“Uruguay’s dedication
to education is reflected in its dedication to democracy,”
pointed out Chargé d´Affaires James G. Williard
at the opening ceremony of the Fulbright Western Hemisphere
Meeting. “Through the course
of its political history, Uruguay has always returned to
the form of government best suited for an educated and free
people.”
The highest ranking government
officials from Fulbright Commissions of North, Central and
South America as well as U.S. government representatives
- traveling coming from Washington DC. to participate at
this event- opened the conference Monday (Dec. 8). The conference
will continue through Dec. 12 at the Conrad Hotel, in Punta
del Este.
Thomas Farrell, deputy under-secretary
of education of the US Department of State and Rita Di Martino,
William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship boardmember, are among
the distinguished guests. Enrique Antía, governor
of Maldonado, the Director of Culture of the Uruguayan Ministry
of Education and Culture participated in the ceremony.
The conference includes workshops
and panel discussions on topics related to the Fulbright
programs carried out in the different countries. Selected
topics include improvement of outreach management, educational
trends and improving customer service to grantees.
Chargé d´Affaires
Williard concluded his presentation saying: "In this
interdependent, globalized world the bridges you build become
more important every day. The challenges that face this
planet -- political, economic, social and environmental
-- can only be solved by pooling our collective talents.
Despite what some might think and write, America is well
aware that it can’t go it alone; it needs partners
in this world. The rising leaders who are selected for the
Fulbright program establish relationships with their counterparts
that will form the foundation of successful and mutually
beneficial partnerships in the years ahead.
FULBRIGHT IN URUGUAY
The history of the Fulbright
scholarships is well known. In the aftermath of World War
II, Sen. J. William Fulbright conceived the idea of an international
scholarship program that would support the understanding
and knowledge necessary to avoid such devastating conflicts.
The Fulbright program has become the tool that makes that
vision a reality. In the more than 50 years since it began,
some quarter of a million students and teachers from around
the world have taken part in Fulbright programs. In any
country where there is a Fulbright program you can take
a look at the roster of political, business, cultural and
academic leaders and find a great number of Fulbright scholars.
In Uruguay that list includes such names as Arquitecto Carlos
Ott, designer of the Punta del Este airport, Eva Fogel of
the Academia Nacional de Medicina, Ricardo Pascale, President
of the Banco Central, artist Virginia Patrone, poet Marosa
Di Giorgio, and of course, Uruguayan Foreign Minister Didier
Opertti.
In Uruguay the Fulbright Program
was created in 1960 through a treaty between Uruguay and
the United States and today it gives the opportunity to
50 Uruguayans –including professionals, academics
and school principals - to carry out post graduate studies
and internships in the United States.
