The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is part of the United States Information Agency (USIA), which is an independent foreign affairs agency within the executive branch of the U.S. government. It explains and supports U.S. foreign policy and national security interests to overseas audiences and promotes mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through a wide range of cultural, educational and information programs.

USIA has over 200 offices in more than 125 countries. These offices, known as U.S. Information Service (USIS) ��posts,�� represent a unique overseas network for promoting international educational and cultural exchanges and disseminating information about the United States overseas. Wherever they work, USIS foreign service officers and foreign national employees are committed to bringing together Americans and foreigners from many walks of life in order to promote economic growth, democracy, global security and sustainable development.

Penn Kemble is Acting Director of the United States Information Agency.

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The mission of USIA��s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the U.S. and other countries by fostering mutual understanding. The Bureau does this through a wide range of international exchange and training programs, as authorized by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. The Bureau works in close cooperation with USIS posts and binational Fulbright Commissions overseas to promote personal, professional and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, art and culture in all of its diversity to audiences overseas.

Underlying the Bureau��s activities is the belief that mutual understanding is of vital importance in an increasingly interdependent world; that person-to-person exchanges and training is the most effective way to promote mutual understanding; that international exchanges enhance the effectiveness of the United States in dealing with other nations; and that the exchange of persons and ideas is essential to the promotion of democracy, economic prosperity, international cooperation and global peace.

A major part of the Bureau��s mission is to act as a catalyst for cooperation among hundreds of American private sector organizations engaged on the international scene. The Bureau also has an important role in coordinating exchanges among U.S. government agencies.

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The U.S. government��s international educational and cultural programs began officially in 1938 with the establishment of the Interdepartmental Committee on Scientific Cooperation and the Division of Cultural Cooperation at the Department of State. Following World War II the Fulbright scholarship program was founded along with the Office of Educational Exchange at the Department of State. That office, later elevated to the status of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, was incorporated into the U.S. Information Agency in 1978.

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In keeping with the profound changes in the field of international exchanges and training that have taken place in recent years, the Bureau increasingly acts as a catalyst for collaborative efforts involving both the private and public sectors. Innovative partnerships with U.S. and foreign foundations, corporations and non-profit organizations leverage public funds in bold, new ways.

The Bureau is active in coordinating U.S. government exchanges. Under Executive Order 13055, the Bureau provides staff support for, and the Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs chairs, a senior-level Interagency Working Group on United States Government-Sponsored International Exchanges and Training responsible for ensuring that the U.S. government��s international exchanges and training activities are consistent with U.S. foreign policy and avoid duplication of effort.

The Office of Policy and Evaluation ensures that Bureau exchanges and training programs are rigorously evaluated to ensure that they meet specific goals and objectives.



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