Public Affairs Section
The application deadline for 2009 has ended.
2009 STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATORS
We are pleased to invite applications for the Study of the United States Institutes for Secondary School Educators to take place over the course of six weeks beginning in mid June 2009.
The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators provides multinational groups of secondary educators (English teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, ministry of education officials, etc.) with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, education, and culture, past and present.
The programs are organized around a central theme or themes in U.S. civilization and will have a strong contemporary component. Through a combination of traditional, multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, the programs will elucidate the history and evolution of U.S. educational institutions and values. The programs also serve to illuminate contemporary political, social, and economic debates in American society. The ultimate goal is to strengthen curricula and to improve the quality of teaching about the United States in secondary schools and other academic institutions abroad.
One of these institutes will take place at the Institute for Training and Development in Amherst, Massachusetts. The second host institution is the University of Illinois, Chicago. Specific program information will be posted on the program website as soon as it becomes available.
Other Essential Program Information
Program Funding:
The program will cover all participant costs, including: program administration; international and domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing, incidental allowances and housing and subsistence.
Housing and Meal Arrangements:
Typically, participants will have a private room with a shared bathroom during the residency portion (four weeks) of the institute, and will have to share a hotel room during the study tour (up to two weeks). 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. Full details will be given at a later stage.
Health Benefits:
All participants will receive the Department of State's coverage of $50,000 with a $25 deductible for the duration of the program. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
Program Requirements and Restrictions:
Participants are expected to participate fully in the program. They are expected to attend all lectures and organized activities, and complete assigned readings. Family members and/or friends cannot accompany participants on any part of the program. Please note that teaching methodology and pedagogical methods will not be addressed formally in the institute. The institute should not be viewed as a research program.
Candidate description and qualifications:
Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 25-50, highly-motivated and experienced secondary educators. The ideal candidate will be a secondary teacher, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, textbook writer, ministry of education official, or other related professional with responsibility for secondary education.
The ideal candidate will also be an experienced professional with little or no prior experience in the United States, whose home institution is seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. studies into its curricula, to develop new courses in the subject of the institute, to enhance and update existing courses on the United States, or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for education professionals in U.S. studies
Candidates should be willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour and be comfortable with campus life and an active program schedule.
It is imperative that all candidates demonstrate English language fluency.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit The Branch of the Study of the United States website to obtain general information about the FY-08 Institutes at: http://exchanges.state.gov/academicexchanges/scholars.html
2009 SUSI Application Form (PDF - 23.5 kB)
Please submit your application by e-mail, no later than Friday, January 30, 2009 to the Embassy of the United States, Cultural and Exchanges Assistant Mirka McIntire, e-mail: McIntireMH@state.gov