VZCZCXRO6944
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #4655/01 3500644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160644Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7895
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 2310
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004655 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW), ECA/A/S/A (MTHOMPSONJONES), ECA/A/S/A 
(RWALDSTEIN), IIP/G/NEA (SLECHTENBERG-KASTEN), CA/VO/I (BARMSTRONG), 
NEA/ARP (BJACKSON), R, MEPI 
MANAMA FOR RELO 
ABU DHABI FOR IRO 
LAHORE FOR KKALAM 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL KIRC OIIP XF KU
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2006 IN KUWAIT 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  For the second consecutive year, Embassy Kuwait 
expanded outreach activities geared towards students and youth 
during International Education Week, November 11 to 17, 2006. 
Public Affairs staff arranged two interviews for the Ambassador on a 
youth-oriented television program and a popular early morning talk 
show, in which he stressed the importance of educational exchanges 
for the future of U.S.-Kuwaiti relations.  The Ambassador also 
opened the Linden Tours and U.S. Education Group education fairs 
organized by AMIDEAST, where representatives from more than 40 
American universities, fielded questions from hundreds of Kuwaiti 
students and their parents about study in the U.S.  Embassy Consular 
Officers were a notable presence at the fairs, managing queries on 
student visa related issues and briefing prospective students, 
admissions officers and conference organizers about the student visa 
process. (Note: a copy of the Consular section's new "Guide to 
Student Visas" briefing is available on Post's public website for 
students and educators.  End note).  Public Affairs staff hosted a 
DVC between students in Kuwait and faculty and students from Ashland 
University-Ohio.  A number of DVCs were hosted between Kuwaiti and 
American students, including one featuring Dr. Calvin Mackie and one 
of his classes at Tulane University.  The Ambassador concluded this 
year's recognition of International Education Week with an op-ed on 
education in the U.S. that prominently appeared in five Kuwaiti 
English- and Arabic-language dailies.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Connecting with Youth Audiences 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  On November 6, 2006, AMIDEAST organized the U.S. Education Group 
educational fair, where representatives from American universities 
took questions from Kuwaiti students and distributed colorful 
brochures and information about their institutions.  The Ambassador 
cut the ribbon at the Marina Hotel event, opening the second U.S. 
education fair in Kuwait in less than a week.  The event featured 
recruiters from 23 American colleges and universities, AMIDEAST 
staff, Public Affairs personnel and Consular Officers, all of whom 
addressed general questions about study in the U.S. and student 
visas.  According to U.S.E.G. figures, more than 800 students 
rallied to the Ambassador's remarks that encouraged more Kuwaiti 
students to take advantage of the excellent educational 
opportunities that await them in the U.S.  Students were 
particularly interested in visa processing times at Post. 
 
Press coverage of the U.S.E.G. fair: 
 
--11/08/06, Al-Anbaa, p. 12, 1/4 page, 3 photos, (circ. 40,000), 
Arabic 
--11/08/06, Al-Watan, p. 26, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 65,000), 
Arabic 
--11/08/06, Al-Rai Al-Aam, p. 12, 1/8 page, 2 photos, (circ. 
80,000), Arabic 
--11/08/06, A-Qabas, p. 28, 1/8 page, 1 photo, (circ. 65,000), 
Arabic 
--11/07/06, Kuwait Times, p. 8, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 35,000), 
English 
--11/07/06, Arab Times, p. 7, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000), 
English 
 
¶3.  On November 11, the Ambassador opened Linden Tours education 
fair in Kuwait.  The third such fair in Kuwait this month, and the 
second organized within a week by AMIDEAST, the event featured 
recruiters from more than 20 American colleges and universities who 
distributed materials about their schools and helped students walk 
through the application process.  Again, Public Affairs and Consular 
staff provided general information about studying in the U.S. and 
obtaining student visas, while the Ambassador highlighted the many 
diverse education programs offered by American colleges and 
universities in his remarks.  More than 400 students and parents 
attended the fair. 
 
Press coverage of the Linden Tours event: 
 
--11/13/06, Al-Anbaa, p. 12, 1/8 page, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000), 
Arabic 
--11/13/06, Al-Watan, p. 28, 1/2 page, 3 photos, (circ. 65,000), 
Arabic 
--11/13/06, Al-Rai Al-Aam, p. 10, 1/4 page, 4 photos, (circ. 
80,000), Arabic 
--11/13/06, Al-Qabas, p. 26, 1/8 page, 1 photo, (circ., 65,000), 
Arabic 
--11/15/06, The Daily Star, p. 14, 1/4 page, 5 photos, (circ. 
15,000), English 
 
Reaching all Ages 
----------------- 
 
KUWAIT 00004655  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶4.  In the early hours of November 12, 2006, Public Affairs staff 
organized the Ambassador's appearance on the popular morning talk 
show "Good Morning Kuwait" on Kuwait TV that has a strong following 
by professionals in the 35-50 plus age group.  He spoke about 
educational opportunities in the U.S., the importance of 
International Education Week, efforts to streamline the visa 
process, and the importance of such exchanges for the future of 
U.S.-Kuwaiti relations. 
 
¶5.  That evening, Public Affairs arranged for the Ambassador to 
address Kuwaiti youth on the privately owned satellite channel 
Al-Rai Television's "Raikum Shabab" ("Your Opinion Youth").  The 
trendy, well-liked daily program's target audience is Kuwaitis aged 
15 to 30.  The signal, however, extends beyond Kuwait and 
purportedly is viewed regularly by more than 200,000 young people in 
the Arabian Gulf region.  During his appearance, the Ambassador 
promoted educational opportunities in the U.S. and tackled questions 
sent to the program via email and cellular phone SMS text messaging, 
including inquiries on life in the U.S. and the student visa 
application process. 
 
Educational Messages for Varied Targets 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  On November 14, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy 
hosted a DVC with Ashland University in Ohio.  Participants from 
Kuwait included AMIDEAST's Access Microscholarship and YES Program 
students interacting with Ashland University's faculty and students. 
 Topics discussed included student life, visa procedures, academic 
programs, and specialized English-language programs. 
 
¶7.  Both the Embassy's IRC Director and AMIDEAST's Acting Country 
Director promoted the November 17 Web chat titled "Education in 
America" with education expert Andrew Rotherham to Kuwaiti students 
interested in study in the U.S.  On the same day, PAO arranged for 
the Ambassador to deliver remarks via DVC to the Fulbright Symposium 
in San Antonio, Texas.  The Ambassador underscored the importance of 
Embassy educational outreach activities and educational reform 
efforts in Kuwait, and the need to foment ties between U.S. and 
Kuwaiti academic institutions.  Dr. Patricia Lemay Burr at 
University of the Incarnate Word organized the forum that included 
the university's president. 
 
Better Late than Never 
---------------------- 
 
¶8.  On November 21, CAO Kuwait conducted a DVC previously scheduled 
to take place during International Education Week for more than 35 
students from American University of Kuwait, Gulf University of 
Science and Technology and student patrons of Amideast to hear about 
study in the U.S. from Dr. Calvin Mackie of Tulane University.  Dr. 
Mackie, a professor of engineering as well as a popular American 
motivational speaker and author, spoke of U.S. academic programs and 
college life. 
 
¶10.  PAO and cultural affairs staff conducted an hour-long 
presentation on Department educational initiatives, MEPI projects, 
and Embassy educational programs at the American Corner at American 
University of Kuwait on November 25.  This program, postponed from 
the previous week, concluded the Embassy's recognition of 
International Education Week in Kuwait. 
 
An Authoritative Final Touch 
---------------------------- 
 
¶11.  On November 26, all five Kuwaiti Arabic dailies published the 
full text of the Ambassador's op-ed piece encouraging Kuwaitis to 
study in the U.S. 
 
The press coverage, which provoked responses by other writers, 
consisted of the following articles: 
 
--11/26/06, Al-Watan, p. 28, 1 photo, (circ. 65,000), Arabic 
--11/26/06, Al-Seyassah, p. 27, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000), Arabic 
--11/26/06, Al-Rai, p. 18, 1/4 page, 1 photos, (circ. 80,000), 
Arabic 
--11/26/06, Al-Anbaa, p. 9, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ. 40,000), 
Arabic 
--11/26/06, Al-Qabas, p. 21, 1/4 page, 1 photo, (circ., 65,000), 
Arabic 
 
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