American Councils for International Education
Encyclopedia
American Councils for International Education is an international, non-profit, educational organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and / or representative branches in over 25 countries, including most of the countries of the former Soviet Union .
Founded in 1974 as an association for area and language professionals, American Councils has focused its expertise on academic exchange, professional training, distance learning, curriculum and test development, delivery of technical assistance, research, evaluation, and institution building.
(ACTR), American Councils has worked to advance research, training, and materials development in the fields of Russian and English, as well as strengthen communication within and among the communities of scholars and educators in language, literature, and area studies of the United States and the former Soviet Union. In 1987, the ACTR Board of Directors created the American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study (ACCELS), which quickly became a leader in the design and administration of exchange and training programs funded by the U.S. government. ACCELS is a recognized name in many countries of the former Soviet Union.
In its four decades, American Councils has developed into one of the premier American education and international training organizations, administering more than thirty exchange and training programs, including U.S. government programs and non-U.S. national fellowship programs. The organization develops collaborative and partnership programs between individuals and institutions in the United States and the countries of Eurasia and Eastern Europe, consults on project design and education innovation programs, and actively contributes to the development of Eurasian language and area studies in the United States. And the organization maintains its commitment to the teaching of the Russian language, with over 100,000 textbooks and educational materials sold and 6,500 Russian-language learners registered online.
To reflect the organization’s development and expanded activities, in 1998, the ACTR Board created a new organizational structure with a new name, American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. ACTR and ACCELS are divisions of the American Councils. American Councils employs a full-time professional staff of over 370, located in forty-seven offices in forty cities in 15 countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
, the National Endowment for the Humanities
, the governments of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan; the World Bank; the Carnegie Corporation; the Open Society Institute/Soros Foundations, and other public and private donors.
Mission
American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS , an international not-for-profit organization, believes in the fundamental role of education in fostering positive change for individuals, institutions and societies. Building upon over three decades of regional expertise and development experience, American Councils advances education and research worldwide through international programs that provide the global perspective essential for academic and professional excellence.Founded in 1974 as an association for area and language professionals, American Councils has focused its expertise on academic exchange, professional training, distance learning, curriculum and test development, delivery of technical assistance, research, evaluation, and institution building.
History
Originally incorporated as the American Council of Teachers of RussianAmerican Council of Teachers of Russian
American Council of Teachers of Russian is a professional organization that advances research, training, and materials development in the fields of Russian and English language; strengthens communication within and between communities of scholars and educators in language, literature, and area...
(ACTR), American Councils has worked to advance research, training, and materials development in the fields of Russian and English, as well as strengthen communication within and among the communities of scholars and educators in language, literature, and area studies of the United States and the former Soviet Union. In 1987, the ACTR Board of Directors created the American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study (ACCELS), which quickly became a leader in the design and administration of exchange and training programs funded by the U.S. government. ACCELS is a recognized name in many countries of the former Soviet Union.
In its four decades, American Councils has developed into one of the premier American education and international training organizations, administering more than thirty exchange and training programs, including U.S. government programs and non-U.S. national fellowship programs. The organization develops collaborative and partnership programs between individuals and institutions in the United States and the countries of Eurasia and Eastern Europe, consults on project design and education innovation programs, and actively contributes to the development of Eurasian language and area studies in the United States. And the organization maintains its commitment to the teaching of the Russian language, with over 100,000 textbooks and educational materials sold and 6,500 Russian-language learners registered online.
To reflect the organization’s development and expanded activities, in 1998, the ACTR Board created a new organizational structure with a new name, American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. ACTR and ACCELS are divisions of the American Councils. American Councils employs a full-time professional staff of over 370, located in forty-seven offices in forty cities in 15 countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
Funding sources
Funding comes from public and private sources, including the U.S. Agency for International Development; the U.S. Department of State; the U.S. Department of Education; the Library of CongressLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, the governments of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan; the World Bank; the Carnegie Corporation; the Open Society Institute/Soros Foundations, and other public and private donors.