The U.S. Department of State has announced a new interagency partnership that will transfer the leadership of several international education programs from the Department of Education to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The agreement is intended to utilize the State Department’s experience in global engagement and public diplomacy to support U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.
As part of this arrangement, the State Department will take over administration of various programs originally created under Title VI of the Higher Education Act and the Fulbright-Hays Act. These include initiatives such as American Overseas Research Centers, Business and International Education Program, Centers for International Business Education, Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships, International Research and Studies Program, Language Resource Centers Program, National Resource Centers Program, Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program, as well as multiple Fulbright-Hays fellowships and seminars.
According to the announcement: “Integrating these programs with the State Department’s existing international education framework will streamline program management, enhance efficiencies, and ensure alignment with U.S. national security and foreign policy priorities.”
This move is expected to help consolidate oversight of international educational initiatives under one agency with extensive international reach.
