What's New

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alliance for Global Education Expands Study Abroad Options in China

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, there were reports of clashes north of Kashgar in western Xinjiang province following a police raid in which 21 people were killed. All Alliance students traveling in the region were not in the city at the time of the incident and are safe and accounted for. This appears to be an isolated incident. The Alliance does not see any reason for alarm at this time but will continue to carefully monitor the situation and take all necessary precautions to ensure students’ safety.

On Saturday, April 20, 2013, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck about 70 miles southwest of Chengdu, Sichuan province. The Alliance had no students in or near the affected area, and all Alliance students are safe and accounted for.

May 13, 2013 - UPDATE

The Alliance has been carefully monitoring news outlets and public health organizations to track the development of the H7N9 avian flu in China. Though sources continue to urge caution, reports indicate that the situation is stabilizing enough to allow us to lift the independent travel restriction implemented on April 17.

Specifically:

The following message was circulated via the SECUSS-L listserv.

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of one of our partner universities in Shanghai -- the internationally-renowned Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) -- the Alliance is delighted to share the following scholarship opportunity for graduate study. Though these scholarships are open to all U.S. students, a certain number will be earmarked for Alliance alumni, so please especially encourage your students who have participated in Alliance programs to apply.

We have been closely monitoring the concerns about water safety in the Huangpu River in Shanghai, and are satisfied that it is escalating no further.  Officials have attributed the deaths of pigs found in rivers mostly to either cold weather or natural causes, and are offering daily assurances that tests show Shanghai's water remains safe.  

We are continuing our recommendation that students use boiled or bottled water (instead of tap water) to brush their teeth, but now consider the situation stabilized.

The following message was circulated via the SECUSS-L listserv.

Dear Colleagues:

The Alliance for Global Education will be in attendance at the upcoming Forum on Education Abroad conference in Chicago.  Since 2007, the Alliance's programs in China and India have enrolled over 1,700 students from 270 U.S. colleges and universities.  Our core mission is to develop and promote innovative programs in vibrant, dynamic Asian countries that are of ever-increasing scholarly, political, and economic interest.

The Alliance continues to closely monitor reports of sexual violence against women in India. While shocked and dismayed at this most recent report, we are confident that circumstances in this case would not have been encountered by our students. Our students receive extensive training on safe travel practices in India; we will continue to review any independent travel plans and to equip our students with the necessary training and information to make safe choices.

The latest development about dead pigs in the upper stream of Huangpu River that runs through Shanghai has given rise to wide concerns.

The following message was circulated via the SECUSS-L listserv.

Dear Colleagues:

The Alliance for Global Education is planning a live chat session via our Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon.  Alumni of the Alliance's programs in China and India, as well as our student services staff, will be in attendance.  Please share information about this event with interested students.  Of course, you and your colleagues are welcome to join us as well! 

Here are the event details: