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Occupy Slovenia: A First-Hand View May 11, 2012 by Maple Razsa Maple Razsa, a 2011-2012 Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO) fellow, writes about his experience researching migrant activism among former Yugoslavs and how that led him to witness the Occupy Movement in Slovenia.	Teacher Appreciation Day: Profile of a Dedicated Teacher Committed to Global Education May 8, 2012 by Susanna Halliday-Miller “Global Education is important because it’s required to help students find meaningful learning that will fit the changing context of a globalized world. It will prepare them for a future we cannot see yet.” As a teacher in a classroom of primarily immigrant and refugee students, in a system lacking the organization and structure to support such learners, Meg Riley faces many obstacles as she lives out her commitment to the teaching profession. Meg teaches at an urban high school in Tucson, Arizona, where nearly 40% of the students speak a native language other than English. One major challenge she faces is providing adequate instruction to her English Language Learners (ELL) in a district that has restrictions on the amount of language support students receive.
Global UGRAD-Pakistan Cultural Passport Winners Announced May 4, 2012 IREX is pleased to announce the winners of the Spring 2012 Cultural Passport to America competition for the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program. Maria (Shawnee State University), Nadir (Dillard University), Yasir (Eastern Michigan University), and Tayyab (Wabash College) were selected as exemplary cultural ambassadors because of their participation in a diverse array of cultural events and their regular reflections through blog posts sharing their experiences.	Launching Iraq’s First Career Guidance Centers May 1, 2012 by Anne Johnson Every year, nearly 2000 students graduate from the University of Technology (UT) in Baghdad with practical degrees in engineering and applied science. Yet many Iraqi graduates, doubly affected by both the global economic climate and the challenges of Iraq’s transition economy, face a future even more uncertain than their peers elsewhere.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to U.S. Reflects on Muskie Experience April 24, 2012 Azerbaijan recently appointed Elin Suleymanov as its Ambassador to the United States. A Muskie alumnus who received a Masters degree at the University of Toledo in 1994, Suleymanov has dedicated his career to public service and diplomacy. Below he reflects on his experience as a Muskie fellow and how that has shaped his perspective and how it still affects his work today.	Winners of 2012 Global UGRAD Video Competition Announced April 23, 2012 Global UGRAD students have been busy documenting their diverse experiences since they arrived in the United States in August 2011. The IREX Global UGRAD Team extends its congratulations to three 2011-2012 Global UGRAD students for their outstanding videos: Anton, from Ukraine, studying at the University of Louisiana at Monroe; Asel, from Kyrgyzstan, studying at Utica College; and Batyrbek, also from Kyrgyzstan, studying at Augustana College.
Earth Day 2012-Tobago Takes Strides Towards Going Green April 22, 2012 by Michelle Weisse As the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) nears, an issue looms large in the minds of many: whether countries, communities, and world leaders have the political will to commit to sustainable development and green economies before it’s too late. Essie Parks, a leader from the Community Solutions Program (CSP), and the Division of Health and Social Sciences at the Tobago House of Assembly in Trinidad and Tobago, recently showed that political and environmental tipping points can coincide when community leaders take concerted action.	Earth Day: Indian Teachers Use Space Technology to Solve Problems on Earth April 19, 2012 by Amy Ahearn Much environmental research starts with a problem, such as species extinction, global warming, or erosion. In honor of Earth Day, IREX is pleased share a story of two physics teachers from India and a graduate student from Alabama focused on a solution. Rahul Chatterjee and Bishakha Banerjee, current International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP) participants, are collaborating with Melanie Phillips, a graduate student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), to research reforestation in Chhattisgarh and Punjab, India using satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques.
Announcing the Winners of the Global UGRAD-Pakistan Spring 2012 Video Competition April 12, 2012 IREX congratulates the winners of the Spring 2012 Global UGRAD-Pakistan program video competition, “A Day in the Life of a Global UGRAD-Pakistan Fellow.” Hadia, studying at the University of Wyoming; Abdul, studying at the College of Southern Idaho; and Zahra, studying at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, won for their outstanding videos showcasing their experiences at a U.S. college or university and what they have learned about American culture and values. Their videos were selected for their creativity and clarity in demonstrating their unique and varied American experiences. Many of the program’s 99 participants submitted excellent videos for the contest.	Urging Congress to Support Exchanges April 9, 2012 by W. Robert Pearson I am pleased to share with you an excerpt from the written testimony I recently submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs in support of the Department of State exchanges budget. Even in this current budget environment, it is critical to continue to invest in these programs which bring manifold benefits to US taxpayers. I strongly encourage you to find out more and contact your representatives in Congress to voice your support as well.