The U.S. Embassy, Bangkok, would like to invite interested secondary school educators (teachers) to apply for Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Secondary School Educators which will take place in early June through July, 2017.
Your application (Download form) must be submitted by January 16th, 2017 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 25th, 2017. 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 2017.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The Study of the U.S. Institute for Secondary Educators (Teachers) is an intensive post-graduate level academic program with integrated study tours whose purpose is to provide foreign secondary educators the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The ultimate goal of the Institute 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.
The Study of the U.S. Institute for Secondary Educators will take place over the course of five weeks in the beginning of June 2017. This year, only one Institute for Secondary Educators will be offered, with a focus on classroom teachers. The 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. Institute for Secondary Educators (Teachers) will provide one multinational group 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 Institute for teachers is on content and materials about the United States rather than teaching methods and pedagogy. To this end, the Institute is 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 Department of State grant approval, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will host the Institute for 20 teachers beginning in June 2017.
OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Program Funding: Through a Cooperative Agreement to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 Department of State will also 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 teachers. 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.
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. It is important that candidates are likely to be comfortable with campus life and an active program schedule.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
This FAQ section addresses some commonly asked questions by posts. If you cannot find an answer to your question please contact us at BangkokPD@state.gov with the subject line, stating “2017 SUSI for Secondary School Educators.”
- What degree of English proficiency should you 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.
- 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.
- 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) are NOT eligible to participate in this program.
- I have been to the U.S. before; would I be disqualified? No. Candidates with some experience in the United States can be considered for the program. Please be sure to clearly indicate the purpose of your visit(s) to the United States, the year, and the length of your stay as requested on the application form. Preference will be given to nominees with little or no experience in the United States.
- 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 Secondary Educator Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the U.S. after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
- If a candidate 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 Secondary Educator 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.
- g. 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 Secondary Educator Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the U.S. after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
- Can a participant stay after the end of the Institute? Yes. Under the terms of their J-1 visas, participants generally have up to 30 days after the end of the program to depart from the U.S. However, the participant must be aware that he/she is responsible for all arrangements and expenses after the end of the Institute and will no longer have Department of State-sponsored health benefits.
- Can a participant miss one part or component of the Institute? No. All participants are expected to participate in all scheduled lectures, events, site visits, trips, and activities.
- 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 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. Participants will receive a stipend to purchase books and research materials while in the United States.
- 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, please identify disabilities in the application so that we can begin working with our Institute hosts to ensure appropriate accommodations.
