The United States Embassy in Belarus invites Belarusian students to participate in two summer 2019 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on two themes: Civic Engagement and Education and the Future of Work. Deadline for applications is January 5, 2020.
Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders are intensive short-term academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills. The five-week Institutes will consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations and lectures. The coursework and classroom activities will be complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. Each Institute will have 20 participants and will include a four-week academic residency component and a one-week integrated study tour to another region of the United States. During the academic residency, participants will also have the opportunity to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom.
The Study of the U.S. Institute on Civic Engagement, hosted by the University of South Carolina, Columbia, will provide participants with an overview of how citizens have shaped U.S. history, government, and society both as individuals and groups. The academic program will define civic engagement, examine its development in the United States, and explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, and volunteerism. The Institute also includes workshop sessions that will allow participants to develop skills for journalism, storytelling, and media literacy. Study tours to Charleston, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will explore civic engagement through the unique perspective of different communities in the U.S. The program will end in Washington, D.C. where participants from all four Institutes will come together for a closing forum.
The Study of the U.S. Institute on Education and the Future of Work, hosted by the University of Massachusetts-Boston, will explore how technology, the job economy, and skill-based education are interconnected in the United States. The Institute will expose participants to global issues in the context of the future of work by examining educational, social, and economic trends. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the academic program will examine the role of U.S. educational institutions, particularly community colleges, in preparing Americans with the skills needed to succeed in multiple industries and sectors including business, technology, science, higher education, the creative arts, and other fields. Topics will include, but are not limited to, communication, entrepreneurship, globalization and urbanization, innovation and technology, organizational development and management, skills development, and reskilling and retraining. The program will also provide opportunities for participants to engage with educational and industry leaders through site visits around the greater Boston metropolitan area. A study tour to a different region in the United States will explore the theme from a different perspective. The Institute will end in Washington, D.C. where participants from all four Institutes will come together for a closing forum.
The participants are expected to be highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Their fields of study will be varied and may include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and other professional fields.
Candidates nominated for this program will:
· be proficient in English;
· be interested in the Institute topic;
· be between 18 and 25 years of age;
· have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies, and therefore be committed to return to their home universities following completion of the program;
· demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and community activities;
· indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
· have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;
· demonstrate commitment to community and extracurricular university activities;
· have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country;
· be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;
· be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel; and,
· be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to make adjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.
Additional Information:
Housing and Meal Arrangements: Housing will be in shared university dorms on campus with common bathrooms. Male participants will be housed on one-floor and female participants on a separate floor. Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own. It is important that nominees are aware of these arrangements and that they are comfortable with such accommodations. Care will be taken 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 $100,000 with a $25 co-pay per medical visit and $75 co-pay per emergency room visit for the duration of the program. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Information on the health benefit program may be found online at https://www.sevencorners.com/gov/usdos
Program Requirements and Restrictions: Participants are expected to fully participate in the academic program. They should attend all lectures and organized activities, and complete assigned readings. Candidates should be made aware that the Institute is very intensive and that there will be little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program.
English Language Ability: All candidates must be proficient in English so that they can actively participate in the academic program. Host institutions will take into account that the level of comprehension and speaking ability of students may vary and will prepare lectures and discussions that meet the highest academic standards while using language appropriate for students where English is their second or third language.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit program website to obtain general information about the Institutes. The website address is: http://exchanges.state.gov/susi .
The deadline for submitting applications is January 5, 2020. Please submit your applications to: belarusprogram@state.gov.
Application Form can be found here.
Should you have any questions, please write to belarusprogram@state.gov.
