Participants spend approximately four weeks at host universities where they take part in a series of lectures, seminar discussions and site visits related to each Institute’s theme. The programs provide educators with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The program goal is to strengthen curricula and to enhance the quality of teaching about the United States in secondary schools and other academic institutions abroad.
Each Institute concludes with a one week study tour, which complements the academic program and includes visits to sites of interest in another region of the country. The aim of the study tour is to showcase the cultural, geographic, and ethnic diversity of the United States.
The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary School Educators will provide three multinational groups of 20 experienced secondary school educators (including secondary school 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. Two of the Institutes are tailored for secondary school teachers and the third Institute is tailored for experienced administrators including teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, Ministry of Education officials, and others.
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 illuminate contemporary political, social, and economic debates in American society. The four-week academic residencies will take place at U.S. university and college campuses 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. Study tours will complement the academic residencies and showcase the cultural, geographic, and ethnic diversity of the United States. The program features curriculum based on the study of how America’s foundations and historical development have shaped and continue to inform U.S. politics, economics, and society. Community service activities are a key cultural component of the program and provide participants with a first-hand experience of how volunteerism plays a vital role in U.S. civil society. The program will offer multiple opportunities for follow-on engagement through alumni webinars, grant-funded follow-on projects, social media, and an alumni workshop.
Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 30-50, highly motivated, experienced secondary school teachers and administrators whose students are approximately 14-18 years of age. Candidates should have little or no prior experience in the United States. Ideal candidates come from home institutions seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. studies into its curricula, to develop new courses in the Institute subject, to enhance and update existing courses on the United States, or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for professionals in U.S. studies areas related to the program theme. Ideal candidates will seek to learn about U.S. studies, with an understanding that pedagogy is not the focus of the program.
Institutes are rigorous and demanding academic programs conducted entirely in English. Participants will be expected to read and comprehend substantial written materials and 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, for participants as individuals and to foster a cohesive and interactive group.
Finnish citizenship is not required. However, candidates recommended for the program from Finland will need to demonstrate how their participation in the SUSI program will further contribute to their efforts in teaching/education/research in Finland.
Please note that U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders) are not eligible for the program. Participants who have taken part in past SUSI programs are not eligible to apply. Relatives of U.S. embassy or the Fulbright Finland Foundation employees are not eligible to apply.
Program Funding: The program will cover all participant costs, including program administration; travel allowances, domestic travel, and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing, and incidental allowances; and housing and subsistence; as well as arrange and pay for participants’ international and visa travel costs and travel allowances within set limits and in coordination with the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the U.S. Embassy Helsinki.
Housing and Meal Arrangements: When possible, each participant will have a private room with a shared bathroom during the residency portion (four weeks) of the Institute. However, private room accommodations are not guaranteed. During the study tour (one week), participants will likely share a hotel room with another participant of the same gender. During the residency, housing will typically be in college or university owned housing or nearby hotels. Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own. Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied. Special accommodations will be made available to the greatest extent possible.
Health Benefits: While all participants will receive the Department of State's supplemental health benefit ASPE (with a $25 co-pay per medical visit and a $75 co-pay per emergency room visit) for the duration of the program, participants are responsible for their own comprehensive health and travel insurance for the duration of the program. (Information on the health benefit program may be found online at https://www.sevencorners.com/gov/usdos).
Program Requirements and Restrictions: Participants must attend all lectures and organized activities and complete assigned readings. Family members and/or friends may not accompany participants on any part of the program. Note that Institute curriculum will not formally address teaching methodology and pedagogical methods. Institutes focus on U.S. studies, with only a brief focus on the U.S. education system itself. The Institute is not a research program.
Should health, safety, and travel conditions pose significant challenges, the programs may pivot to a modified virtual format. If the program is conducted virtually, the same participation requirements apply.
Expectations: Violations of program rules, U.S. host institution rules, or U.S. local, state or federal laws can be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
The University of Montana in Missoula, MT will oversee and administer the three SUSIs for Secondary Educators.
The application form and CV should be submitted by November 12 via this SurveyMonkey link: SUSI Secondary Educators Application Submission
One letter of recommendation from an individual who knows you in a professional capacity is to be uploaded by the recommender via this link by the application deadline: SUSI Recommendation Letters
Application form: Here is the application form for Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary School Educators.
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 little or no prior experience in the United States, and who have special interest in the program subject areas as demonstrated through past accomplishments and professional duties.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the U.S. State Department’s The Study of the U.S. Branch website to obtain general information about the Institutes.
Applicants that pass an initial screening will be invited for a compulsory interview.
The interviews will take place virtually via Teams/Zoom on December 4, 2024. Candidates invited to the interviews will be notified via email by November 26, 2024.
The Fulbright Finland Foundation does not cover expenses resulting from the interview. The Fulbright Finland Foundation will select applications to be forwarded to the U.S. for consideration. Read more about the selection process and preparing for the interview here.
Final review of the international candidates and selection of the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary School Educator and Administrator nominees from the multinational candidate pool will be conducted by the Study of the U.S. Branch of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Fulbright Finland Foundation organizes a mandatory full day pre-departure orientation for all Finnish Fulbright Finland grantees in May, 2025 (Date TBC). All grantees are expected to attend.
The applications are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board, and the interviews focus on the following attributes. The Foundation does not provide feedback on individual applications, their review process or on any single grant decision.
| Application period starts | September 2024 |
| Application period ends | November 12, 2024 |
| Interview invitations are sent out | November 26, 2024 |
| Interviews | December 4, 2024 |
| Selections are made | by early April |
| Pre-Departure Orientation for all Fulbright Finland Grantees to the U.S. | May, 2025 (date TBC) |
| Program starts | Late May - Early June 2025 |
My Exchange Experience in Big Sky Country
Maria Virokannas
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary School Educators
Summer 2022
SUSI meets SISU
Päivi Parkkonen
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary School Educators
Summer 2018
Fulbright Finland Outreach Ambassadors are happy to share their experiences from the U.S. Feel free to contact them.
The Study of the U.S. Branch, U.S. Department of State
The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is
