2023 marks the 65th  anniversary of Title VI programs, originally created under the National Defense  Education Act of 1958 and now authorized under the Higher Education Act. The International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE)  Office of the U.S. Department of Education invites you to join us in  commemorating this anniversary and celebrating the importance and achievements  of Title VI grant programs and fellowship recipients.

**Celebrate with ED!**

Join IFLE in  commemorating the 65th anniversary of Title VI!

- On Social Media:          Use hashtag  #TitleVIat65  and follow IFLE on Twitter at  @GoGlobalED!

**Current Title VI Programs**

- American Overseas Research Centers
- Business and International Education
- Centers for International Business Education
- Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships
- International Research and Studies
- Language Resource Centers
- National Resource Centers
- Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program

**History**

- 1940’s and 1950’s – Following World War II,  newly independent nations arise around the globe. Global and regional  organizations emerge to address prevailing political, economic, and security  concerns, leading to greater cooperation across national boundaries. 
- 1957 – The Soviet Union announces the launch  of Sputnik 1, bringing global attention to the emergence of sophisticated  technologies and international security threats
- 1958 – The U.S. Federal Government builds  enacts the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) to build foreign language and  area studies programs at U.S. universities. NDEA creates 19 language and area  centers (now referred to as  National Resource Centers (NRC) ), modern  foreign language fellowships (the precursor to today's  Foreign Language and  Area Studies (FLAS)  Fellowships), and the  International Research  and Studies   (IRS)  program. 
- 1960’s – A new international system evolves  with the recognition of Latin America as an important arena for U.S. security  as well as foreign language and area expertise. The Cuban Missile crisis  demonstrates the instabilities of bipolarity and its threats to international  security. President Kennedy enacts the Alliance for Progress and Peace Corps  programs to help promote education, support economic integration, grow the  market economy, and provide technical training in developing countries. 
- 1961 – Congress passes the Mutual Educational  and Cultural Exchange, or Fulbright-Hays, Act. An Executive Order assigns Section  102 (b)(6) of this act to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare  because of the section's emphasis on creating an American international  education infrastructure. Fulbright-Hays is positioned as the overseas  counterpart to the domestic capacity-building Title VI programs.
- 1970’s – Cold War tensions ease with the  Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. The purpose of Title VI is reexamined and the  programs’ scope is expanded, signaling a shift in thinking about the national  importance of international education. 
- 1972 – Title VI NRCs (then 106 centers at 59  different institutions) move beyond their focus on specialist training to  include outreach to elementary and secondary (K-12) education, four-year and  community colleges, media, business, and the general public. Title VI begins funding  two-year seed money grants to assist postsecondary institutions in  internationalizing their curricula – a precursor to today's  Undergraduate  International Studies & Foreign Language (UISFL)  program.
- 1980’s – Détente continues as the global  economy becomes increasingly interdependent. Title VI is incorporated into the  Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, emphasizing a greater focus on  international studies' value as a part of higher education, rather than solely  as support for U.S. government, military and security needs. HEA  reauthorization language reflects the increasing importance of international  expertise to all aspects of modern life, including business, technology,  education, media, health and other professional fields. Title VI expands to  include the  Business and International Education   (BIE)  and  Language Resource Centers   (LRC)  programs. 
- 1988 - The  Centers for International  Business Education (CIBE)  program is created under the Omnibus Trade  and Competitiveness Act. CIBE legislation is later transferred to Title VI.
- 1989 – The world witnesses the fall of the  Berlin Wall, the disintegration of Soviet power, and the end of the Cold War. A  unipolar international political system emerges with the United States the only  remaining superpower. 
- 1990’s – Global information and economic as  well as traditional security networks continue to grow and expand. Borders become  extremely porous and national security challenges emerge in new and less  recognized forms, requiring expanded area and language expertise in a variety  of disciplines and professional fields. 
- 1992 – The Higher Education Act is reauthorized  and establishes the  American Overseas Research Centers   (AORCs)  program  is established.
- 1998 - Title VI legislation is reauthorized by  Congress recognizing new global realities, stating: 1. The security, stability  and economic vitality of the United States in a complex global era depend upon  American experts in and citizens knowledgeable about world regions, foreign  languages, and international affairs, as well as upon a strong research base in  these areas; 2. Advances in communications technology and the growth of  regional and global problems make knowledge of other countries and the ability  to communicate in other languages more essential; 3. Dramatic post-cold War  changes in the world's geopolitical and economic landscapes are creating needs  for American expertise and knowledge about a greater diversity of less commonly  taught foreign languages and nations of the world.
- 2001 – The events of September 11 reinforce  the importance of international expertise for national security and mutual  international understanding. On the heels of this tragedy, Congress provides  the first significant increase in Title VI and Fulbright-Hays funding since the  1960s, raising the Federal investment to a level that nevertheless remains  below that of forty years ago in real dollar terms.

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