Plymouth State University

PLYMOUTH, N.H.-
One of New England’s most successful cross-cultural educational programs begins anew this week as Plymouth State University welcomes 40 Pakistani educators for the
Pakistani Educational Leadership Project (PELI). This is the seventh year PSU has hosted PELI, which allows Pakistani educators to learn about American innovations in education for adaptation in Pakistan. The success of PELI has led the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), to increase funding for the program, doubling the number of participants, with 40 now attending the four-week Institute. Project Director Blakeman Allen said that ECA’s expansion speaks to the success of the project alumni as dynamic agents of change in Pakistan, and to the power of the human dimension.

“With ‘education without frontiers’ as a hallmark, Pakistani and American citizens have been building meaningful relationships since 2004 through the medium of the ECA funded institutes. Their shared experiences transcend countries and cultures,” Allen said.

Recognized for their leadership capabilities and selected through a rigorous nomination and selection process, the Pakistani educators represent secondary level public and public/private sectors and teacher training institutions throughout Pakistan. During the Institute, delegates will explore strategies for linking local and global communities, experience local sites where environmental and cultural issues are linked, and learn to align curricular activities with international, U.S. and Pakistan national education standards and best practices in pertinent areas. After the Institute, the educators return to Pakistan to implement their training in professional development initiatives.

Since its inception in 2004, PSU has trained 120 educators from Pakistan in six summer institutes. According to statistics compiled by Lahore-based Pakistan service provider Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi , alumni of the program who act as master trainers in Pakistan have shared their institute knowledge with over 140,000 colleagues and students throughout the country. The project team in the U.S. and Pakistan works with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, and Pakistani alumni, government entities and stakeholders to ensure that U.S.-Pakistan education cooperation goals are met.

ECA promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, professional, and sports exchange programs. ECA exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 40 Nobel Laureates and more than 300 current or former heads of state and government.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu