Description: This article provides highlights of the International Section Council meeting, reception, and section-sponsored sessions from the 2012 SOA Annual Meeting.

Description: The International Section Council in conjunction with the Actuaries without Borders section of the IAA and the Azerbaijan Actuarial Association recently sponsored a three-day seminar focused on retirement benefits in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Description: Article is about a new course developed in actuarial science taught at Columbia University. Course covers traditional health actuarial projects but is expanded to cover issues for a health insurance company executive (e.g., CEO, CFO, etc.). The course also includes studying of other international healthcare systems plus healthcare reform (PPACA). Students were involved in research projects, including healthcare reform and international health systems. Students also had to teach a course as part of their final exam.

Description: The author describes a course he and his colleague designed and taught at Columbia University called "A Global Perspective of the Health Insurance Market."

Description: Summary of the International Section Council survey results, and how the results will impact council actions going forward.

Description: The letter from the president features an excerpt of SOA President Mark J. Freedman’s address to members at the 2013 SOA Annual Meeting & Exhibit calling for the profession to embrace international development, seek out new opportunities for growth, and become involved in research and public policy.

Description: Insight into National Strategic Plan for the Insurance Industry in Argentina (PlaNes 2012-2020), with details of a meeting in May 2012 that provided an excellent platform for the actuarial community to voice their perspective.

Description: Account of a joint colloquium of three International Actuarial Association sections. The overall theme of the event was "The Actuarial Profession and Social and Economic Development."