Ambassador Deborah K. Jones Opening Remarks Libyan Higher Education Task Force Meeting Washington, DC March 12, 2014 Good afternoon and welcome to the inaugural meeting of the Libyan Higher Education Task Force here at Meridian International Center. I’d like to thank Minister Abubakkar (Ah-bu-BAH-kur) and his team for joining me in getting this initiative started, and I’d also like to thank Assistant Secretary Ryan and Deputy Assistant Secretary Schmierer for their welcome this morning. And of course, I’d like to thank Meridian for hosting this event in this lovely setting. Six months ago, Minister Abubakker and I signed Terms of Reference on establishing this Task Force. Our goal was to ensure that our governments could strategize together how to deepen the educational ties between our two countries. We will work today on concrete ideas to do just that with new opportunities for students to learn from each other and interact through increased exchanges and scholarships, and by forging university partnerships and better cooperation between American and Libyan higher education institutions. There are already strong ties that bind us – a long line of Libyan scholars, such as Minister Abubakkar and others in the Libyan delegation, have studied in the United States and took back what they learned to Libya. I applaud their continued efforts today on behalf of Libya’s next generation of students. Last year alone, over 1,300 young Libyans studied in the United States, an 800% increase since 2007; this year over 2,000 students went and our goal today is to make that number grow even more. We learn from each other – and every exchange student or scholarship recipient teaches his or her host community as much as he or she learns, if not more. As Libya continues to build its democratic institutions, its leaders need the tools and the wisdom to navigate the challenges ahead. The United States doesn’t have all the answers, but we hope that Libyans’ experience in the American marketplace of ideas, friendships and conversations with their American friends, and study at U.S. universities will spark new ideas that lead to success. There’s no question about it, this is a difficult time for Libya, and the pace of change can seem overwhelming. Yet in the midst of today’s turmoil, it is important to also ensure that we continue to build the institutions and networks to ensure tomorrow’s leaders can succeed. We can’t lose sight of the next generation as we face the challenges of today, so I am especially pleased that we can continue this effort here today. As you all on the Task Force begin your work, I’d like to make a few observations and share my thoughts on how we can make the most of the opportunities available to our young people. First of all, let’s collaboratively focus on identifying challenges and opportunities, and then think creatively about how we can improve our higher education ties. Second, let’s make this engagement a dialogue. We have already identified some areas where we can work together more closely, and we have some areas where new developments may mitigate some of the challenges we face. I’m thinking in particular about visas and our plan to open a consular section in Libya very soon so that students and faculty won’t need to go outside of Libya to apply – they’ll be able to do that in Tripoli. And we hope to improve our capacity to provide education advising in the near future, too. As we move forward in cementing this partnership, we need to make sure that the channels of communication remain open. Finally, we need to find practical and concrete ways to open up opportunities – by working together to increase the numbers of students and faculty participating in exchanges, and by finding partners to help administer exchanges and scholarship funds and support students and faculty. We hope that your visit and the program we’ve put together for you and your team, will, help get those balls rolling. Libya needs an education system that meets the needs of students and employers – now and in the future. Working together we can build the institutions and networks, the contacts and partnerships that will ensure Libya can tap into the potential of its future leaders. Both Libya and the United States benefit from improved educational ties. This Task Force, focused on real and new ways to improve those ties, is an important knot in the overall tapestry that is the new Libya.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 11:03:29 +0000
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