The Embassy of the United States of America is proud to announce the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Secondary Educators 2020 program.

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Secondary Educators are intensive post-graduate level academic programs with integrated study tours whose purpose is to provide foreign secondary school educators and administrators the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions.  The ultimate goal of the Institutes is to strengthen curricula and to enhance the quality of teaching about the United States in secondary schools and other academic institutions abroad.  Posts and prospective applicants are encouraged to visit our website page to obtain general information about the Institutes.  The address is: http://exchanges.state.gov/susi.

The SUSIs for Secondary Educators will take place over the course of five weeks beginning in late May/early June 2020.  Three Institutes for Secondary Educators will be offered, two with a focus on classroom teachers and the third with a focus on administrators including teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, and ministry of education officials, among others.  Each Institute will have 20 participants and will include a four-week academic residency component and a one-week integrated study tour.

INSTITUTE DESCRIPTION:

The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators will provide three multinational groups of 20 experienced secondary school educators (including teachers, administrators, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, ministry of education officials, and others) with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, education, and culture – past and present.  The focus of the Institutes will be on providing content and materials for participants to develop high school level curricula about the United States.

Through a combination of traditional, multi-disciplinary, and interdisciplinary approaches, program content will examine the history and evolution of U.S. institutions and values, broadly defined.  The programs will also serve to illuminate contemporary political, social, and economic debates in American society.  The four-week academic residencies will take place at U.S. universities and colleges campuses and will consist of a balanced series of lectures, panels, seminar discussions, readings, workshops, site visits, meetings with practitioners in the field, and cultural activities.  One-week study tours to a different region of the United States will complement the academic residencies.  One goal of the study tours is to showcase the cultural, geographic, and ethnic diversity of the United States.  The program features curriculum based on the study of how America’s foundations and historical development have shaped and continue to inform U.S. politics, economics, and society.

A key cultural component of the program involves community service activities, which will provide participants with a first-hand experience of how volunteerism plays a vital role in U.S. civil society.  The program will offer multiple opportunities for follow-on engagement through alumni webinars, grant-funded follow-on projects, social media, and an alumni workshop at the end of the three-year award period in 2021.

Two of the Institutes are tailored for secondary school teachers; please note that the Institutes for Teachers focus on content and materials about the United States rather than teaching methods and pedagogy.  The third Institute is tailored for experienced administrators including teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, ministry of education officials, and others.

OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

• Program Funding: The State Department will cover all participant costs including program administration; travel and ground transportation in the United States; housing and subsistence; and book, cultural, mailing, and incidental allowances.
• Housing and Meal Arrangements: Participants may be asked to share living quarters during the residency portion (four weeks) of the Institute.  During the study tour (up to one week), participants may share a hotel room with a participant of the same gender.  During the residency, housing will typically be in college or university owned housing.  Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own.
• Host institutions will take care to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied.
• Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State’s coverage of up to $100,000, with a $25 co-pay per medical visit and a $75 co-pay per emergency room visit, for the duration of the program.  Information on the health benefit program may be found online at https://www.sevencorners.com/gov/usdos.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS:

All participants are expected to participate fully in the program.  Participants should be made aware of the rigorous nature of the Institute and the expectation that the success of the Institute depends on their full participation.  Selected participants must attend all lectures and organized activities and complete assigned readings.  Family members and/or friends cannot accompany participants on any part of the program.  Candidates should be made aware that this is an intensive Institute and there will be little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program.

CANDIDATE DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Study of the U.S. Institutes are highly competitive.  Priority will be given to candidates who have firm plans to enhance, update or develop courses and/or educational materials with a U.S. studies focus or component, who have no or limited prior experience in the United States, and who have a special interest and experience in the field of secondary education as demonstrated through past scholarship, accomplishments, and professional duties. 

Ideal candidates are individuals who are seeking to introduce or enhance aspects of U.S. studies into their curricula or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for education professionals in U.S. studies or related fields.  While the nominee’s scholarly and professional credentials are an important consideration, the potential impact and multiplier effect of the Institute is equally important.

ELIGIBILITIES:

• Candidates should be mid-career
• Between the ages of 30-50
• Highly motivated and experienced secondary school teachers and administrators
• Advanced level of English (preferably TOEFL/ILETS) (will be tested)

Candidates must demonstrate English language fluency.  Institutes are rigorous and demanding programs; participants will be expected to handle substantial reading assignments in English and to fully and actively participate in all seminar and panel discussions.  English fluency is vital to a successful experience in the Institute, both for your participant and participants from other countries.  Posts must indicate the level of English language fluency in Section R of the nomination form.

Candidates should be willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

A COMPLETE APPLICATION FORM SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM IN MS WORD (.doc 62 KB)
• COMPLETED APPLICATION PACKAGE IN A SINGLE PDF DOCUMENT SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING (NOT EXCEED 5 MB)
  • Completed Application form (signed)
  • One Recommendation Letter (by principal
  • Updated CV (not more than 3 pages)
  • Copy of Diploma attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Higher Education.
• PLEASE SUBMIT COMPLETE PACKAGE TO Kabulsusischolars@state.gov WITH THE SUBJECT LINE (YOUR FULL NAME – PROGRAM NAME) BEFORE THE DEADLINE (TEUSEDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 – 11:59 PM KABUL TIME).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

1. What degree of English proficiency should a nominee have? All participants must be fully proficient in English; throughout the Institute, they will need to fully understand lectures, actively participate in discussions, and read and write assignments in English.
2. Can a nominee who is a dual citizen (U.S. and country of origin) participate in Study of the U.S. Institutes?  U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) are NOT eligible to participate in this program.
3. Can family members of U.S. Embassy employees apply for the program?

Immediate family members of U.S. Embassy employees are ineligible for this program.

4. How much free time/time for independent research will a participant have during the program? There will be some free time during the program as well as some time designated for independent research.  However, nominees MUST understand that this is an intensive academic program and they are expected to participate in all lectures, activities, and scheduled events.  Participants in Scholar Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the United States after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
5. I am not a college professor; can I be considered for the program? ECA will consider nominees from a variety of professional backgrounds who are professors at all stages of their careers, practitioners in a designated field, college and university administrators, and community leaders, among others.
6. If a nominee has relatives in the United States, would he/she have time to see them?  Because of the intensive nature of the Institutes, participants will NOT be able to leave the Institute to visit relatives or friends.  Participants in Scholar Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the United States after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
7. Can a relative travel and stay with the participant during the Institute? Relatives are NOT permitted to travel or stay with a participant during the program.  There are no exceptions to this rule.  Participants in Scholar Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the United States after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
8. Can a participant arrive early/late for the Institute? Occasionally flight schedules necessitate that a participant to arrive a day early.  These situations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.  Participants will have an opportunity to review their flight itinerary before it is booked.  Once the tickets are booked, the participant is responsible for making and paying for any itinerary changes, the participant choose to change their plans.
9. Can a participant stay after the end of the Institute?  Under the terms of their J-1 visas, participants have up to 30 days after the end of the program to depart from the United States.  However, the participant must be aware that s/he is responsible for all expenses after the end of the Institute and will no longer have ECA-sponsored health benefits.
10. Can a participant miss one part or component of the Institute? All participants are expected to participate in all scheduled lectures, events, site visits, trips, and activities.
11. How much money will participants need to bring for the program? The Study of the U.S. Institutes cover all costs of an individual’s participation including transportation, lodging, and meals.  Generally, host institutions provide for meals through a combination of a cafeteria meal plan and cash allowance to permit participants to cook or eat at local restaurants.  Information on housing and meal arrangements will be provided by the host institution approximately six weeks prior to the start of the Institute.  Participants should bring their own spending money if they wish to purchase souvenirs or other items during their time in the United States.  All participating scholars will receive a stipend to purchase books and research materials while in the United States.
12. Will applicants with disabilities be considered?  Yes, the Study of the U.S. Branch welcomes nominations for individuals with disabilities.  We are committed to working with our Institute hosts to arrange reasonable accommodations for all participants.  While notification of a disability will not negatively impact selection, we ask that you identify disabilities during the nomination process so that we can begin working with our Institute hosts to ensure appropriate accommodations.