The Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program is a professional development opportunity for K–12 school and district administrators from the U.S. These administrators will travel to Finland for a 10-day immersive, international experience, and they will gain a deeper understanding of their roles as leaders in creating students who are ready for the global economy.
"I was able to engage in deep learning while being in school and university environments that enhanced my experience. Learning from Finnish educators and scholars caused me to reflect, question and shape my thinking around our US educational systems of support. I will forever be grateful for my FLGS experience and the relationships I built with my Finnish and American friends. Thank you Fulbright Finland Foundation and the US State Department of Education and Cultural Affairs."
- Michele Miller, Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program participant 2019
The Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program in Finland will consist of briefings, panel discussions, seminars, and events with the aim to provide an overview of Finland’s education system (at national, municipal and school level), school leadership, National Core Curriculum, teacher training, and other relevant themes. Participants will visit schools in different parts of Finland, and the program will include an introduction to Finnish culture through cultural events and engagement.
The Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools fellowship covers program related costs including travel, lodging, professional development, and cultural activities.
At the time of application, the applicants must have the following:
"Just like the Finnish Education system itself, the Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools program was an experiential, phenomenon-based, and cross-curricular undertaking. An emphasis on (modern) competencies and the wellness of the child as a whole was an obvious consideration in how the program was organized and planned. I am taking back with me the real-world applications of a curriculum that is based upon competencies and the application of knowledge, trust in the educators who have been charged with the implementation of instructing our students, and a focus on the wellness of the individual child."
- 2019 Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program Participant.
Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Current IREX employees and consultants and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, and siblings) are not eligible to compete in any grant programs that IREX implements. The U.S. Department of State and IREX do not discriminate against grant applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law. This program promotes diversity in education. It supports inclusion and strongly encourages applicants with disabilities to apply.
Prior participants in the Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program are not eligible to apply.
Applications are reviewed and nominated by an independent committee of experts. Finalists are recommended to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for approval.
Interested candidates should review more information at the Fulbright Teacher Exchanges website.
"I see the Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools program as a critical component of cross-pollination of good ideas between countries. Other Fulbright exchanges are wonderful, and can change the careers of individual teachers and the students they teach. However, having school leaders directly involved in their own exchanges (with first-hand learning about global education best practices) is perhaps the most powerful way to ensure that innovative best practices in education are implemented broadly. Principals and other school leaders are in a position to help directly implement innovations in a way that touches a broad spectrum of teachers, students, and families."
- 2019 Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Participant.
Alumni Experiences
Read the blog of Vanessa Jones here.
Click here to read the Daily Courier article on former Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools participant Clark Tenney.
Check out Fulbright Finland News 1/2019 and Fulbright Finland News 1/2022 for articles about the U.S. Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools programs in Finland.
Check out the diary and photos from the 2024 cohort's transformative journey through Finnish schools, universities, EDUCA event, and nature!
The Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX in the U.S. and Fulbright Finland Foundation in Finland.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. ECA strives to achieve this goal through a wide range of international exchanges as authorized by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. ECA works in close cooperation with U.S. Embassies and bilateral Fulbright Commissions overseas to promote personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad.
The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is
Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.
