UNITED STATES

Bid to boost academic ties and student mobility
One year on from President Barack Obama’s historic announcement that the United States would begin restoring diplomatic and economic relations between the US and Cuba, NAFSA – the Association of International Educators – has launched an initiative to build academic relationships and student mobility between the two countries, writes Beckie Smith for The PIE News.President Obama announced the restoration of diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba in a televised speech last year. The NAFSA Cuba Engagement Initiative aims to build on the move to normalise bilateral relations, which was welcomed by international educators last year, by promoting sustainable partnerships between Cuban and US institutions.
“Ultimately, Congress needs to act to lift the remaining travel and trade restrictions if we are to truly utilise education as one of the greatest foreign policy and economic tools at our disposal,” commented Jill Welch, NAFSA deputy executive director for public policy. “By coordinating efforts amongst higher education stakeholders, NAFSA aims to create the tipping point needed to reverse the embargo.”
Full report on The PIE News site