Presidential Documents

69235

Federal Register

Vol. 65, No. 221

Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7376 of November 13, 2000

International Education Week, 2000

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Today we live in a global community, where all countries must work as

partners to promote peace and prosperity and to resolve international problems. One of the surest ways to develop and strengthen such partnerships

is through international education programs.

These programs enable students to learn other languages, experience other

cultures, develop a broader understanding of global issues, and make lasting

friendships with their peers in other countries who will one day guide

the political, cultural, and economic development of their nations. Some

of America’s staunchest friends abroad are those who have experienced

our country firsthand as exchange students or who have been exposed

to American values through contact with American students and scholars

studying overseas.

Since World War II, the Federal Government has worked in partnership

with colleges, universities, and other educational organizations to sponsor

programs that help our citizens gain the international experience and skills

needed to meet the challenges of an increasingly interdependent world.

At the same time, American educational institutions have developed study

programs that attract students from all over the world to further their education in the United States.

One of the largest and most renowned of these international education

initiatives is the Fulbright Program, which was founded by Senator J. William

Fulbright more than half a century ago. Since its inception, the program

has provided nearly a quarter of a million participants from the United

States and 140 other nations—participants chosen for their academic and

professional qualifications and leadership potential—with the opportunity

to study and teach abroad and to gain knowledge of global political, economic, and cultural institutions. As Senator Fulbright envisioned, this program has proved to be a vital and positive force for peace and understanding

around the world.

To build on this tradition of excellence in international education, I signed

a memorandum in April of this year directing the heads of Executive departments and agencies to work with educational institutions, State and local

governments, private organizations, and the business community to develop

a coordinated national policy on international education. We must reaffirm

our national commitment to encouraging students from other countries to

study in the United States, promote study abroad by U.S. students, and

support the exchange of teachers, scholars, and citizens at all levels of

society. By doing so, we can expand our citizens’ intellectual and cultural

horizons, strengthen America’s economic competitiveness, increase under

standing between nations and peoples, and, as Senator Fulbright so eloquently stated, direct ‘‘the enormous power of human knowledge to the

enrichment of our own lives and to the shaping of a rational and civilized

world order.’’

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution

69236 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 221 / Wednesday, November 15, 2000 / Presidential Documents

and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 13 through

November 17, 2000, as International Education Week. I urge all Americans

to observe this week with events and programs that celebrate the benefits

of international education to our citizens, our economy, and the world.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day

of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence

[FR Doc. 00–29462

Filed 11–14–00; 10:59 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

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