NAICU Washington Update

30 NAICU Schools Earn Significant Grants to Prepare Students for the Global Workplace

October 14, 2016

The U.S. Department of Education announced the awarding of more than $71 million in new and non-competing continuation grants to help strengthen the capacity and performance of American education in world languages, cultural understanding, area and international studies, and research. According to the Department, the grants are under the Fulbright-Hays Act, also known at the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, and Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Although large state and private universities historically dominate the awards for doctoral study, many small, private colleges, community colleges, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities received grants for short-term projects abroad or Title VI Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Awards. Considering all categories, 30 NAICU members received new awards supporting important campus programs.

Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr. noted the importance of the Fulbright-Hays and Title VI programs for business, government, and education, saying, “[t]he world is becoming more interconnected than ever before and our programs and grants are helping students to acquire the skills, knowledge, and understanding they will need to compete on equal footing for 21st-century careers.”

Both grants, which have been severely cut in recent years, are administered by the International and Foreign Language Education Office, which, according to the Department, aims to address the nation’s need by preparing leaders who are highly competent in world languages and international studies who will fulfill roles critical to our national security and global engagement, fill critical roles in global business, and be the educators to help America’s students achieve greater global competence.

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