Conference Call Explores U.S.-Libya Higher Education Collaboration

On August 28, 2012, IIE and the EducationUSA network, supported by the U.S. Department of State, hosted the second national conference call with high-level U.S. and Libyan officials on establishing academic linkages between higher education institutions in the United States and Libya.

The call, "Establishing Higher Education Linkages with Libya," hosted by IIE's President and CEO Allan E. Goodman, featured Ambassador Christopher Stevens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya; Dr. Medani, President of Tripoli University; Dr. Nefati, Deputy President of Tripoli University and Liaison to the U.S.-Libya Higher Education Taskforce; Mietek Boduszynski, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Libya; and Meghann Curtis, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The call also featured high-level participation from several Libyan universities, as well as more than 50 U.S. higher education institutions and other educational organizations. 

The conference call included updates on the U.S.-Libya Higher Education Task Force, U.S. Government priorities and support of higher education in Libya, Libya's education priorities, and a lively discussion on potential areas for collaboration. Libyan universities are particularly eager to engage with U.S. institutions in some of the following ways: research collaboration, curriculum development, development of joint academic programs, faculty development, training for technical and administrative staff, English language training, and student exchanges. 

IIE also formally announced the launch of the International Academic Partnership Program with Libya and an upcoming higher education delegation to Libya. The program will select a group of U.S. higher education institutions to participate in an accelerated strategic planning process for developing institutional partnerships with Libya, and learning how to utilize those partnerships to build higher education capacity in Libya. The application deadline to participate is September 28. For more, please visit www.iie.org/iapp. 

For more information, and to listen to a recording of the call, please go to: www.iie.org/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Events/2012/Second-National-Conference-Call-on-Libya.