At the start of 2015, after a year of increased political and military tension growing in several parts of the world, including Europe, as well as the fundamentalist attacks in Paris, it is relevant to look at its implications for higher education. 

Hundreds of citizen diplomats will arrive in Washington, D.C., this week for the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting, the first of many events and outreach efforts throughout 2015 to mark the 75th anniversary of State Department international exchange programs.

The Atlanta Sister Cities Commission, a volunteer organization that helps coordinate Atlanta’s relationships with 18 world cities, partnered with the city’s Office of International Affairs to host the evening event, which attracted diplomats from Germany, Nigeria, France and many other countries. 

Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on January 8 announced remarks in external activities in 2014 and diplomatic orientations for 2015. Viet Nam also closely coordinated the Party and State’s diplomacy and people-to-people exchange with national defense and security.

India's soft power was being driven by its economic growth. But all that crashed after 2008. Almost 85 chairs for India studies were created, new cultural centres conceived and opened. But as budgets did not grow, they took a hit in the last couple of years.