Announcement for 2016 Study of the U.S. Institute for Secondary School Educators
The U.S. Embassy, Bangkok, would like to invite interested secondary school educators to apply for Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Secondary School Educators which will take place in early June through mid-July, 2016.
Your application (PDF 83KB) must be submitted by January 8th, 2016 to the following address:
Media and Cultural Section (Application for SUSI for Secondary School Educators)
U.S. Embassy Bangkok
GPF Tower A
10th Floor, 93/1 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
Alternatively, you can email your application to us at Bangkokpd@state.gov with the subject line, stating “Application for SUSI for Secondary School Educators.”
The Media and Cultural Section will contact the applicants selected for interviews based on the criteria below. Interviews will take place at the Media and Cultural Section of the U.S. Embassy, Bangkok, on January 22nd, 2016. Interviewees must be able to travel to the interview site, the U.S. Embassy, Bangkok, on the day. Only selected interviewees will be notified of the details before the interview.
Notification on selection or non-selection of candidates will be made by April 2016.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators are intensive post-graduate level academic programs with integrated study tours whose purpose is to provide foreign secondary 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. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit our website page to obtain general information about the Institutes. The address is: http://exchanges.state.gov/susi.
Pending final Department of State approvals, the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators will take place over the course of five weeks beginning in or after the latter part of May 2016. Three Institutes for Secondary Educators will be offered, two with a focus on classroom teachers and the third with a focus on administrators, 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 (Teachers) will provide two multinational groups of 20 experienced secondary school teachers with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, education, and culture – past and present. The focus of the Institute will be on providing content and materials for participants to develop high school level curricula about the United States. Please note that the main focus of the Institutes for teachers is on content and materials about the United States rather than teaching methods and pedagogy. To this end, the Institutes are organized around a central theme or themes in U.S. civilization. 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 program will also serve to illuminate contemporary political, social, and economic debates in American society. The four week academic residency will be complemented by a one week study tour. The aim of the study tour is to showcase the cultural, geographic, and ethnic diversity of the United States. Pending the Department of State’s grant approval, the University of Montana will host one Institute for 20 teachers beginning in late May, 2016. The second Institute, which will also host 20 teachers, is currently being openly competed.
The Study of the U.S. Institute for Secondary Educators (Administrators) will provide a multinational group of 20 experienced administrators (including 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 program’s theme, “Exploring Access and Equity in U.S. Education and Society” will focus on education, immigration, and civic engagement within U.S. society and culture. The Institute will include an intellectually rigorous academic residency component, meetings with regional educators and prominent community leaders, guided independent research, visits to topically relevant sites, a two-week study tour, and the completion of a research project. Pending the Department of State’s grant approval, the Institute will be hosted by the California State University, Chico and will take place in early June through mid-July, 2016.
OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Program Funding: The Department of State 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. Private room accommodations cannot be guaranteed during the residency portion of the program. 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. The host institution will provide full details in pre-institute communications to participants at least six-weeks in advance of the Institute.
Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied. Travel Arrangements: The U.S. Embassy, Bangkok, will arrange economy class round trip international travel for each competitively selected participant. The host institutions through a grant with the Department of State will cover all travel within the United States during the Institute. 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. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Information on the health benefit program may be found online at usdos.sevencorners.com.
Program Requirements and Restrictions: All participants are expected to participate fully in the program. 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. The Institute is not a research 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 special interest in the institute topic as demonstrated through past scholarship, accomplishments, and professional duties.
Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 30-50, highly-motivated and experienced secondary school educators. These Institutes are for secondary school teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, ministry of education officials, secondary school administrators, or other related professionals with responsibility for secondary education. 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.
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.
Candidates should be willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour. Priority will be given to professionals with little or no prior experience in the United States.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
This FAQ section addresses some commonly asked questions by applicants. If you cannot find an answer to your question please contact us at Bangkokpd@state.gov.
a. 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.
b. To what extent do the Institutes for Secondary Educators cover teaching methods and pedagogy? SUSIs for Secondary Educators focus primarily on content, materials, and education related to the United States. The Institutes for teachers typically include a handful of sessions on teaching methodologies; however these sessions are supplemental to the main focus of the Institute. Teachers more interested in teaching methods and pedagogy rather than U.S. content may wish to apply for the Teaching Excellence in Achievement (TEA) program or the International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP).
c. Can a nominee who is a dual citizen (U.S. and country of origin) participate in Study of the U.S. Institutes? No. U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders