Regional

Soros Scholarships for Gypsies

Financier George Soros announced a new program to offer university scholarships to Roma people, also known as gypsies, in seven Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia. Although most of the money for the scholarships will come from gold looted by the Nazis during World War II, Soros’ Open Society fund will provide the rest of the money destined for Roma university students.

The project aims to provide advantages to members of the Roma community throughout Eastern Europe who are often discriminated against. Organizers believe that about 500 Roma will be eligible for individual grants of $500 to $1,000 each beginning next academic year. Scholarships will cover tuition, exam fees and partial living expenses. Candidates must be accepted at a university and demonstrate an active interest in Roma issues.

— BBC News
June 18, 2001

Russia

The Center on the United States and Russia was officially opened last June at Moscow State, Russia’s largest university. The new institution was established in cooperation with the State University of New York.

The inauguration comes at a time when many Americans have been scared away from Russia due to a string of events. Since last fall, an American businessman was convicted of espionage in Russia, a Fullbright scholar has been accused of drug possession and spying, and a warning was issued at the Russian Academy of Sciences discouraging contact with foreigners.

In January 2000, a center similar to the one in Moscow opened in Albany. Both centers aim to enhance student and faculty exchanges and offer distance education.

— Chronicle of Higher Education
July 13, 2001

Ukraine

Ukrainians observe American education at University of Texas-Arlington

The School of Urban and Public Affairs’ Center for International Education and Development was established at the University of Texas-Arlington with the aid of a $300,000 grant from the State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. Over the next three years, 10 Ukrainian faculty members plan to attend classes there, while 18 American professors and doctoral candidates will teach at Kharkiv State Academy in the Ukraine.

The exchange program is part of the State Department’s project to aid higher education in the Ukraine to facilitate that country’s transition to democracy and a market economy.

In addition to the ongoing exchange of professors and doctoral candidates, the center hopes to offer some urban and public affairs courses to students in the Ukraine through the Internet.

For more detailed information about this program go to: www.uta.edu/ukraine_partnership/information.htm.

— The Shorthorn via U-WIRE
June 26, 2001

First Non-State-Run Hungarian College Authorized In Ukraine

The infant teacher training faculty of the Hungarian Primary School Teacher Training College located in Beregszasz, Western Ukraine, is the first non-state-run Hungarian educational institution beyond Hungary’s borders to receive accreditation.

From now on, primary school teachers graduating from this institution will be awarded official degrees recognized by the Ukrainian government. According to Kalman Sos, director-general of the college, the accreditation of the English, history and geography junior teacher training faculties can be expected in September of next year.

— Hungarian Radio, Budapest, in Hungarian, BBC Monitoring Service
June 3, 2001