East-West Center growth
continues this semester

Enrollment includes the first
student from Iran in 17 years

Enrollment at the East-West Center reached 258 this semester, including 125 new students who arrived for fall classes.

Among the new arrivals are the first student from Iran since 1987, two monks from Bhutan enrolled in the Asia Pacific Leadership Program, and students from the Tibet and Xian regions in China.

The students come from 27 Asian and Pacific island nations, the United States, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador and the United Kingdom.

"Our degree student population continues to grow in size and diversity," said Terry Bigalke, East-West Center director and dean of education. "We kicked off the semester engaging students with enormously varied religious, cultural and political perspectives in discussions about 'creating cultures of tolerance,' a first step as they explore sensitive contemporary issues facing the Asia-Pacific, as well as global, community."

The center offers 11 scholarship programs in addition to its own graduate degree fellowships. Total students on scholarships at the East-West Center throughout the school year will reach about 350, double the number of five years ago.

Six students -- from China, India, South Korea, Mongolia, Nepal and the United States -- received assistance through the recently established East-West Center Association Scholarships.