Support American Councils for International Education

English Speaking Nation Program Trains Over 18,000 Teachers in Uzbekistan

A remarkable milestone was recently achieved in Uzbekistan's educational landscape as the English Speaking Nation (ESN) program concluded with the successful training of over 18,000 English teachers. This monumental effort enhanced the language proficiency of educators and supported the delivery of high-quality English instruction to secondary school students nationwide. Culminating in a closing ceremony on April 20, this four-year, $7 million program stands as a testament to the commitment to educational excellence in Uzbekistan.

Launched in November 2019, ESN is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent and the Uzbekistan Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MoPSE) and implemented by American Councils. The program provided intensive professional development opportunities for English language public school teachers throughout the Republic of Uzbekistan and funded by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan. ESN, in partnership with MoPSE, regional training centers, and other stakeholders, aimed to equip Uzbekistan’s youth with essential English language skills for effective participation in the 21st-century economy.

American Councils Partners with MCC & the Government of Kiribati on the Kiribati Threshold Program

American Councils for International Education is proud to announce its collaboration with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Kiribati on the Kiribati Threshold Program. This initiative seeks to spur economic growth and reduce poverty for I-Kiribati through a $29.1 million MCC investment in the country’s employment sector.

Kiribati, an Oceania island nation in the Central Pacific, faces unique challenges due to its remote location and limited economic opportunities. A significant focus of the Kiribati Threshold Program is the bolstering of international labor mobility for the youth of Kiribati.

Learn more about the Kiribati Threshold Program.

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month: Honoring Culture, Identity, & International Education

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an annual celebration observed to honor the culture, traditions, and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States. Throughout May, American Councils dedicates special attention to celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, spotlighting the experiences, perspectives, and contributions of AAPI individuals in the realm of international education.

This year, American Councils staff spoke with National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program alumni about their heritage, identity, and language-learning journeys while studying abroad.

Learn more about these NSLI-Y alumni and AAPI Heritage Month.

Pacific Islands Diplomats Complete Leadership Training

in the United States

Through funding from the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. State Department, American Councils administered two weeks of programming for the Pacific Advancement for Diplomatic Leadership (PADL) Program, made up of a cohort of diplomats from the Freely Associated States (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau). This in-person component complements virtual synchronous training on cross-cultural communication and leadership skills held in 2021.

Learn more about the PADL program.

Alumni in the World

Arystan Moldabekov, an alumnus of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program and the U.S.-Central Asia Education Foundation’s Enterprise Student Fellowship Program (U.S.-CAEF), has been honored as the Best Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Year by the Kazakhstan Growth Forum. Mr. Moldabekov has served as the CFO of Citibank Kazakhstan since 2022, and his achievements were celebrated at the CFO Summit 2024, a gathering of Kazakhstan's leading financiers and economists.

American Councils takes pride in recognizing Mr. Moldabekov's accomplishments as part of its "50 Alumni for 50 Years" initiative. American Councils had the privilege of discussing Mr. Moldabekov’s academic and professional successes and how his involvement in international education programs was pivotal to his development.

For 59 years, the United States Department of State, alongside its affiliated foreign affairs agencies, has dedicated the first Friday of May to commemorate the nation's foreign affairs professionals. Foreign Affairs Day stands as an annual tribute to the tireless efforts of diplomats and foreign affairs practitioners, who diligently serve in over 190 countries worldwide, to promote and safeguard the interests and security of the United States.

As part of the “50 Alumni for 50 Years” initiative spotlighting exceptional alumni, the organization is proud to recognize the important work of Foreign Service Officers, diplomats, ambassadors, and other public servants in foreign affairs. For this Foreign Affairs Day, American Councils staff had the pleasure of speaking with alumni of programs administered by the organization about their work in foreign affairs and the important role international education plays in these careers.

Read about alumni working in foreign affairs for the U.S. Department of State .

American Councils

is Hiring

Do you have a passion for international education, language learning, or public diplomacy? American Councils is a diverse international nonprofit with openings at all levels of experience in our Washington, DC headquarters and offices throughout the world.

Click here to find out more about employment opportunities at American Councils.

Upcoming Application Deadlines

June 10: The Virtual National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Fall 2024 application is now open! Are you a U.S. high school student? Apply to this U.S. Department of State scholarship for an opportunity to learn beginner Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, Korean, Russian, or Turkish online. Find much more info and FAQs at the link.*

Ongoing: Host an International Exchange Student. Welcome a high school scholarship student (aged 15-18) into your home for an academic year (August to June). Students from more than 50 countries spend the year at local high schools, eagerly sharing their cultures, contributing to their new communities, and joining school activities.*

*These initiatives are programs of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

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