UPDATE: The deadline has past.
Apply by Monday January 14, 2019 at 5pm New Zealand time using this form.
What is the program about?
The five-week 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. Applicants are encouraged to visit our website for general information about the Institutes: http://exchanges.state.gov/susi
What will the program look like? When will it take place?
The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators will provide three multinational 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 tours 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.
Who is the ideal candidate?
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 secondary education as demonstrated through past scholarship, accomplishments, and professional duties. In addition, the selection committee makes every effort to have both a geographic and gender balance in the makeup of the Institutes.
Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 30-50, highly-motivated and experienced secondary school teachers and 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, both for your participant and participants from other countries.
What do some of our recent alumni of the program have to say?
“In many ways the study tour confirmed the excellent work being done at Otahuhu College” – 2018 SUSI participant, Neil Watson (Otahuhu College Principal)
“It was fantastic to be a learner again. To have the opportunity, time and resources to indulge a teacher’s interest in history, culture and society was an incredible experience. I learnt so much and have returned to New Zealand with a new personal interest in the history of the U.S. and enthusiasm for how I can apply that to my teaching.” – 2016 SUSI participant, Lisa Mave (Head of the Social Sciences Faculty at St Cuthbert’s College)
“I hope to bring back a greater understanding of American contemporary literature. Our students study a number of texts in this category, so bringing back a greater understanding of that will be very beneficial,” – 2016 SUSI participant, Sarah Spicer (Logan Park High School head of drama)
To view blogs about SUSI experiences see: My SUSI Experience: The American Dream.
How to Apply:
Fill in this form and email to MurrayLM@state.gov by Monday January 14, 2019 at 5pm New Zealand time.
Interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place the week of January 21, 2019.
Select applicants will be nominated by the U.S. Embassy New Zealand to main headquarters in Washington D.C. by February 5, 2019. Washington D.C. officials will make the final decision as to whether the applicant may participate in the program.
