The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) designs and implements educational, professional, and cultural exchange and other programs that create and sustain the mutual understanding with other countries necessary to advancing United States foreign policy goals. Under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Marie Royce, ECA programs cultivate people-to-people ties among current and future global leaders that build enduring networks and personal relationships and promote U.S. national security and values.
ECA combines its time-tested tools of professional, cultural, and academic exchanges with innovation and technology that expand audience reach and impact. The Bureau continually looks at ways to develop new and more cost-effective models for its programs and uses virtual exchanges, alumni engagement, cultural heritage protection and preservation, and rapid-response mechanisms to respond nimbly to U.S. foreign policy priorities. ECA is also constantly cultivating new audiences in order to get the best return on investment for U.S. taxpayers, and stay in front of an ever-changing world.