U.S. Embassy Bangkok invites interested secondary school educators (high school teachers) to apply for Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Secondary School Educators which will take place early June through July 2018.
Applicants can download the application form on the U.S. Embassy Bangkok website via this link (PDF 251KB).
Applications must be received at the Media and Cultural Section, U.S. Embassy Bangkok no later than Wednesday, December 27, 2017. Applications can be submitted to one of the following addresses:
Post
Media and Cultural Section (Application for 2018 SUSI for Secondary School Educators)U.S. Embassy Bangkok
95 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 2018 SUSI for Secondary School Educators_Your Full Name.”
Applicants will be selected for interview based on the criteria below. Interviews will take place at the Media and Cultural Section of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok in January 2018. Interviewees must be able to travel to the interview site, the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, on the day of their interview. 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 2018.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators (Teachers) 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 to obtain more 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 beginning June 2018. 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 multi-national 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. 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 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, colleges, or other academic institutions, 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 tour to a different region of the United States will complement the four week academic residencies. One goal of the study tours is to showcase the cultural, geographic, and ethnic diversity of the United States.
Two of the Institutes will be tailored for secondary school teachers; 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. The third Institute will be tailored for experienced administrators, including teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, Ministry of Education officials, and others. All three Institutes are being openly competed this fall and will be administered under one award; the selected recipient and sub-recipients will be announced in April 2018.
OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Program Funding: Through a Cooperative Agreement to the selected recipient organization or institution, 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, however, are not guaranteed. 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 institutions 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. Please note that a portion of the program may take place during Ramadan.
Travel Arrangements: The selected recipient organization or institution will arrange and pay for participants’ international travel, travel allowance, and visa related travel costs, within set limits and in coordination with the U.S. Embassy.
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 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.
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 secondary education 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 and/or administrators. 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. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please contact us at BangkokPD@state.gov with the subject line “2018 SUSI for Secondary School Educators.”
- What degree of English proficiency should I 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. 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).
- Can a candidate 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.
- 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.
