accounts for 48% of Uzbek students in the United States. Uzbekistan has the highest rate of growth in Central Asia for the 2014/15 academic year.
Throughout the week, the Public Affairs Section and EducationUSA Advising Center is holding events celebrating international education to provide students with information about opportunities to engage in international educational experiences. Please see the attached calendar of events. (JPG)
