Southeast Asia

Nine delegates from South East Asia will visit Boston to learn about U.S. agriculture and food production and distribution policies. They will meet with agencies responsible for food safety and risk assessment, and experts on the U.S. food safety system and the science that supports it.

Project for Europe

Six delegates from across Europe will explore opportunities for U.S.-European joint development of green technologies and green markets. While here, they will learn about initiatives to stimulate sustainable economic development through innovation, and will observe best practices and cross-sectoral partnerships that are driving the green economy.

Brazil

Ten managers from Sao Paolo’s SESC (state's leading social services institution) will meet with counterparts to learn about U.S. community center administration, youth outreach programs, diversity inclusion practices, and special needs programs. 

Romania

Mr. Stefan Deaconu, Senior Advisor to the President of Romania on Legal Issues, will meet with judges at different court levels, professors of Constitutional Law, and legislators to exchange views on key legal and constitutional issues.

Japan

Three Japanese government officials from the Trade and Labor ministries will visit Boston to examine the roles, efforts, policy evaluations, and outcomes pursued by local governments, private sector firms, and nonprofit organizations to create jobs and revitalize communities.

Indonesia

 
Five Indonesian educators from various universities will come to Boston for meetings with school and university administrators and faculty, to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education at all levels in the U.S.

Project for Europe

Eleven politicians, party officials, advisers, and journalists from several European countries observed the U.S. political process in an election year.  Just ahead of "Super Tuesday," they met in Boston with senior staff from the Senate campaign offices of candidates Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown, polling experts, and political scientists.

 U.S. - Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission

Mexico

 
Law students from Mexico travelled to the U.S. as part of a unique exchange program to examine the U.S. system of training law students. The delegation toured local law schools and met with lawyers and judges from Boston-based bar associations.

Guinea

 
Mr. Bangoura, the newly appointed spokesperson for the Guinean presidential office, engaged with media and communications faculty at universities, as well as representatives from public relations and marketing firms.

Czech Republic

 
Five Czech delegates visited Boston to conduct a case study on anti-corruption and government transparency with counterparts. They met with the District Attorney's office, judges, representatives from the Boston City Council, and journalists.

Russia

Eleven administrators from Russia's Urals State Pedagogical University toured Boston to discuss effective university administration and management strategies.  Meetings took place with public and private universities with existing linkage programs with Russia, or with strong Russian studies programs. 

China

Ten faculty members and administrators from China's Chongqing Normal University visited Boston to discuss university administrative practices, higher education reform, and educational program creation. They met with various universities in the Boston-area, particularly those with strong programs in Chinese language and culture. 

Russia

Two senior professors of world politics and foreign affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation toured Boston to visit universities offering undergraduate and graduate  in international affairs, diplomacy, and public policy.

Iraq

Six advisers and government officials from key ministries in the fields of science and education visited Boston to examine social, political, and economic aspects of developing and implementing national science policy. Meetings were arranged with local scientific research institutions, laboratories, and university-driven innovation initiatives. 

China

Four Chinese library management professionals visited Boston to share best practices in library management and explore citizens' access to information in the U.S. Visits were arranged with the Harvard Yenching and Widener Libraries, as well as the Boston Public Library.    

Bermuda

Nine members of Bermuda's Interagency Gang Task Force visited Boston to examine model community programs and public policies that address gang violence.  Participants in this IVLP project will spend time with a working anti-gang task force.

Japan

Four Japanese university administrators, professors, and government officials examined the diversity of Boston-area campuses, to share best administrative practices for establishing exchange and dual-degree programs with universities overseas, and to network with government and university administrators engaged in the globalization of American higher education.

Thailand

Mr. Thi-Wa-Wat Pattaragulwanit, a popular illustrator and writer from Thailand, is well know for his political cartoons and politically-motivated art. During his visit to Boston, Mr. Pattaragulwanit focused on the American tradition of political activism, civic engagement, and freedom of expression through both historical and cultural perspectives. Meetings were arranged with local writers, artists, and museum curators.

Brazil

Mr. Roberto Alzir das Chaves and Mr. Antônio Roberto Cesário de Sá, two senior Brazilian security officials from the State of Rio de Janeiro, visited Boston to explore topics related to civil affairs and public security in preparation for Brazil's hosting of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.  While in Boston, Mr. Alzir and Mr. Sá met with local law enforcement, public security management, and security staff for major sporting events.   

Japan

Mr. Hiroyuki Sakurai, Deputy Director of the International Policy Division at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, arrived in the U.S. in September as a Japanese National Personnel Authority (NPA) Fellow. The focus of Mr. Sakurai's research is Internet policy in the U.S.  While in Boston, he met with state officials and academic experts at Harvard and MIT on the development of Internet policy.

Poland

A delegation of judges, criminal prevention specialists, and NGO leaders from Poland visited Boston to examine how social service agencies work with legal authorities to prevent domestic abuse. The delegation met with law enforcement officials, criminology experts at universities, and nonprofit leaders engaged in aiding victims of domestic violence.

Dec. 3 - 6

Emergency Operations

Laura Tiberi, an emergency operations and rehabilitation officer at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, visited Boston to meet with experts at BU, Harvard, Tufts, and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital on human resilience in the face of complex emergencies.
 

Nov. 28-
Dec. 2


Brazll

Nuclear Nonproliferation

Viviane da Silva Simões, an international relations analyst for Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission, visited Boston to meet with experts on nuclear nonproliferation, safety, and disarmament at MIT’s Security Studies Program and Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Accompanied by a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, she also met with Doug Koplow, founder of EarthTrack, a local firm specializing in research on energy subsidies.
 

Nov. 15 - 18


Germany
 

Workforce Development in
Renewable Energy

Distinguished German representatives from
solar and wind energy firms, technical colleges, and nonprofit organizations engaged in workforce development examined Boston's “green collar” industry and discussed the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, an effort to develop German and American approaches to climate change.
 

Nov. 15 - 18


Brazil

Music Administration

Officials from the Secretariat of Culture of Sao Paulo State visited Boston-based conservatories to build relationships for the exchange of students, faculty, and artists.

Dean Wayman Chin of the Longy School of Music and Assistant Director of Admissions Gojko Damjanic of the Berklee College of Music hosted the visitors in their respective institutions, introducing them to their facilities and operations. Joseph Auner, Chair of Tufts University's music department, also hosted the group at the new Granoff Music Center. The Brazilian visitors also visited the North Bennet Street School's Piano Technology Program, the Community Music Center of Boston, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where they discussed sales, marketing, development, and personnel strategies.
 

Oct. 25 - 28


Russia

Technical Education

Two senior administrators from Russian universities visited Boston to learn about the development of leading science and education centers, business incubators at technical universities, and programs that stimulate students' involvement in research projects.
 

Oct. 8 - 10
 

Indonesia
 

Comparative Higher Education

Two Indonesian academics engaged faculty in the political science and anthropology departments at BU, Northeastern, and UMass Boston. A key goal of the visitors was to establish the first departments of political and social science at State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah in order to promote higher learning about democracy in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
 

Sept. 16 - 20



Japan
 

Technology & Industry Management

Taking advantage of Boston's biotechnology and high-tech industry assets, Japanese visitors from a national research institute and a prefectural government met with Harvard's and Boston University’s technology development Offices, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and other institutions working to connect researchers and inventors with sources of venture capital.

Sept. 12 - 16




Mexico and Canada
 

Leadership and Conflict Resolution
 

In this single-region project, six English-speaking environmental experts from Canada and Mexico explored Massachusetts' participation in regional environmental compacts, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first mandatory cap-and-trade initiative within the U.S. The visitors also discussed current research on climate change with academics at local universities.

 

Sept. 2 - 5
 

China

Domestic Violence
and Protection Order Study 

Nine Chinese legal experts, including judges, research fellows, and court officials, connected with the Massachusetts Judges' Conference at UMass Boston. They learned about the history and practice of domestic violence protection orders, the court and trial procedures for justifying and applying them, and observed such cases in action.
 

Aug. 26 - 29
 

Thailand

Public Broadcasting in the U.S.

Five delegates from the Thai Public Broadcasting Service visited Boston last week to gain a better understanding of public broadcasting, public access television, and Web-based citizen journalism in the United States. Their professional visits included the studios of WBUR, WGBH, Cambridge Community Television, and the Boston Neighborhood Network.
 

July 25 - 31


Russia

Law and Order

As part of the Open World citizen diplomacy program, a Russian judicial delegation visited Boston for professional exchanges concerning judicial ethics, court administration, jury trial procedures, case management, and other judicial topics. WorldBoston arranged home-stay hospitality for each visitor so they could experience life in an American household.

Europe and International Development

Farah Karimi, Executive Director of Oxfam Novib and former Member of the Dutch Parliament, visited Boston as a participant in the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program. Iranian-born Karimi spoke on global development issues at a WorldBoston-Oxfam luncheon.
 

July 11 - 15


China

Law and Order

A group of Chinese legal experts, including a law professor, a prosecutor, and a senior partner in a law firm, met with the Massachusetts Judges' Conference at UMass Boston to explore current issues in legal education and learn about judicial transparency and the criminal procedure in the American legal system.
 

June 23 - 27

Multi-country project for South Asia

Environmental Protection

This program included 10 conservation and environmental practitioners who work in government, academia, NGOs, business, law, and journalism in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. Participants met with university professors to discuss the significance of international law for environmental protection. Following a tour of a waste-to-energy facility in Millbury, they also observed local efforts to promote environmental education and inform future generations about conservation and recycling.

 

June 21 - 24

Haiti

Dominican Republic

Leadership and Conflict Resolution
 

Sixteen community organizers, members of youth organizations, and government workers from Haiti and the Dominican Republic came to Boston to explore the work of local nonprofits in underserved communities. Their visit included a day-long workshop with Facing History and Ourselves and meetings with several organizations that are active in youth leadership training, public health advocacy, conflict resolution, and community development.

 

June 9 - 11



Iceland

Diversity and Bilingual Education

Ten secondary school teachers from Iceland visited three diverse Boston schools with successful programs in bilingual education. They observed teaching methods and learned about multi-cultural and diversity education in the U.S. by touring the schools, speaking with administrators, and meeting teachers and students.
 

June 2 - 6


Georgia

University Development

Six university administrators from Georgia met their counterparts in Boston area universities to examine funding, philanthropy, and financial planning. They were also offered opportunities to see how diversity contributes to dynamism and resilient pluralism in the U.S. political system.
 

May 27 - 30


South Africa

Urban Crime Prevention

An official from Business Against Crime, a South African company, visited Boston to meet with law enforcement officials, government and NGO leaders, and business people to learn about crime prevention and community policing.
 

May 20 - 23

Sweden

Muslim Citizen Exchange

This exchange program for Swedish Muslims, aimed at fostering cross-cultural dialogue, began in 2008 when several American Muslims visited Sweden to share the experience of Islam in the U.S. Our Swedish visitors met with Boston organizations dealing with integration of immigrants and with representatives from Muslim student and other youth-oriented organizations.
 

May 14 - 17

Ukraine

Community Support for Youth

Executive directors and managers from Ukrainian youth centers and charitable foundations visited Boston to explore local programs that foster youth engagement in civil society by providing education, training, mentoring, and safe-haven opportunities.
 

May 6 - 9

Ukraine

March 22 - 25

Turkey

Higher Education System

Five senior officials from Turkey's Ministry of Education visited Northeastern, Tufts, Harvard, and MIT to learn about graduate admission processes and international student life. Turkey plans to send several hundred students a year on full scholarships to M.A. and Ph.D. degree programs in the U.S.
 

March 3 - 7


Kyrgyzstan
 

Health Care & Policy

During their trip to Boston, two health care specialists from Kyrgyzstan learned about health care administration, insurance, and policies to improve the U.S. health care system.

Feb. 8 - 12

China

U.S. Foreign Policy

Four Chinese professors engaged counterparts in Boston universities in discussions about U.S. policies, values, and decision-making mechanisms in international relations. The group also examined how colleges and research institutes develop curricula for teaching foreign-policy courses.
 

Jan. 28 - 31

Germany

Climate Change & Clean Energy

A group of German governmental officials, business professionals, and academics met with counterparts in the Boston area to gain an understanding of clean-energy policy development in the U.S.
at the federal, state, and local levels.
 

Dec. 17 - 20

France

Social Entrepreneurship &
Career Development

Said Hammouche, Founder and Director of Paris-based Mozaik RH, learned the role of foundations and advocacy groups in promoting social reforms. Talks focused on best practices for diversity, youth access to the workplace, and career development.
 

Nov. 20 - 23

Japan

Economic Revitalization &

Business Development

Visitors from Osaka and Kyushu exchanged views with Boston urban planners and other city and state officials tasked with promoting investment and business development.

Nov. 19 - 22

Ukraine

The U.S. Experience in Combating
Child Exploitation

Meetings examined emerging trends in conducting internet investigations and methods of cooperation among international, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

 Oct. 26~Nov. 8


 I-VOTE

 

Oct. 21 - 26


Japan

EMERGING LEADERS FROM 76 COUNTRIES Observed U.S. Electoral System Firsthand in State Department's I-VOTE 2008 Initiative:

On Nov. 5, Election Fellows gathered in Boston for a symposium at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government to analyze outcomes of the presidential and congressional races, as well as share their I-VOTE experiences and insights.



JAPAN INTERCULTURAL ACADEMY OF MUNICIPALITIES (JIAM) DELEGATION:
City revitalization ~ Community building based on regional strengths
(A WorldBoston fee-for-service project)

Press: How the City of Lawrence became a classroom for JIAM
 

WEST AFRICA: Democratic Governance and Civil Society (Oct. 14-18)

TURKEY: Teaching Media Literacy (Oct. 7-11)

FRANCE: At-Risk Youth Programs (Oct. 8-11)
 

Sept. 24 - 27

Sept. 21 - 24


Pakistan

British-American Parliamentary Group

Sept. 3 - 6

 July 9 - 30



Ukraine

USAID COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

WorldBoston hosted 10 professionals from the Chernihiv region of Ukraine. Participants explored various aspects of historic and cultural preservation issues in the U.S.  Enjoying homestays with local Massachusetts families, they experienced the diversity of American culture. Ukraine's Chernihiv region is home to many churches, cathedrals, and monuments of architectural or historical significance.

Spain

Three police officers and special investigators from Spain came to Boston to explore U.S. policy initiatives in identifying, protecting, and assisting the victims of human trafficking.  Visits took place with law enforcement officials as well as with local victim assistance groups.

Ukraine

Five technology officers and senior scientists from Ukraine visited Boston to learn more about U.S. approaches to innovation and technology transfer, and to acquire a better understanding of the research-to-market process for technology development.  Meetings took place with technology licensing and development offices at local universities.

May 15 - 20


Malaysia

WorldBoston hosted a nine-member delegation from Malaysia for meetings and site visits at Logan International Airport, MIT, the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, and Pratt & Whitney. The focus: public and private initiatives to curb engine emissions, new innovations in biofuel technology and production, and other efforts to create a “green” aviation industry.
 

May 15 - 19


 Azerbaijan

Five leaders involved with Azerbaijan’s youth movements, which represent an important element of the country’s civil society, visited Boston to learn about U.S. youth leadership training programs, community service projects, and other ways of mobilizing American youth to become responsible citizens engaged in tackling social problems.
 

April 21 - 24


Russia
 

Management & Technology Transfer

Seven senior administrators and faculty members of Russian universities explored how U.S. institutions of higher learning in the Boston area convert their research and creativity into commercially viable intellectual property.

April 13 - 16


Pakistan
 

Eradicating Gender-based Violence

Eight Pakistani legal experts and NGO leaders met with their counterparts in Boston to exchange views on how to prevent and prosecute gender-based violence. They also shared best practices and programs for supporting women and girls, families, and communities. See article.

April 4 - 7


Iraq

U.S. Foreign Policy for Journalists

Five distinguished journalists from Iraq visited Boston under the auspices of the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program. WorldBoston arranged meetings at the Boston-based GlobalPost and at local universities to discuss reporting on U.S. foreign policy, Iraq, and the Middle East region.
 

April 1 - 2

Anti-Money Laundering

Eight financial and investigative officials from Namibia and Zambia met with lawyers, auditors, and consultants from top global firms in Boston to discuss how to establish anti-money laundering regimes and implement best practices.

 

March 28-April 2

 

Primary and Secondary Science Education

Eleven K-12 science educators from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Palestine met with school administrators, teachers, and students in Boston and Newton public schools, and with organizations that run after-school science programs for local children.
 

WorldBoston hosted scores of international visitors participating in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) 2010 Convention in Boston.  English language teachers from Russia, university professors from Algeria and China, and educators and administrators from Afghanistan, Sudan and Mongolia attended the workshops. For many, this was their first visit to the United States.

March 17-20


France

Health Care and Social Assistance

Mr. Pierre-Alain de Malleray, Chief of Staff to France's Minister of Labor, visited Boston to learn about the American approach to health care, legislative reform efforts, programs for the elderly, and health care lobbying at the state level.
 

Feb. 13-17

Women and Entrepreneurship

WorldBoston welcomed leading women from 17 countries who are founders, chief executives, and senior managers of a range of businesses. From Afghanistan to Venezuela, and Lithuania to Mozambique, they met Boston area women entrepreneurs to discuss best practices for innovation, business development, and venture finance.

 

Feb. 13-18

U.S. Trade Policy

A multi-regional delegation of senior economists, government officials, and private-sector trade and industry experts from 16 countries (and five continents) visited Boston for a range of professional meetings under the auspices of the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
 

Jan. 27-30


Slovenia

A newly drafted Family Code was submitted to the Republic of Slovenia's National Assembly this year. In preparing for this legislation, the prospect of establishing family courts was raised. Two judges and the General Secretary of the Judicial Council of Slovenia visited Boston to examine the organization, administration, and jurisdiction of family courts in the U.S.
 

Jan. 27-30

Sudan
 

Curriculum Development and Reform

Several officials from Sudan's Ministry of General Education and Ministry of Higher Education met with Boston-based experts in curriculum design and reform.