MEDIA REPORT - EDUCATION SECRETARY SPELLINGS IN CHILE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001383 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, ECA, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/R/MR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC PGOV CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT - EDUCATION SECRETARY SPELLINGS IN CHILE REF: SANTIAGO 1368 ¶1. Summary: For a second consecutive day, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings received positive press coverage on her visit to Chile. The media reported about her keynote speech to members of the private sector and her meetings with Chilean university presidents and students. TV Channel 13 devoted one-and-a-half minutes on the new U.S.-Chile Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program. The segment noted how strong English language skills are not a prerequisite for talented Chilean students seeking admission to graduate programs at top U.S. universities. End Summary. ¶2. On August 22, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) headlined: "Private Sector meets with U.S. Education Secretary." The Manufacturers Association, Sofofa, organized a SIPDIS luncheon in honor of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. The Secretary led a high-level delegation comprised of eight presidents and chancellors from prestigious U.S. universities to Chile and Brazil. About one hundred entrepreneurs and higher education officials attended the lunch. ¶3. On August 21, conservative, afternoon "La Segunda" (circ. 33,000) reported: Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings met with Foreign Minister and Education Ministers Alejandro Foxley and Yasna Provoste, respectively, and with the President of the National Science and Technological Research Commission (Conicyt) Vivian Heyl, to launch the "Chile-U.S. Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program," which will enable 100 Chilean professionals to attend the best U.S universities without the English language requirement at the time of their application. Foreign Minister Foxley valued the commitment of both countries to the advancement of human capital. "We want to show youths that the future of their personal projects has no boundaries, because a barrier that limited their opportunities has been removed," said Foxley. ¶4. On August 22, on-line university news service (universiar.cl) reported: U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings attended a Higher Education Leaders Roundtable at the Catholic University. Participants included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Affairs Thomas Farrell, and the heads of eight U.S. and twenty-three Chilean universities. The parQants discussed the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, whose goal is to provide equal opportunity for students from all sectors of society for the completion of graduate studies in the United States, promote student exchanges, and improve development and innovation. ¶5. The President of the University of Chile, Victor Perez, said the roundtable was a "landmark" effort to move forward on the program. "This meeting has sealed the agreement with the parties involved, which shows that the graduate exchange program will not only be positive from a political standpoint for both our countries, but also from the cultural, social, and academic viewpoint. In this context, if the results are a success, then the benefits will extend to the implementation of other types of agreements," said Secretary Spellings. ¶6. On August 21, conservative channel 13's afternoon TV news program "Teletarde" broadcast: U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings met with Chilean Education Minister Yasna Provoste to discuss and promote the 100 scholarships under the Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program, which will enable Chilean students to do post graduate studies at the best U.S. universities. Spellings said that the goal is for many Chileans to go to the United States and for many Americans to come here. YAMAUCHI