Assistance program
Academic Exchange Programs - Teachers
$92.9 Million committed in FY2018–FY2026
- Agency
- Bureau of Educational and Cultural, State, Department of
- Assistance
- Cooperative Agreements
- CFDA number
- 19.408
- What it does
- As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and educators. ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world. Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today. ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society – including young people, women, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals – increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans. The purpose of the Teacher Exchange programs is to provide K-12 educators from the United States and around the world with the opportunity to enhance their teaching, leadership and technology skills through professional development and exchange. Educators participate in seminars, teach, observe best practices, pursue individualized research and develop courses with the goal of globalizing school and classroom curricula and preparing students for an interconnected world. Through these exchanges, K-12 educators become leaders in global education, which is integral to building students’ skills for the 21st century. The Community College Administrators Program improves technical and vocational education at the post-secondary level by bringing high-level college administrators and officials with higher education planning responsibilities to the United States for a six-week professional development seminar. The Program examines the key tenets of community college administration and cutting-edge programs at U.S. community colleges that address local workforce development needs.