INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2006 IN KUWAIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004655

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW),ECA/A/S/A (MTHOMPSONJONES),ECA/A/S/A
(RWALDSTEIN),IIP/G/NEA (SLECHTENBERG-KASTEN),CA/VO/I (BARMSTRONG),
NEA/ARP (BJACKSON),R, MEPI
MANAMA FOR RELO
ABU DHABI FOR IRO
LAHORE FOR KKALAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL KIRC OIIP XF KU
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2006 IN KUWAIT


1. SUMMARY: For the second consecutive year, Embassy Kuwait
expanded outreach activities geared towards students and youth
during International Education Week, November 11 to 17, 2006.
Public Affairs staff arranged two interviews for the Ambassador on a
youth-oriented television program and a popular early morning talk
show, in which he stressed the importance of educational exchanges
for the future of U.S.-Kuwaiti relations. The Ambassador also
opened the Linden Tours and U.S. Education Group education fairs
organized by AMIDEAST, where representatives from more than 40
American universities, fielded questions from hundreds of Kuwaiti
students and their parents about study in the U.S. Embassy Consular
Officers were a notable presence at the fairs, managing queries on
student visa related issues and briefing prospective students,
admissions officers and conference organizers about the student visa
process. (Note: a copy of the Consular section's new "Guide to
Student Visas" briefing is available on Post's public website for
students and educators. End note). Public Affairs staff hosted a
DVC between students in Kuwait and faculty and students from Ashland
University-Ohio. A number of DVCs were hosted between Kuwaiti and
American students, including one featuring Dr. Calvin Mackie and one
of his classes at Tulane University. The Ambassador concluded this
year's recognition of International Education Week with an op-ed on
education in the U.S. that prominently appeared in five Kuwaiti
English- and Arabic-language dailies. END SUMMARY.

Connecting with Youth Audiences
--------------


2. On November 6, 2006, AMIDEAST organized the U.S. Education Group
educational fair, where representatives from American universities
took questions from Kuwaiti students and distributed colorful
brochures and information about their institutions. The Ambassador
cut the ribbon at the Marina Hotel event, opening the second U.S.
education fair in Kuwait in less than a week. The event featured
recruiters from 23 American colleges and universities, AMIDEAST
staff, Public Affairs personnel and Consular Officers, all of whom
addressed general questions about study in the U.S. and student
visas. According to U.S.E.G. figures, more than 800 students
rallied to the Ambassador's remarks that encouraged more Kuwaiti
students to take advantage of the excellent educational
opportunities that await them in the U.S. Students were
particularly interested in visa processing times at Post.

Press coverage of the U.S.E.G. fair:

--11/08/06, Al-Anbaa, p. 12, 1/4 page, 3 photos, (circ. 40,000),
Arabic
--11/08/06, Al-Watan, p. 26, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 65,000),
Arabic
--11/08/06, Al-Rai Al-Aam, p. 12, 1/8 page, 2 photos, (circ.
80,000),Arabic
--11/08/06, A-Qabas, p. 28, 1/8 page, 1 photo, (circ. 65,000),
Arabic
--11/07/06, Kuwait Times, p. 8, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 35,000),
English
--11/07/06, Arab Times, p. 7, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000),
English


3. On November 11, the Ambassador opened Linden Tours education
fair in Kuwait. The third such fair in Kuwait this month, and the
second organized within a week by AMIDEAST, the event featured
recruiters from more than 20 American colleges and universities who
distributed materials about their schools and helped students walk
through the application process. Again, Public Affairs and Consular
staff provided general information about studying in the U.S. and
obtaining student visas, while the Ambassador highlighted the many
diverse education programs offered by American colleges and
universities in his remarks. More than 400 students and parents
attended the fair.

Press coverage of the Linden Tours event:

--11/13/06, Al-Anbaa, p. 12, 1/8 page, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000),
Arabic
--11/13/06, Al-Watan, p. 28, 1/2 page, 3 photos, (circ. 65,000),
Arabic
--11/13/06, Al-Rai Al-Aam, p. 10, 1/4 page, 4 photos, (circ.
80,000),Arabic
--11/13/06, Al-Qabas, p. 26, 1/8 page, 1 photo, (circ., 65,000),
Arabic
--11/15/06, The Daily Star, p. 14, 1/4 page, 5 photos, (circ.
15,000),English

Reaching all Ages
--------------

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4. In the early hours of November 12, 2006, Public Affairs staff
organized the Ambassador's appearance on the popular morning talk
show "Good Morning Kuwait" on Kuwait TV that has a strong following
by professionals in the 35-50 plus age group. He spoke about
educational opportunities in the U.S., the importance of
International Education Week, efforts to streamline the visa
process, and the importance of such exchanges for the future of
U.S.-Kuwaiti relations.


5. That evening, Public Affairs arranged for the Ambassador to
address Kuwaiti youth on the privately owned satellite channel
Al-Rai Television's "Raikum Shabab" ("Your Opinion Youth"). The
trendy, well-liked daily program's target audience is Kuwaitis aged
15 to 30. The signal, however, extends beyond Kuwait and
purportedly is viewed regularly by more than 200,000 young people in
the Arabian Gulf region. During his appearance, the Ambassador
promoted educational opportunities in the U.S. and tackled questions
sent to the program via email and cellular phone SMS text messaging,
including inquiries on life in the U.S. and the student visa
application process.

Educational Messages for Varied Targets
--------------


6. On November 14, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy
hosted a DVC with Ashland University in Ohio. Participants from
Kuwait included AMIDEAST's Access Microscholarship and YES Program
students interacting with Ashland University's faculty and students.
Topics discussed included student life, visa procedures, academic
programs, and specialized English-language programs.


7. Both the Embassy's IRC Director and AMIDEAST's Acting Country
Director promoted the November 17 Web chat titled "Education in
America" with education expert Andrew Rotherham to Kuwaiti students
interested in study in the U.S. On the same day, PAO arranged for
the Ambassador to deliver remarks via DVC to the Fulbright Symposium
in San Antonio, Texas. The Ambassador underscored the importance of
Embassy educational outreach activities and educational reform
efforts in Kuwait, and the need to foment ties between U.S. and
Kuwaiti academic institutions. Dr. Patricia Lemay Burr at
University of the Incarnate Word organized the forum that included
the university's president.

Better Late than Never
--------------


8. On November 21, CAO Kuwait conducted a DVC previously scheduled
to take place during International Education Week for more than 35
students from American University of Kuwait, Gulf University of
Science and Technology and student patrons of Amideast to hear about
study in the U.S. from Dr. Calvin Mackie of Tulane University. Dr.
Mackie, a professor of engineering as well as a popular American
motivational speaker and author, spoke of U.S. academic programs and
college life.


10. PAO and cultural affairs staff conducted an hour-long
presentation on Department educational initiatives, MEPI projects,
and Embassy educational programs at the American Corner at American
University of Kuwait on November 25. This program, postponed from
the previous week, concluded the Embassy's recognition of
International Education Week in Kuwait.

An Authoritative Final Touch
--------------


11. On November 26, all five Kuwaiti Arabic dailies published the
full text of the Ambassador's op-ed piece encouraging Kuwaitis to
study in the U.S.

The press coverage, which provoked responses by other writers,
consisted of the following articles:

--11/26/06, Al-Watan, p. 28, 1 photo, (circ. 65,000),Arabic
--11/26/06, Al-Seyassah, p. 27, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000),Arabic
--11/26/06, Al-Rai, p. 18, 1/4 page, 1 photos, (circ. 80,000),
Arabic
--11/26/06, Al-Anbaa, p. 9, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000),
Arabic
--11/26/06, Al-Qabas, p. 21, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ., 65,000),
Arabic

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