U.S. Department of State to Host Exchange 2.0 Meetup, Will Address the Global Impact of Virtual Student Exchanges
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
July 26, 2011
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will host an Exchange 2.0 Meetup during the United Nations High Level Meeting on Youth on Wednesday July 27 from 10 am-12 pm EST. The program examines international exchanges conducted in a virtual space, with students interacting with one another in a meaningful way using online and mobile technologies. The event will take place at organizing partner Meetup.com’s headquarters in New York City, in addition to a virtual discussion via livestream and Twitter.
Opening remarks will be delivered by Ronan Farrow, Special Adviser to the Secretary of State
for Global Youth Issues, and Kalpen Modi, Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement at the White House. Other speakers include virtual exchange student alumni, officials from the White House, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and civil society organizations that support Exchange 2.0 efforts. Discussions will examine how online and mobile technologies are offering students around the world a means to build bridges that transcend geographical, political, religious and cultural barriers
With over 60 percent of the world population under the age of 30, Exchange 2.0 provides new opportunities for youth to engage in dialogue with one another in order to promote mutual understanding. These types of programs embrace the technologies and innovation that have changed the conditions for statecraft in the 21st century
Tune into the livestream via the link starting at 10 am EST on Wednesday, July 27. To follow and participate in the discussion over Twitter, use the hashtag #Exchange20 before, during, and after the event.
For more information, contact Suzanne Hall of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, at HallSK2@state.gov.
PRN: 2011/1241