Executive directors of Fulbright Commissions worldwide gathered in Brazil for discussions on higher education.

The executive directors of the nine Fulbright Commissions in the Western Hemisphere, U.S. State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs officers, cooperating agency representatives, cultural and public affairs officers, and invited guests enjoyed the hospitality of Luiz Loureiro, executive director of the Fulbright Commission in Brazil and staff in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The directors convened from August 26-30 to discuss the status of Fulbright Programs within the larger dialogue of higher education worldwide, Fulbright's link with the international higher education agenda, and its contribution to capacity building. The meeting offered a stimulating mix of news, allowing all to present new possibilities for future directions. It also marked the first overseas trip of the new Council for International Exchange of Scholars Executive Director Sabine O'Hara.

Bruce Johnstone, distinguished service professor of Higher and Comparative Education, State University of New York at Buffalo and this year's Fulbright New Century Scholar Distinguished Leader, delivered the keynote address on higher educational reform agendas in the United States and internationally. Judith S. Eaton, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, spoke on the role of accreditation in assisting student mobility, study abroad, and the growing number of overseas campuses of U.S. universities. Thomas E. Corts represented the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

The meeting generated a number of new ideas and underscored a convergence of interests reflecting the state and needs of the Western Hemisphere. Themes such as diversity, access and inclusion frequently emerge in discussions from this region, leading to the successful launch of innovative pilot projects by Commissions that create new pathways of access for those underrepresented under traditional exchange models.

Partnerships with the Ford Foundation in Brazil, young leader seminars in Argentina, and collaborative activities with binational centers were among the examples presented. Expanding on the theme of partnerships, Mexico-United States Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange Executive Director Arturo Borja spoke on the success of Mexico's fundraising program while underscoring the need for meticulous planning, training and professional expertise when launching a fundraising campaign. Commission for Educational Exchange Between Uruguay and the United States Executive Director Mercedes Jimenez also gave an informative presentation on the complex topic of legal issues and binationalism.