The U.S. Department of State, Partners of the Americas, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators announced the winners of the Innovation Grant Fund 100,000 Strong in the Americas sponsored by ExxonMobil Corporation. The goal of 100,000 Strong in the Americas, the leading education initiative in the Western Hemisphere, is to increase the annual number of U.S. students in Latin America and the Caribbean to 100,000 and bring 100,000 students to the United States by 2020.
The Innovation Fund grants strategic energy for new partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere to create innovative and sustainable student exchange programs and training programs. Since its inception in January 2014, the Innovation Fund Grants have generated increased institutional capacity, enhancing student mobility within the Americas and strengthening regional education competitiveness and cooperation.
This is the third out of four Innovation Fund Grant competitions supported by ExxonMobil. With a commitment in 2014 of $1,000,000, ExxonMobil has facilitated 24 new higher education partnerships. These new partnerships between 24 universities in the United States and community colleges in 16 U.S. states and 28 higher education institutions in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Mexico are generating a more dynamic exchange and more training opportunities for students in engineering, physics, geology, and geophysics.
“The 100,000 Strong initiative reinforces academic disciplines that will help drive the energy industry into the 21st century,” said Ben Soraci, ExxonMobil general manager of public and government affairs. “We hope that 100,000 Strong will increase the number of qualified students who can pursue a career in the energy industry.”
The seven innovation fund grants announced for higher education institutions in the United States, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico will continue innovative exchange programs that allow students to work in teams, acquire technical skills, and make them more competent for the global workforce of the 21st century.
With these new partnership awards, approximately 150 more students will be able to study abroad in programs in the United States, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
Source: br.usembassy.gov