VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1404/01 2392121
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 272121Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2055
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF EDUCATION WASHDC

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 
AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 
AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 
AMEMBASSY LIMA 
AMEMBASSY QUITO 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ECA DAS THOMAS FARRELL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC PGOV PREL KPAO SCUL SOCI CI
SUBJECT: EDUCATION SECRETARY SPELLINGS, ECA DAS FARRELL AND 
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS ENGAGE WITH RECTORS, STUDENTS, ALUMNI, 
BUSINESS LEADERS IN HIGH-PROFILE VISIT TO CHILE 
 
REF: A) SANTIAGO 1396, B) SANTIAGO 1392, C) SANTIAGO 1391, D) 
SANTIAGO 1383, E) SANTIAGO 1368 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: During their August 18-21 program in Chile, Secretary 
of Education Spellings and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for 
Academic Programs Farrell, with eight U.S. university presidents, 
met with Chile's top university administrators, students, business 
and industry leaders, and alumni of USG exchange programs.  The U.S. 
delegation stressed the value of educational exchanges, the 
outstanding opportunities for study and research at a wide variety 
of U.S. institutions of higher education, and the U.S. desire to 
welcome scholars from Chile and other countries.  At every stop, the 
delegation highlighted the new U.S.-Chile "Equal Opportunities" 
Scholarship Program, signed into existence by Secretary Rice and 
Chilean Foreign Minister Foxley on August 8.  This program will send 
up to 100 Chileans to pursue graduate study at U.S. universities, 
and will offer intensive pre-academic English language instruction 
as preparation.  This unique feature will open the doors to Chile's 
non-traditional elite to pursue overseas study.  This cable presents 
brief summaries of the non-governmental events.  End Summary. 
 
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CHILE - U.S. PARTNERSHIPS HIGHLIGHTED AT RECTORS SUMMIT 
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¶2.  Secretary Spellings was flanked by the rectors (presidents) of 
Chile's two leading universities -- the University of Chile (UC) and 
the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) -- when she 
addressed an impressive assembly of rectors from throughout the 
country.  She cited education as the key to a better life, noted 
that outstanding scholars can be found everywhere, and pointed to 
diversity as a strength of the U.S. higher education system.  DAS 
Farrell emphasized the readiness of U.S. institutions of higher 
education (IHEs) to work in collaboration with Chilean counterparts 
through the new Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program (EOSP), as 
well as through exchanges of teachers, English language fellows, 
scientists and others. 
 
¶3.  Two U.S. university leaders also addressed the group.  President 
John Hennessy of Stanford observed that nearly half of the graduate 
students in scientific and technological fields at his institution 
are from foreign countries, and cited the importance of U.S. 
students going abroad as part of their higher education.  He noted 
that there are programs of excellence at IHEs throughout the U.S. 
Dr. Hennessy pointed to energy and environmental studies as areas of 
particular interest to both the U.S. and Chile in meeting global 
challenges.  Chancellor Sean O'Keefe of Louisiana State University 
(LSU) characterized the university summit and other aspects of the 
visit as a "remarkable opportunity to overcome insularity."  He 
called attention to the U.S. higher education system's ability to 
meet individual needs -- "There is no one size fits all university." 
 University research spurs innovation and helps address real-life 
problems, said Chancellor O'Keefe, recalling that as Administrator 
of NASA, he relied heavily on cooperation with universities. 
 
¶4.  UC Rector Victor Perez and PUC Rector Pedro Pablo Rosso, who 
co-chaired the meeting, offered explanations of Chile's complex, 
rapidly-expanding university system.  They underlined the value of 
exchanges with U.S. IHEs, and commended the EOSP as a significant 
step toward educational equity in Chile.  Most of the 16 other 
rectors present spoke of their universities' experiences with 
academic exchanges, linkages with U.S. institutions, and the 
challenges in today's open-market university environment where most 
students are the first in their families to attain postsecondary 
education.  All expressed appreciation for the U.S. delegation's 
visit.  One rector saw the visit as marking a new, welcome openness 
on the part of the USG, following a period when "it seemed the U.S. 
was closing its borders."  Several rectors called for further 
accords on exchanges of undergraduate students, scientists, 
teachers, and other groups.  The forum of rectors represented a 
diverse group of public/private, new/traditional, and urban/rural 
institutions with widely different political and social orientations 
-- in itself noteworthy. 
 
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MEETING WITH BUSINESS LEADERS CENTERS ON ACADEMIC-PRIVATE SECTOR 
COOPERATION 
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¶5.  Secretary Spellings and DAS Farrell addressed a luncheon 
gathering of the influential National Manufacturers Association 
(SOFOFA), an association of 2500 companies who collectively account 
 
 
for nearly 80 percent of Chile's industrial output and 30 percent of 
GNP.  SOFOFA president Bruno Philippi, a Stanford alumnus who has 
urged the private sector to become more engaged in education issues, 
opened the program by commending the innovation and quality of U.S. 
universities, which have contributed notably to economic and 
personal development in Chile.  Chancellor Mark Wrighton of 
Washington University in St. Louis noted that the U.S. private 
sector depends on universities to prepare the next generation of 
human talent.  Wrighton cited a research/development linkage between 
his university and the Monsanto Corporation, which has resulted in 
many biotech innovations.  President Gregory Geoffroy of Iowa State 
University pointed to breakthroughs in research on human-computer 
interactions, virtual reality, renewable biofuels and other fields 
made possible largely by corporate support. 
 
¶6.  The Secretary cited the diversity of U.S. higher education -- 
major research universities, vocational and technical training 
centers, community colleges and other institutions -- which prepare 
skilled workers and creative problem-solvers.  She noted that the 
business community has contributed many ideas on how the U.S. 
education system can be reformed to meet current challenges and 
needs.  A question and answer session followed, with Secretary 
Spellings responding to queries on government financing of applied 
research; approaches to training teachers; and whether it is more 
effective for the private sector to invest in education or in 
infrastructure projects. 
 
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DELEGATION ENGAGES WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND ALUMNI  - - - - - - 
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¶7.  This visit to Chile afforded several opportunities for Secretary 
Spellings, DAS Farrell and the university presidents to interact 
with Chilean university students and recent alumni of USG-supported 
exchange programs. 
 
¶8.  At an informal dinner, ten undergraduate students from public 
and private universities discussed their study and professional 
plans, and learned more about opportunities at U.S. IHEs.  The 
university presidents shared information about programs at their 
institutions.  Students also offered their perceptions of the state 
of higher education in Chile, citing the system's strengths and 
weaknesses. 
 
¶9.  The delegation had an animated discussion at the Santiago 
Binational Center with 25 alumni of USG-funded study programs, 
mainly those who had completed Fulbright master's and doctoral 
programs within the past five years.    There was general agreement 
on the need to broaden the range of U.S. and Chilean universities 
participating in academic exchanges, involving Chile's regional 
universities more extensively as sources of grantees and as hosts 
for U.S. students.  As University of Nebraska President J.B. 
Milliken pointed out, Chilean students would do well to explore the 
many outstanding academic opportunities at U.S. universities located 
outside of major East and West Coast cities.  Alumni cited the value 
of having more U.S. teachers of English in universities throughout 
Chile.  Discussion also focused on the need for universities to be 
active in applied research that can have practical as well as 
scholarly benefits.  LSU Chancellor O'Keefe noted that many 
departments at his university have become heavily involved in 
research to address the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. 
 Several alumni observed that studying/living in the U.S. had made 
them more tolerant and flexible.  To many nodding heads, one UC 
Berkeley alumnus said the cultural diversity he experienced in 
California was a marked contrast from Chile's "stratified society." 
 
¶10.  Secretary Spellings' visit coincided with the award of 
scholarships for graduate study abroad through Chile's "President of 
the Republic" Scholarship Program.  At the invitation of Foreign 
Minister Alejandro Foxley, she offered congratulatory remarks to 150 
awardees and their families.  Many of the winners plan to study in 
the U.S.   Minister Foxley, Education Minister Yasna Provoste, and 
Minister of Planning Clarisa Hardy, also took part in the event. 
After the ceremony, nine scholarship recipients who will attend 
universities in the U.S. visited the Embassy for a lively, informal 
discussion with the university presidents. 
 
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CONCLUSION 
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¶11.  The U.S. Higher Education Delegation's program generated 
 
 
substantial interest at the highest levels of government and 
academia.  U.S. universities and training centers have been the 
primary destination for Chileans who study abroad.  But, the 
delegation's messages -- increasing partnerships and cooperation 
with Chilean universities, and emphasizing the full range of 
outstanding educational programs available at institutions 
throughout the U.S., the well-known as well as those that are not 
household names -- were well-received. 
 
¶12.  The Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program -- properly 
implemented -- will add an important element of access and 
inclusiveness to the Chilean higher education system via U.S. 
universities.  FM Foxley has hailed it as "a new phase in a more 
mature U.S.-Chile bilateral relationship."  The fact that Secretary 
Spellings, DAS Farrell, and eight articulate U.S. university 
presidents came to Chile to launch it resulted in wide, positive 
coverage in the print and broadcast media (refs D, E).  The 
delegation's active engagement clearly conveyed the commitment of 
the USG and the higher education community to expanding educational 
exchanges as an important element in U.S.-Chile relations. 
 
YAMAUCHI