VAIL KOHNERT-YOUNTLESLEY KUCHARSKI

ANASTASIA KRAVTSOVAARTEM MERKUSCHEV

Promoting Mutual Understanding through Educational Exchange

Why did they study where they did?

Importance of Mutual Understanding

Mutual understanding between citizens of these two countries is improving

However, more progress must be made

Bilateral Presidential Commission

“President Medvedev and I are creating a U.S.-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission to serve as a new foundation for this cooperation. Too often, the United States and Russia only communicate on a narrow range of issues, or

let old habits within our bureaucracy stand in the way of progress.”

“We decided to create a presidential commission on cooperation, which will be coordinating relations among various agencies of the United States and

the Russian Federation, respectively, in all priority areas, including economic and military areas.”

Americans Studying Russian

Americans and Russians on Exchange

Exchange Experience

Why do Americans study in Russia? Why

do Russians study in America?

What do they look for in an

exchange program?

How does participation in

an exchange program affect perceptions of each country?

How do exchange participants share their

experience?

FLEX

FLEX provides scholarships for high school students from Eurasia to spend an academic year in the United States

Student live with an American family and attend an American high school

More than 23,000 high school students from CIS countries have taken part in the FLEX program in its 20 year existence

In 2012-13, 800 FLEX students are studying in the U.S.

Fully funded by the U.S. government

CIEE

Nonprofit, non-governmental international exchange founded in 1947

Established first study abroad in Russia opportunity for American students in 1967

Students study at Saint Petersburg State University while living with Russian families

From 2007 to 2012, participation increased by 110%, reflecting the positive trend of Americans studying in Russia

During the 2010-2011 academic year, 10% of Americans studying in Russia were CIEE participants

Fulbright

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that offers students, teachers, artists, and other professionals to teach or conduct research abroad

Funded by U.S. Congress, private donors, universities, and binational Fulbright Commissions

In 2010, 149 of the organization’s 6,000 grants were awarded to Russians

Offers 80-90 awards annually to U.S. citizens who want to travel to Russia

Why did they choose Russia and the U.S.?

American response:studying some

combination of russian, russian literature, and russian history

Future prospect and simply intrigue were also indicated (not as prevalent)

Russian response:learn another cultureperfect language

skillsProfessional

development and a valuable experience (not as prevalent)

Americans Russians

Strong connection between a program and their home university

FinancesLimited options

FinancesOrganizationReputationFlexible, not longDegree, publicationDidn't know about

anything else

Reasons for Choosing a Program

Finances

Visas To Russia - $140 + $30 processing fee To America- $160

Principal road-block for RussiansNo program fully sponsored by the Russian

government that sends people abroad for even an academic semester

For Americans, finances were important, but can find resources from their college, government, or other source

How did they share their experience?

Social media

School Projects

Traditional media

90%

47%

19%

Impact of the Exchange Experience

81% of the respondents say, after participating in a an exchange program their understanding of Russian/American culture, politics and history increased significantly (the rest say “increased”)

88% believe that cultural exchanges promote mutual understanding and respect between Americans and Russians (the rest say, “I don’t know”)

70% were either influenced of strongly influenced to pursue academic or professional career related to US-Russia relations

Impact of the Exchange Experience

“The way to change [negative perceptions] is to just hang out with one person at a time. We're the ambassadors there in many ways”

“I wouldn't say the program directly promoted this in a large way, but because it presented and promoted opportunities to interact with Russians”

Impact of the Exchange Experience

The view of Russians/Americans after participating in a program:

didn't change

unfavorable

very unfavorable

more favorable

much more favorable

13%

2%

0%

46%

39%

What role has this experience played in your life?

Summary

1. Perceptions are improving2. There is stagnation in studying abroad on

both sides3. Increased interest in studying Russian

among Americans 4. Main reasons for studying abroad differ: Americans related to their field of studyRussians opportunities, experience, language

Summary continued

5. Program choice: Americans strong connections with university, limited

options, finances Russians lack of awareness, full funding6. Finances were very important in the decision to

study abroad, especially for Russians.7. Participant perceptions were most positively

influenced and they helped improve perceptions of friends and family.

8. Respondents shared their experience most through social media. A large percent of Russian participants made a school project about their experience.

Americans Russians

“I had been studying Russian in college for 2 years and knew I wouldn't make any substantial improvements unless I actually spent time in Russia.”

“It was the only program to Russia my school worked with.”

“It was by chance - the only program I’ve heard of at the time.”

“I didn’t even know about others.”

“There are more opportunities in the U.S. than in Russia.”

“I’ve chosen FLEX because it gave me full scholarship and a monthly allowance. Otherwise, I could not afford it to study abroad for a year.”

“It seemed like a great opportunity to see the world and gain more experiences, meet different kinds of people and represent my homeland in places where people have never heard of it.”

Summary

Increase participants Improve experience

Russia needs to invest more money

Create programs targeted toward younger adults

Create selective flagship programs

Market programs to American youth better

Build connections with U.S. universities

Require post-exchange experience sharing in home community

Require online posting to encourage peer-to-peer interaction

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