History
The idea for the association emerged in the mid-1970s, when deans of leading American schools of international affairs began informal discussions on how to improve student training. With a grant from the Exxon Education Foundation, these schools conducted a comparative analysis of their curricula. [5]
In 1987, Robert Goheen, former president of Princeton University, conducted a study recommending the creation of a "full-fledged organization" to facilitate the exchange of experience. Following his recommendations, APSIA was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization on April 13, 1989. The first president was Jeswald Salacuse of Tufts University. [5]
In the 1990s, after the end of the Cold War, APSIA expanded its activities with support from the Pew, Ford, and other foundations. A key project of this period was the detailed report Professional Schools of International Affairs on the Eve of the 21st Century (1994), prepared under the leadership of Louis W. Goodman. The report's goal was to analyze how the then-15 member schools were adapting their curricula to new global challenges.
This period saw a surge in interest in international affairs education. In the first five years of the association's existence (1989–1994), the number of applications to member schools increased by nearly 60%, and the number of enrolled students grew by almost 40%.
In the 2000s, the association continued to grow, establishing partnerships to attract underrepresented groups to the field of international relations and organizing international career and education fairs. [5] Today, APSIA aims to "advance international understanding, prosperity, peace, and security through the people and ideas shaped by our schools." [8]
Features and significance
According to the association, APSIA member institutions emphasize the application of theory to solve practical problems. Their programs combine training in areas such as critical thinking, quantitative analysis, public communication, and project management with in-depth regional, cultural, and economic expertise. [17]
The significance of APSIA schools is confirmed by the success of their graduates, who have become heads of state and senior officials in more than 12 countries. The association's institutions consistently rank among the top five producers of prestigious American fellowships, such as the Presidential Management Fellows and Boren Fellows. Each year, more than 80% of the Pickering and Rangel Fellows, who are prepared for careers as U.S. diplomats, are students at APSIA member schools. The employment or graduate school placement rate shortly after graduation is 91%. [17]
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