US: Restore academic travel to Cuba

The Association of International Educators, NAFSA, and a diverse group of 17 organisations have called on President Barack Obama to remove current restrictions on academic travel to Cuba. In a letter to the President, the coalition applauds Obama's recent actions with respect to Cuba and asks him to take further steps toward his goal of setting US-Cuban relations on a new path.

Citing the many benefits of academic exchanges and their history of success in advancing democratic change and strengthening relations between the US and other countries, the group says a policy of open academic travel between the US and Cuba would be in line with the President's interest in expanding opportunities for exchanges between young people around the world.

Obama recently said to students in Turkey: "Exchanges can break down the walls between us." But the coalition notes that study abroad by Americans to Cuba has declined precipitously since the Bush administration imposed restrictive regulations on academic travel to the island in 2004.

Only 220 American college students studied in Cuba during the 2006-2007 academic year whereas three years earlier, 10 times as many had done so.

As well as urging Obama to restore academic travel via a general licence, the group backs granting of US visas for Cubans coming to the US for exchange purposes and the announcement of a policy favouring academic, cultural, religious, sports and professional visits.

It also urges Cuban authorities to grant exit visas for students and scholars accepted by US academic institutions.