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The goal of the U.S. Government's higher education programs is to provide countries with the institutional and human capacity needed to achieve transformational development. U.S. higher education investments help people, businesses, and governments develop the knowledge and skills needed to support economic growth, promote just and democratic governance, and foster healthy, well-educated citizens. Programs have been implemented in more than 80 countries, including 17 countries trying to rebuild after major conflict or disasters.

U.S. Government evaluations of prior higher education investments demonstrate that efficient and well-managed higher education institutions can be highly effective providers of training, applied research, and diverse development programs and projects. Higher education programs and institutions are used to achieve short, medium, and long-term results in a variety of sectors, including economic growth, education, governance, health, humanitarian assistance, and peace and security. Illustrative activities include short and long term training, degree and certificate programs, applied research, capacity building programs, policy analysis, policy development, project design, and project implementation.

The United States recognizes the critical importance of higher education programs and institutions in sustainable development. During the five year period between Fiscal Year 2002 and Fiscal Year 2007, USAID alone invested approximately $1.6 billion in higher education institutions and programs worldwide. USAID is especially enthusiastic about its higher education partnership program. This competitive grants program provides an opportunity for U.S. and host-country institutions of higher education to collaborate in addressing key development challenges. In addition, USAID requires the higher education institutions to work with partners from the public, non-profit, and private sectors. This leverages USAID's investment while simultaneously ensuring that programs are linked to the broader economic development needs in the host-country. In fact, USAID investments under the partnership program have leveraged external resources on a nearly 1:1 basis.

Over the past decade, the partnership program has supported a number of highly successful activities, including the PEARL Project in Rwanda, the formation of SEE University in Macedonia, the TIES Program in Mexico, and numerous training, extension, and workforce development programs in post-conflict situations. The relationships and capacity developed under the partnership program provide countries with highly valuable short, medium, and long-term development assets. In addition, the partnership program has trained or educated more than 20,000 people.

Looking forward, U.S. Government investments in higher education will place increased emphasis on workforce development, the role of higher education in rebuilding countries, and the implementation of higher education programs relevant to the needs of poverty reducing economic growth.

Higher Education Activities by Region

Africa

U.S. Missions in Africa, in conjunction with the Africa Bureaus in Washington, have invested in a variety of short and long-term training programs, applied research, and a wide range of higher education institutions and organizations, including the African Economic Research Consortium. Tens of thousands of men, women, and children have received training or education under U.S. Government-funded higher education activities. Human and institutional capacity development programs were supported in the following countries: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition, from 2000 to 2006, the United States invested $22.7 million in higher education partnerships between African and U.S. colleges and universities.

• In Rwanda, a higher education partnership between Michigan State University, Texas A&M University, and the National University of Rwanda has helped promote economic development and reconciliation. The partnership created a network of coffee grower cooperatives throughout Rwanda and fostered the development of high grade coffee beans for the international gourmet coffee market. The program has trained thousands of Rwandan men and women in production and management skills. It has also led to the creation of various small and medium sized enterprises linked to the coffee industry. Individuals once divided by conflict are now cooperating for economic success.
• In Nigeria, the U.S. Government is supporting a collaborative effort between the University of Lagos and Kansas State University to improve business and management education in an effort to provide the private and public sectors with the talented individuals and leading management practices needed to support Nigeria's continued economic growth. Several private sector partners are contributing to this effort.
• In East Africa, the United States supports a regional university consortium that provides African public health leaders with the training and skills needed to tackle the region's most pressing public health challenges. The partnerships will enable public health leaders to better envision, plan, implement and manage effective responses to the health needs of countries in East Africa. The program also mainstreams leadership training for mid- and senior-level professionals, including skills for management, finance, administration, communication, and planning, within schools of public health in East Africa.

Asia and the Middle East

U.S. Missions in Asia and the Middle East, in conjunction with the Asia, Middle East, East Asia and Pacific, South Central Asia and Near East Bureaus in Washington, have invested in a variety of short-and long-term training programs, numerous applied research programs, and a wide range of higher education institutions and organizations. Tens of thousands of men, women and children have received training or education under U.S. Government funded higher education activities. Human and institutional capacity development programs were supported in the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and West Bank/Gaza. In addition, from 2000 until 2006, the United States invested $11.6 million in higher education partnerships between colleges and universities in Asia and the Middle East and the United States.

• In India, a dozen U.S. and Indian universities are working together with private sector partners to develop new agricultural practices, products and business endeavors aimed at further improving agricultural productivity, exports, rural incomes and supply chain management in India. These programs are already providing rural communities with improved economic opportunities, increased food supplies and better nutrition.
• In the Middle East, and working through the Middle East Partnership Initiative, the United States has provided millions of dollars in support of university partnerships that foster civic participation and increased cultural understanding.
• In Egypt, the United States is helping universities align their teaching, training and research with the needs of the Egyptian economy and the employment aspirations of their students.
• In Afghanistan, U.S. investments in local higher education institutions, including select partnerships with universities from the United States, have helped the country provide the workforce development and technical training needed to support various reconstruction and economic growth programs.

Europe & Eurasia

U.S. Missions in Europe and Eurasia, in conjunction with the Europe and Eurasia Bureaus in Washington, have invested in a variety of short and long-term training programs, numerous applied research programs, and a wide range of higher education institutions and organizations. Tens of thousands have received training or education under U.S. Government funded higher education activities. Human and institutional capacity development programs were supported in the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. In addition, from 2000 until 2006, the United States invested roughly $5.7 million in higher education partnerships between colleges and universities in Europe and Eurasia and the United States.

• In Kosovo, universities, private sector companies and government agencies from Kosovo and the United States, are collaborating to establish a Center for Energy and Natural Resource Development. The Center will assist Kosovo in building self-sufficiency in energy and natural resource economics and policy studies, and energy and power systems engineering. The Center will focus on workforce development, consulting and research.
• In Macedonia, the United States collaborated with the European Union to support the formation of a new university, South East European University (SEEU) as part of a broader peace assistance package aimed at reducing ethnic conflict and providing education opportunities relevant to the private and public sector needs of Macedonia and the Macedonian economy.

Western Hemisphere

Between Fiscal Year 2002 and Fiscal Year 2006, U.S. Missions in the Western Hemisphere, in conjunction with the Latin America and Caribbean and Western Hemisphere Bureaus in Washington, have invested more than $69 million in a variety of short-and long-term training programs, numerous applied research programs, and a wide range of higher education institutions and organizations. Tens of thousands of men, women and children have received training under U.S. Government-funded higher education activities. Human and institutional capacity development programs were supported in the following countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru, as well as regional programs. In addition, from 2000 until 2006, the United States invested roughly $23.5 million in higher education partnerships between colleges and universities in the Western Hemisphere and the United States.

• In Mexico, a multi-million dollar public-private sector alliance has resulted in 60 higher university partnerships between U.S. and Mexico institutions. As part of the U.S.-Mexico Partnership for Prosperity, these university programs have increased economic opportunities, improved water resource management, and addressed vital health issues throughout Mexico. The program is a model for comprehensive collaboration across the university, government and business communities.

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