Global Program Welcomes Emerging Leaders to Nation’s Capital for Policy and Research Work to Address Access and Success Challenges in Higher Education

Washington, D.C., Aug. 27, 2007—Sixteen exceptional and diverse individuals from across the world are converging this week in the nation’s capital to participate in the Institute for Higher Education Policy’s Global Policy Fellows Program (GPFP). The early-career research and policy professionals are beginning their commitment to the organization’s two-year leadership development program that focuses on bridging the gaps in higher education for historically disadvantaged populations and affecting positive economic and social development around the world.

Established earlier this year, the GPFP awarded fellowships to participants who were selected through an international, open application process that was overseen by some of the world’s leading public policy and research experts. The inaugural cohort of participants include residents and citizens from previously identified countries who will work in teams—colleagues from their home countries and other countries—to explore a broad array of critical policy issues including admissions and testing, science and technology, finance, infrastructure capacity, privatization, and preparation.

The following emerging leaders are participating in the inaugural GPFP cohort:

Brazil

• Denilde Oliveira Holzhacker, Sao Marcos University
• Eufrasio Farias Prates, Association Internacional de Education Continuada

Mongolia

• Batjargal Batkhuyag, Mongolian Education Alliance
• Munkh-Erdene Lkhamsuren, National University of Mongolia
• Khishigbuyan Dayan-Ochir, Ministry of Education

The Netherlands

• Leon Cremonini, Center for Higher Education Policy Studies
• Demet Yazilitas, Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science

South Africa

• Riedwaan Kimmie, UNITE/University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Mankolo Xaverine Mfusi, University of Pretoria

Ukraine

• Alexander Belyakov, The Territory, Sustainable Development magazine
• Olena Chornoivan, Consortium of Pedagogical Academy and Kirovograd Institute of Commerce
• Nataliya Dromina-Voloc, Kyiv University of Law and Economics
• Yaroslav Prytula, Lviv Ivan Franko National University

United States

• Michael Bastedo, University of Michigan
• Michelle Asha Cooper, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance
• Jennifer Rippner, Office of Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia

“The Global Policy Fellows Program is a unique venture that focuses on building the higher education policy capacity of a diverse set of nations,” said IHEP President Jamie P. Merisotis. “These current and future government policymakers and policy influencers will not only add capacity in their own countries, but will bring a new understanding to the cross-national issues driving expansion of higher education worldwide.”

GPFP participants will craft collaborative policy reports that will then be disseminated to a wide audience of national and regional governments, higher education authorities, and international organizations. The Ford Foundation is providing initial support for GPFP.

For additional questions about GPFP or the Institute for Higher Education Policy, visit the organization’s Web site or send an e-mail request to globalpolicyfellows@ihep.org.