This may be of interest to some L-ers. -----Original Message----- From: Will Cusack [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 9:04 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: FW: VCA Education and Advocacy Hello State Chairpersons, The attached email is from Christine Djondo, a member of the Virginia Delegation of the NSOA. She needs assistance advertising it nationwide. Please read the attachment. If you have any questions, please contact Christine at [log in to unmask] Will -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 11:07 AM To: [log in to unmask]; Christine Schoessler; Dr. Gretta Goodwin; Gary Cooper; Linda Cc: [log in to unmask]; Fidele Lumeya Subject: Re: VCA Education and Advocacy Content-Type: multipart/alternative; This is something I am advocating for within NAFSA: The Association of International Educators as a Co-Coordinator of this group. It certainly fits within the policy objectives of Education and culture that were proposed in February. It needs more help in bringing it National Attention. Regards, Christine Djondo Petition for Recognition by the NAFSA: AIE Board of the Africa Special Interest Group (SIG) I. Background COSSAC, Committee on Students and Scholars from African Countries, was created to address issues of concern to African students such as the high rate of denial of US visas to Africans, barriers hindering African student enrollment in the US, politics of scholarship support for Africans in the US, etc. This group disbanded in 1997 due to poor attendance and apparent lack of interest. Another NAFSA:AIE SIG currently exists on the Francophone World to which NAFSAns interested in western Africa belong. Francophone World SIG started 8 years ago and now has "well over 800 individuals" involved. Dr. Jean-Francois Gounard, chair, indicates that Francophone Africa is commonly not well represented due to cost of attendance at conferences. Additionally, Francophone Africa is a small portion of this SIG that deals with 54 countries worldwide. In October 1997 a culture workshop on Africa, titled "Understanding the Dynamic of Contemporary Africa: Beyond the Stereotypes and Images", was held at Michigan State University. During this workshop participants discussed their frustration with the lack of information and sessions on Africa at NAFSA conferences. It was decided that a need exists for NAFSAns interested in Africa to better communicate, share ideas, and support one another in common efforts to link Africa with other countries and continents. To address this need, ASA-L, an Africa Study Abroad listserv, was created by co-list managers Jim Buschman of Syracuse University and Jim Gehlhar of University of Tennessee-Knoxville. There are currently 135 subscribers to the listserv. Based on Open Doors statistics, 1353 US students studied in Africa in 1993-94. In 1997-98, 2909 US students studied in Africa, an increase of 115% in four years. The recent figures indicate that study abroad in Africa increased by 22% last year, as compared to 15% worldwide. This is the only region with an annual increase in study abroad each year from 1985 (1.1%) to 1997 (2.7%). This recent growth, along with the number of subscribers to ASA-L, indicates the increased interest, involvement and commitment of NAFSAns to study in Africa. Additional statistics from Open Doors indicate an enrollment increase of 14% for sub-Saharan African students studying in the U.S. (97-98 to 98-99). This compares to the worldwide increase of only 2%. Fourteen of the 49 sub-Saharan African countries sent 20% more students to the US in '98-'99 than the previous year, and an additional 10 countries sent 10-20% more students. This compares to the following increases in student enrollments in the US for the same period: East Asia, -1%; Southeast Asia, -12%; South Asia, +10%: Eastern Europe/Russia, +8.5%; Western Europe, +1%; Caribbean, +9.5%; South America, +11%; Central America, +2%; and Middle East, +6%. Africa constitutes only 4.5% of the total number of international students studying in the US, but it is clearly the most rapidly growing group of students. Regarding Intensive English enrollment, the number of Africans enrolled in these programs grew by 59% last year, compared to a fall of 19% worldwide. This activity parallels the recent national interest in Africa as demonstrated through visits to the continent by President Clinton and Secretary of State Albright. Leonard H. Robinson, Jr, President and CEO of the National Summit on Africa, expressed the overriding message of Clinton and Albright's sojourns to be that "Africa Matters". This national focus is reflected through the development of the NAFSA:AIE South Africa Seminar (modeled after the successful Baden-Wuerttenberg seminar), demonstrating NAFSA's growing interest and commitment to Africa. This unique program plans to bring several South African educators to the U.S. in May 2001 to serve as resources and participate in the annual NAFSA conference. This is part of a larger activity that NAFSA is currently formulating as part of a State Department grant. The idea is to develop a network in the U.S. and support for South Africa to encourage U.S. students to study in South Africa. NAFSA:AIE hopes to have the first project activity in South Africa as a workshop at the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) conference in September 2000. I. Petition To mirror the current national, NAFSA, and regional trends toward interest in Africa, we, the following members of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, respectfully submit this petition to the NAFSA President, requesting recognition of an Africa Special Interest Group by the NAFSA Board. To correct some of the difficulties faced by previous SIGs, this SIG will have a pan-NAFSA focus to include all facets of international educational exchange, particularly study in Africa as well as African students studying globally. This SIG is intended for NAFSAns from all sections and countries. I. Reasons for Establishment At NAFSA's 51st annual conference in Denver, Colorado a group of 35 NAFSAns met to discuss the formation of an Africa SIG. During this meeting we discussed the reasons for establishment that meet the goals and objectives pertinent to NAFSA's mission but are not adequately met elsewhere in the association. Related to the NAFSA mission to "promote educational opportunities across national boundaries, serving members, their institutions and students and organizations with an interest in international educational mobility" this SIG will be established to: · Develop and improve linkages, communication, relationships, support, and arrangements between African and non-African institutions · Assist African students with more options and placement for study abroad and assist in creating a better climate for incoming Africans · Increase the flow of students and scholars between Africa and non-Africa countries through increase of options in Africa and improved advising and preparation of students entering Africa Related to the NAFSA mission to "set and uphold standards of good practice, provide professional education and training that strengthen institutional programs and services to international educational exchange, and advocate for international education" this SIG will be established to: · Educate, advocate, and raise awareness and consciousness regarding African issues · Create a more timely exchange of information about Africa · Become a resource for NAFSA as well as outside individuals and organizations interested in international educational exchange, partnerships and mutual capacity building with African institutions I. Goals and Objectives The goals and objectives of the Africa SIG and their relationship to the mission and priorities of NAFSA are as follows: 1) Develop, promote and encourage partnerships and mutual capacity building for scholarly and student exchange between African and non-African institutions. 2) Serve as a resource and source of information 3) Increase visibility through pan-NAFSA sessions and workshops at the state, regional, and national levels 4) Raise awareness of and advocate for issues related to Africa 5) Serve as a bridge between NAFSA and other organizations with the same interests I. How the Africa SIG will help NAFSA meet Objectives of its Strategic Plan In relation to NAFSA's Strategic Plan: 1999-2001, the Africa SIG will help NAFSA meet the following five goals: Goal 1: Be a strong public advocate for policy, laws, and regulations that promote and enhance international education opportunities. The Africa SIG will provide leadership to educate, achieve greater understanding, and promote international educational exchange of African and non-African students and scholars. The SIG membership will advocate for policy, laws and regulations as they pertain to educational exchange with Africa. The SIG will seek to obtain funding to arrange site visits and study tours as well as create initiatives to financially and technologically support African universities, scholarship exchange, and libraries. Goal 2: Manage growth of the membership in NAFSA. Having identified a level of frustration and disappointment in the scarcity of sessions and workshops pertaining to Africa, the Africa SIG seeks to address the needs and interest of the membership. By addressing these expressed needs, the SIG seeks to better serve the membership and expand offerings that will potentially attract new members and increase participation and commitment. Goal 3: Set and uphold standards for professional practice for individuals and institutions, and advance recognition of the profession. Due to the limited attention given to African issues, very few "best practice" models have been developed. The SIG seeks to identify and promote best practices for: advocating general African educational exchange issues; better serving African students and creating a favorable climate abroad to attract and retain African students and scholars; encouraging and supporting holistic partnerships and mutual capacity building between African and non-African institutions; and improving the promotion and orientation of students to study in Africa. Goal 4: Develop products, programs and services that serve the international educational exchange community. As demonstrated by the full enrollment for "Understanding US/African Relations through Respect and Mutuality: Building Sustainable Programs/Relationships" (workshop at the 2000 annual conference in San Diego, chaired by Christine Djondo), a "product" has already been developed that serves the community. This was a direct outcome of discussions during a preliminary SIG meeting held in Denver in May 1999. Additionally, NAFSA's partnership with the State Department for the promotion of exchange with South Africa demonstrates the interest and potential for the development, marketing, and delivery of programs and services that deal with African educational exchange. Goal 5: Ensure effective governance and follow sound business practices. By offering sessions, workshops and publications dealing with Africa, the SIG will contribute towards the orienting and education of NAFSA leaders. By initiating the offering of services and programming not previously offered, the SIG will aid in increasing workshop and conference enrollments as well as attracting new members, thereby contributing to NAFSA's financial stability. I. How the Africa SIG will Promote the Values of NAFSA The Values, as stated in the Strategic Plan are that "NAFSA's members share a belief that international education advances learning and scholarship, builds respect among different people, and encourages constructive leadership in a global community." History has demonstrated that Africa is a source of culture for the world, through its people, music, food and religion. More recent history shows that non-African communities can contribute financial and technological support to African nations. Recognizing this valuable exchange, the Africa SIG endorses and promotes that international exchange advances learning, growth, understanding and appreciation of other cultures. The Africa SIG will also attempt to break down false perceptions and stereotypes that plague media coverage of African nations. By promoting the successful and positive stories of the continent, the Africa SIG will seek to aid NAFSAns and non-NAFSAns in better understanding the struggles and achievements of Africa. I. Anticipated Membership and Activities of the Africa SIG The Africa SIG will be open to all NAFSAns, from all sections and countries. A preliminary group of 35 NAFSAns met at the annual NAFSA May 1999 conference in Denver, and the activities which resulted from the discussions and energy generated at that meeting speak for themselves. We feel the list below demonstrates the strong commitment to Africa (by those who were unable to attend the SIG meeting) and an illustration of what happens when a significant mass of like-minded people come together at NAFSA. 1) Africa-related Activities at NAFSA conferences: a) Region V ('99): "Study in Africa: The Basics" (session) b) Region VII ('99): "Opportunities and Challenges; International Collaborations in West Africa" (session) c) Region VIII ('99): "Botswana Government Sponsored Students - Coming Soon to a University Near You!" (session) d) Region VIII ('99): "Preparing Students for Study in Africa." e) 2000 National Conference: 1) "Understanding US/African Relations through Respect and Mutuality: Building Sustainable Programs/Relationships" (workshop) 2) "Confronting the Stereotype: Managing Risk in "Third World" Study Abroad" (workshop) 3) "(Not) Out of Africa: Increasing African Student enrollment in US Institutions" (session) 4) "Educational System of Ivory Coast" (session) 5) "Study Abroad in Africa: Student, Parent, and Advisor Perspectives" (session) 6) "Landing the African Student: Evaluation and Orientation" (session) 7) International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) will have a booth, for the first time, at the conference representing several universities and technikons. 8) Francophone World Special Interest Group (FW SIG) Meeting f) NAFSA Region VII has made Africa its theme for the regional conference in Savannah in November 2000. The conference takes place immediately after African Studies Association (ASA) in Nashville, enabling some African participants to attend both meetings. Without NAFSA networking for Africanists, this would not happen. (Dan Paracka at Kennesaw State University spearheaded this program, as an outgrowth of a Georgia Faculty Seminar in Ghana during the summer of 1999.) 2) Activities Resulting from Networking that took Place during the SIG Meeting a) The Social Science Research Council published a book, "Investing in Return: Rates of Return of African PhDs Trained in North America". Nancy Keteku who attended the SIG meeting made contact with author Mesky Brhane at NAFSA and helped facilitate this research. NAFSA is becoming a place where people interested in Africa can gather and network. b) The Four-Foundation initiative spearheaded by the Carnegie Foundation along with the Ford, Rockefeller, and McArthur foundations, recently announced a long-term fund of $100 million for higher education in Africa. It was through NAFSA contacts that Nancy Keteku of Accra, Ghana came to help with the preliminary research on this project. Carnegie has published a report analyzing sources of funding for Africans, particularly women, in Africa. c) ECIS used NAFSA as its springboard for starting what is planned to become an annual recruiting tour of African countries. d) Networking that resulted from the SIG meeting led North Carolina State University to reassess and increase promotion of an exchange with Ghana and encourage students to look at community service, internship, or volunteer opportunities while in Ghana, including the possibility of helping in the OSEAS advising office. e) Contacts made through Africa SIG have resulted in the sponsorship of a student, James Beard of University of Texas-Austin and a participant in the Syracuse Zimbabwe Program, to appear in an Africa-related workshop and session at the San Diego conference. This networking illustrates the opportunities we can provide our returned students as well as creative ways to enhance our programming. f) Through the developing SIG network, Peter D. Pelham worked with the matriculation of a student from the Starehe Boys' Centre in Nairobi to a year at St. Stithians College in the Johannesburg area and on to the University of Virginia this fall as a Thomas Jefferson Scholar. This is part of our ongoing work to further collaborative education opportunities regionally and globally. g) Through the SIG networks and promotion through ASA-L, Christine Djondo joined academic colleagues as a panel representative at the ASA meetings in November 1999; co-edited the Journal on Study Abroad to Africa; and served as a State Co-chair of the National Summit on Africa. I. The Proposed Name It is proposed that the name by which the SIG is to be known is the Africa Special Interest Group. This petition for recognition by the NAFSA: AIE Board of the Africa Special Interest Group (SIG) is submitted and signed by the following NAFSA: Association of International Educator members: Signature Printed Name NAFSA Membership # Date ********************************************************************** Christine Ann Djondo, Senior Program Officer for Special Programs Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) Affiliated with the Institute of International Education (IIE) 3007 Tilden Street, NW, Suite 5L Washington DC 20008-3009 Phone: 202-686-4004 Fax: 202-362-3442 E-mail: [log in to unmask] WEB: http://www.iie.org/cies/ The Office of Special Programs at CIES handles: the (Scholar-in-Residence Program (SIR), Occasional Lecturer Program (OLP) and the Annual Visiting Fulbright Scholar Conference ********************************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! 1. 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