AIPES












            ******************************************************************************************

            * 19th Annual Graduation Ceremony for the American Institute on Political and Economic Sys
            ******************************************************************************************
            Mister President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

            It gives me great pleasure to be here at the commencement ceremony of the American Institu
            and Economic Systems, organised jointly by Charles University with the Fund for American S
            Georgetown. 

            It is now nineteen years since we were first approached by our two partners about the poss
            creating the joint summer institute, which has come to be known as AIPES.  At the time, I 
            us was entirely sure about the viability of the project.  Time has shown, however, that it

            ripe for the sowing, for the institute has gradually come to be one of our most highly reg
            programmes.  Indeed, the growth of the program since 1993 has been a great success story. 

            In the first year of its existence the American Institute on Political and Economic Studie
            students.  This year 125 students are attending from 30 different countries, and over the 
            years it has hosted a total of 2100 students from a total of 36 countries.  Likewise, as t

            reputation has grown, so has the number of applicants.  In the current school year, more t
            applied to the Fund for American Studies' various international programmes, 200 of them ex
            AIPES.

            Since 2004, AIPES has been supplemented by The European Journalism Institute, a programme 
            on another of the subject areas that were severely neglected and compromised under the Com
            and we are happy to be able to make this small contribution to its rehabilitation.  Thirty

            attended the programme this year. 
            Bringing students from other countries to Prague has long been an important objective of C
            University, and it is pleasing that these two institutes make their own contribution to th

            The development of academic ties between the oldest university in Central Europe and one o
            universities in the United States also provides us with many unique academic opportunities
            For example, we are pleased to have three of our students from Charles University go to Ge

            University each summer to study and participate in the Institutes sponsored by The Fund fo
            Studies.  These students gain valuable experience in the fields of politics, journalism, a
              When they return to Charles University they share what they have learned with their coll

            enhancing discourse on important topics. 
            In closing, let me say that I am delighted we have been able to welcome so many talented y
            Charles University during the nineteen years of our association with the Fund for American

            that this year's students have had just as exciting and productive a time as their predece
            them all great success in their future careers.