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class="panel-display panel-eca-twocol-modular" > <div class="center-wrapper clearfix"> <div class="panel-panel panel-col-last"> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="right-wrapper"> <div class="panel-panel panel-col-left"> <div class="panel-pane pane-fieldable-panels-pane pane-current-11286 pane-bundle-rich-text-area" > <div class="pane-content"> <div class="field-rta-html"> <div class="rich-text"> <p class="intro">As part of America鈥檚 larger story of respect for鈥攁nd interest in鈥攁ll cultures and faiths, ECA鈥檚 range of programs exist to encourage mutual understanding as well as international, educational and cultural exchange, and leadership development.</p> <p>From artists, educators, and athletes to students and the youth in the United States and from almost every other country and territory throughout the world鈥攚e engage rising leaders through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges. Striving to reflect the diversity of the United States and global society, <a href="http://exchanges.state.gov">ECA programs</a>, funding, and other activities encourage the involvement of American and international participants from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.<br />聽</p> <h2>Mission Statement </h2><p>To increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange that assist in the development of peaceful relations.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-fieldable-panels-pane pane-current-11287 pane-bundle-rich-text-area" > <div class="pane-content"> <div class="field-rta-html"> <div class="rich-text"> <h2>History</h2> <p>For more than 50 years the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 <strong>Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) </strong>has sought to cultivate mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly, and peaceful relations, as mandated by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.</p> <p>ECA exchange program alumni encompass over 1 million people around the world, including more than 75 Nobel Laureates and nearly 450 current and former heads of state and government.</p> <p>A brief history of the bureau and the events that led to its establishment are chronicled in this timeline:<br /><br /><strong>1940</strong> Coordinator of Commercial and Cultural Affairs for the American Republics, Nelson Rockefeller, initiates the exchange of persons program with Latin America; inviting 130 Latin American journalists to the United States</p> <p><strong>1942</strong> Office of War Information (OWI) established to consolidate scattered agencies of domestic and foreign information</p> <p><strong>1946</strong> President Truman terminates OWI; one section is placed within the Department of State as the Office of International Information and Cultural Affairs (OIC). OIC has a network of 76 branches worldwide; 67 information centers and libraries stock books, display exhibits and show films.</p> <p><strong>1946</strong> Fulbright Program is established</p> <p><strong>1947</strong> OIC is renamed the Office of International Information and Educational Exchange</p> <p><strong>1948</strong> Rep. Karl Mundt and Sen. H. Alexander Smith introduce the Smith-Mundt Act, establishing a statutory information agency to "promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries, and to increase mutual understanding" between Americans and foreigners</p> <p><strong>1948</strong> International Visitor Program formally established to engage professionals, intellectuals and opinion leaders in the political and social infrastructure</p> <p><strong>1953</strong> President Eisenhower establishes the United States Information Agency (USIA) to consolidate information functions administered by the State Department and other agencies. Educational and cultural exchanges remain within the State Department</p> <p><strong>1959</strong> The exchange function is separated from the State Department鈥檚 Bureau of Public Affairs and is assigned to a newly created Bureau of Educational and Cultural Relations (CU).</p> <p><strong>1961</strong> Congress passes the Fulbright-Hays Act to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. By the end of the year, a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is established in the Department of State</p> <p><strong>1978</strong> President Carter approves a major reorganization of USIA, combining it with the department鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to become the United States International Communication Agency (USICA)</p> <p><strong>1978</strong> President Carter initiates the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program</p> <p><strong>1982</strong> President Reagan changes USICA鈥檚 name back to USIA</p> <p><strong>1983</strong> The <a href="http://exchanges.state.gov/us/cbyx-hs">Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program</a> begins</p> <p><strong>1984</strong> Congress creates the Cultural Property Advisory Committee to help stem illicit trafficking in cultural property. The CPAC secretariat is housed in ECA</p> <p><strong>1992</strong> <a href="http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/future-leaders-exchange">Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program</a> is established</p> <p><strong>1999</strong> USIA moves into the State Department where exchange programs and other USIA components comprise the department鈥檚 new Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which maintains its authority under the Fulbright-Hays Act</p> <p><strong>2000</strong> Congress creates the <a href="/programs-initiatives/cultural-heritage-center/ambassadors-fund-cultural-preservation">Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation</a></p> <p><strong>2000</strong> Congress establishes the <a href="https://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/benjamin-gilman-international-scholarship-program" target="_blank">Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program</a> to broaden the U.S. student population that studies and interns abroad.</p> <p><strong>2001</strong> ECA creates <a href="http://alumni.state.gov" target="_blank">Alumni.State.Gov</a> to connect exchange alumni in Southeastern Europe and Eurasia</p> <p><strong>2004</strong> ECA establishes the Office of Alumni Affairs and expands <a href="http://alumni.state.gov" target="_blank">Alumni.State.Gov</a> into a global network</p> <p><strong>2006</strong> The Bush administration launches the National Security Language Initiative, including ECA鈥檚 <a href="http://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/national-security-language-initiative-youth-nsli-y" target="_blank">NSLI-Y</a> initiative focused on American youth and ECA鈥檚 <a href="https://exchanges.state.gov/cls" target="_blank">Critical Language Scholarship Program</a> focused on American undergraduate and graduate students.</p> <p><strong>2008</strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ExchangeProgramsAtState" target="_blank">ExchangesConnect</a> debuts as the first social network of the U.S. government</p> <p><strong>2010</strong> The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) celebrates its 70th Anniversary</p> <p><strong>2015</strong> ECA establishes the <a href="http://studyabroad.state.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Study Abroad branch</a> to expand study abroad opportunities for American students to gain critical skills in support of our national security and economic prosperity. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-panel panel-col-right"> <div class="panel-pane pane-fieldable-panels-pane pane-current-11288 pane-bundle-fast-fact" > <div class="pane-content"> <div class="fieldable-panels-pane"> <div class="eca-fast-facts"> <div class="view view-fast-facts view-id-fast_facts view-display-id-embed_1 view-dom-id-331449683963c9ce2e3d0f70bb82c0f4"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="skin-default"> <div 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views_slideshow_cycle_slide views_slideshow_slide views-row-2 views_slideshow_cycle_hidden views-row-last views-row-even" > <div class="views-slideshow-cycle-main-frame-row-item views-row views-row-0 views-row-odd"> <article class="node-756 node node-fast-fact view-mode-full ff-style-wtolb clearfix" about="/fast-fact/number-fulbright-particpants" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document"> <div class="field-ff-number"> 315,560 </div> <div class="field-ff-unit"> Participants </div> <div id="node-fast-fact-full-group-iconanddescription--2" class=" group-iconanddescription field-group-div"> <div class="field-ff-description"> Total Fulbrighters </div> </div></article></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-panel panel-col-first"> <div id="block-menu-block-1" class="block block-menu-block first odd" role="navigation"> <h2 class="block-title"><div class="wrapper"><a href="/about-bureau" class="active-trail">About the 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