A COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING HUMAN POTENTIAL FOR THE AMERICAS

Maria Levens, Director

Department of Human Development, Education and Culture, Executive Secretariat for Integral Development

CEPCIDI Meeting

Washington, D.C., March 30, 2010

I) The Role of the OAS in Higher Education

II) Academic Scholarships

III) Professional Development Scholarships

IV) Leo S. Rowe Fund – Interest-Free Student Loans

V) Educational Portal of the Americas

VI) New Activities

Outline

Background: Artwork of Argentinean OAS fellow Federico Augusto Martino who received an OAS scholarship to study at the Corcoran School of Art in 1963.

Maria Levens -Director

Lesley ZarkDirector, Office of Scholarships, Training and Capacity-Strengthening

Lenore GarciaDirector, Office of Education and Culture

Cecilia Martins Chief, Office of the Educational Portal of the Americas

Lina SevillanoTechnical Secretary, Leo S. Rowe Pan-American Fund Committee

The Department of Human Development, Education and Culture

Artwork of Chilean OAS fellow Rodolfo Opazo Bernales who received an OAS scholarship to study at the Pratt Graphic Art Center in 1961.

Declaration of Commitment, Article 38

Fifth Summit of the Americas – Port of Spain

“Recognizing that education is a lifelong process that promotes social inclusion and democratic citizenship and allows people to contribute fully to the development of society, we will give high priority to improving and expanding … access to tertiary, technical –vocational and adult education.”

“We intend to increase the tertiary education participation rate to a minimum of 40 per cent by 2020 and urge countries which have already made considerable advances in this area to exchange best practices that will support the efforts of other countries to achieve this target…”

From the Final Communiqué:

2009 World Conference on Higher Education

“At no time in history has it been more important to invest in higher education as a major force in building an inclusive and diverse knowledge society and to advance research, innovation and creativity”

“The Current economic downturn may be widening the gap in access and quality between developed and developing countries, presenting additional challenges to

The UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education closed on 8 July 2009 with a call to governments to increase investment in higher education, encourage diversity and strengthen regional cooperation to serve societal needs.

countries where access is already restricted.”

The total enrolment in tertiary education regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population in the five-year age group following on from the secondary school leaving age.

Source: UNESCO EFA Global Monitoring Report 2010

Tertiary Education Enrolment Rates

Tools for Expanding Access to Higher Education

Scholarships for Academic Studies

Scholarships for Professional Development Training

Interest-Free Educational Loans for Studies in the U.S.

Low Cost, Accessible Learning and Knowledge Transfer through ICTs

OAS Consortium of Universities

Partnerships for Education and Training

Regional Conferences

Emergency Programs

Artwork of Bolivian OAS fellow Alfredo Da Silva who received an OAS scholarship to study at the Pratt Graphic Art Center in 1962.

Scholarships for Academic Studies

Graduate Studies

51 years of OAS Scholarships 21,200 Scholarships Granted

Amílcar Meléndez of Panama is pursuing his graduate studies in Chile with an OAS fellowship, where he had the chance to meet President Bachelet in 2009.

The work of Remond Mangoensemito of Suriname. Remond pursued his studies at the Edna Manley College in Jamaica with an OAS scholarship in 2004.

Undergraduate Studies (SPECAF)

27 years of OAS Scholarships 1,258 Scholarships Granted

The Impact of Scholarships for Academic Study

• Leaders produced in a wide range of fields, specializations and economic sectors.

• Currently of particular importance to small Latin American Countries and the Caribbean

• Multiplier effect as scholars return with credentials needed for university-level teaching.

• Strengthening institutions means strengthening the human capacity of those who manage them

• 5 decades of return on investment.

Scholarships for Academic Studies

AG/RES. 2495 (XXXIX-O/09)

Reaffirms “the contribution of the scholarship programs of the OAS to the training of leaders, academics, researchers, and professionals in the Hemisphere working in the public and private sector.”

“Thanks to the OAS Scholarship, I was able to take a variety of postgraduate courses in Boston and Worcester…One of the most interesting courses that I took was “Library Automation” at Simmons College. This course led me to the design of library applications that now serve as the base for a series of systems in use in the Central American region.”

Dr. Grete Pasch (Guatemala) OAS Fellow 1987Director, Academic Information Resources, Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatamala

“…Upon successful completion and my return to Saint Lucia I was promoted to the post of Executive Director of the main general hospital, a post which was previously held by a non-national.”

Clotilda Fevrier (St. Lucia) OAS Fellow 2002 Executive Director of the Victoria Hospital, Castries

Statements of Impact – Academic Studies

Clotilda Fevrier & Victoria Hospital

Dr. Pasch (center) receives national award for best website for her new

library website design in 2005

“…My OAS fellowship provided me the opportunity to reside in Venezuela and collaborate with outstanding professionals ... This experience sharpened my ability to manage and conduct business across borders and cultures…Thank you again for this opportunity to reflect after 25 years on an opportunity that changed my life.”

Dr. Bruce R. Magid (USA ) OAS Fellow 1976Dean, International Business School of Brandeis University

“…I was accepted to University but was unable to secure funding until I was awarded an OAS scholarship … I have since taken up the position of Director with our Telecommunications Regulator where I continue to serve my country and the region working alongside regional and international institutions…”

Apollo Knights (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) OAS Fellow 1995Director, National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission

Dr. Magid lectures to students at Brandeis International Business School

Statements of Impact – Academic Studies

“…My ex-students total several thousand and are today professors, businesspeople, public functionaries, and among these a current Latin American president...None of this would have taken place were it not for the scholarship granted by the OAS for me to undertake my doctoral studies in the United States.”

Dr. Guillermo S. Edelberg (Argentina) OAS Fellow 1959Professor Emeritus, INCAE Business School

“…With the support of the OAS, I was able to enroll in the early 1960s in the Faculty of Economics of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)…I still remember the names of the distinguished professors who influenced my career…”

Ambassador Jean Casimir (Haiti ) OAS Fellow 1961Perm. Representative to the USA and the OAS from 1991-96

Statements of Impact – Academic Studies

Costa Rica 2009Chile 2009Jamaica 2008

Chile 1968 El Salvador 1968Paraguay 1968

OAS Scholarship Alumni Meetings

OAS Scholarship Alumni Networks

Current OAS Fellows in Chile Facebook Group 2010

Nicaraguan Ex-Fellows Newsletter late 60s

OAS Consortium of Universities

The OAS Consortium

115 Agreements with Academic Institutions in

18 Member States

Professional Development Scholarships

Over 30,000 Scholarships for Professional Development have been awarded since 1962.

Program of Cooperation with Course Offering Institutions in Member States and Observer States.

Above: Tourism course at the Inter-American Center for Tourism Training in Mexico, 1975Left: Conflict Analysis and Resolution Building Capacity for Democratic Change in the Americas at George Mason University in the USA,2009

• Short-Term Training

• Courses closely-related to CIDI Priority Areas

“We learned about the experiences in microfinance around the world. Actually, for the Ecuadorian government it is a priority to invest in the rural and poor areas, with credits and technical assistance to develop micro enterprises based on the community. In this context the knowledge that I gained is going to be an excellent tool to push the projects in which the National Microfinance Program is working on now.”

-Diana Valeria GallegosCourse: Community-Based Micro-Finance and Income Generation Management for Poverty Alleviation in Thailand, 2009

“In September of 2005, I attended a USTTI course entitled ‘Wireless Rural Telephony’ in California conducted by TELEMOBILE. I am presently working in the Service Delivery department for Belize Telemedia Ltd. One of our responsibilities is to install and maintain rural telephone in Belize. Before attending this course I had a limited background in Rural Telephony. This course has helped me to gain knowledge and to be more effective in this area of my job. I am now able to confidently provide assistance to field technician in problem solving and to make necessary decision in the provision of telephone service to remote area in Belize.”

- Clifton Gladden, Supervisor Western Zone, Belize Telemedia LtdCourse: Wireless Rural Telephony in the USA, 2005

Professional Development Scholarships

Resources Leveraged through Partnerships

Academic

Contributions of OAS Consortium Partners during three (3) Academic Cycles (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10):

Total $2,721,000 (approximate)

Professional Development

Contributions of Professional Development Training Offering Institutions over four (4) years:

Total $3,590,000 (approximate)

External Contributions for Scholarships & Training

Partnerships for Education and Training

284 total scholarships contributed since 2007:

Total $2,995,000 (approximate)

Partnerships for Education and Training

Alliances with Governments and Educational Institutions

•OAS – Instituto Empresa Scholarships, Spain•OAS – Oxford University Scholarships, UK

•OAS – INCAE Business School Scholarships, Costa Rica•OAS – Argentine National Scientific and Technical Research Council

Scholarships, Argentina•OAS – Universidad de los Andes Scholarships, Colombia

•OAS – Tec de Monterrey – CRUSA Scholarships Costa Rica•OAS – Fulbright Teacher Mobility Program

•OAS – China Scholarships•OAS – Thailand Scholarships

Leo S. Rowe Fund – Student Loan Program

Grants interest-free loans to Latin Americaand Caribbean citizens to help them coverstudies or research in the United States.

Launched in 1948

• Thousands of Interest-Free Loans Granted

• Trusted source of supplementary educational financing for studies in the US

The Financial Guide for Higher Education in the Americas, developed and distributed in 2009

“My studies in the US opened several opportunities in my career. I am very grateful for the financial aid the Rowe Fund granted me. Thank you.”

E. Santalla from BoliviaMasters in Law, University of San Francisco

Educational Portal of the Americas

Information and Communication Technologies for Training and Knowledge Transfer

The Educational Portal of the Americas, www.educoas.org also hosts scholarships announcements and the electronic application mechanism of the DHDEC.

“We are conscious of the disparities in cost and access to technology within and between our countries…”

“…We are also committed to mobilizing and sharing human resources to strengthen our capacities for applying information and communications technologies to human development.”

Third Summit of the Americas, Quebec CityConnectivity Agenda for the Americas:

Over 17,000 professionals trained through the Virtual Classroom since 2002

Technical Cooperation and Support Services

More than just online courses

An Integrated Approach to Knowledge Transfer and

Training

Providing made-to-order e-learning and knowledge transfer consulting services and cooperation to:

• Academic Institutions

• Regional Organizations

• OAS Departments and Affiliates

Developing Virtual Education that Works

• Reaches people directly

• 40% of participants reside outside of major cities

• Low cost, high quality training

• Content relevant to core OAS mandates

•Jointly developed with respected partners

Educational Portal of the Americas Training

The model used in the development of online courses offered through the Virtual Classroom of the Educational Portal of the Americas to ensure high quality and high impact virtual training.

Developing Virtual Education that Works

“Working with the Educational Portal of the Americas has been a very satisfactory experience for the Trust. On one hand, it has allowed for the dissemination of the content of our programs to a greater number of beneficiaries, taking advantage of the virtual classroom. On the other hand, it has opened the doors to a new world of opportunities for the expansion of our programs which we had not originally contemplated through the development of content and closer access to students through the Portal.”

Dario Soto Director, Trust for the Americas

Partners - Academic Institutions

• Working with institutions to develop effective online training

• Working alongside institutions to help them to develop institutional capacity for virtual education projects

• Helping to establish connections between institutions in the region for mutual support in virtual education projects

Partners - Regional Organizations and Institutions

The Educational Portal of the Americas is a trusted partner for the development of virtual education projects of our regional partners.

Co-development of virtual course hosted by the portal

Technical and pedagogical support

IICA Course on Agro-eco-tourism for small and medium sized business owners.

UNDP Course on Corporate Social Responsibility

Partners - Technical Areas of the OAS

Internal OAS Partners of the Educational Portal of the Americas

Voter Registries Course developed with DECO

Virtual Community of the Summits of the Americas

La Educ@cion Virtual Magazine

Disseminating lessons learned for Education in the Americas

Re-launched in 2009

•Articles•Events•Interviews•Book Reviews

“This magazine is an excellent idea. You can read about experiences, opinions, ideas and presentations of experts in the field of education. This leads to reflection on the teaching and learning process, the quality of education and the requirements presented by the information and communication of a globalized world. These are new resources to be incorporated in to the educational system of the region. My congratulations for this brilliant idea, the material will widen the debate regarding our future generations.”

Alfredo Trottman B., Panamá

Information & Communication

Technical and Vocational

Training

Higher Education

Multilateral Programing

Knowledge Management and Transfer

Multilateral Initiative in Educ@tion for Human Development

Upcoming Activities

Caribbean Conference on Higher Education Hosted in Cooperation with UNESCO

Paramaribo, Suriname April 11-13, 2010

Emergency program for Higher Education Support in Haiti

• explore opportunities for regional academic cooperation• discuss the role of higher education in Caribbean development

• Preventing the abandonment of learning in the wake of a disaster• Part of a regional initiative for concerted and effective cooperation aimed at assisting Haiti in rebuilding its Higher Education system.

The Department of Human Development, Education and Culture

Committed to Developing Human Potential for the Americas

•Providing Access for Individuals to Higher Education

•Promoting Solidarity among Member States

•Innovating in Technology-Supported Education

•Working with Hundreds of Academic Partner Institutions

•Developing Human Potential for 50 Years and Counting