Cultural Programs and Exchange Opportunities
Fact Sheet
Strengthening Egypt – U.S. Ties through People-to-People Exchanges
Throughout the world, the U.S. supports programs that focus on people-to-people relations as a way of fostering mutual understanding with and strengthening ties between Americans and others. For generations, Egyptians and Americans have benefited from a range of academic and professional exchange programs supporting study, partnership building, and collaboration on a broad range of activities. Many of the personal ties forged during these exchange programs endure for decades.
Many American students and scholars have had deeply enriching intellectual experiences studying at Egyptian universities, and in addition to working partnerships have contributed to the world’s understanding and appreciation of Egyptian history and culture. Likewise, the United States has a long tradition of welcoming Egyptians at public and private educational institutions, where they contribute to the intellectual and cultural dynamism of campus life. These exchanges symbolize the broad and deep partnership between Egypt and the United States, which benefits both countries and bring the nations closer together.
Egyptians interested in U.S. study are urged to visit an advising center for prospective students managed by Amideast in Cairo and Alexandria. Amideast is a distinguished nonprofit organization engaged in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa. Many Egyptians who study in the United States, and Americans who study in Egypt, finance their academic programs through private or university-based scholarship or grant programs, which together support more students than government-funded programs.
Academic and Professional Exchange Programs
The programs listed below are funded by the U.S. government to support exchanges between Egypt and the United States. Every year, these programs provide opportunities for hundreds of exchange participants: 1) university level students; 2) youth exchanges for people still in secondary school; 3) senior scholars and artists; 4) teachers and educators; and 5) professionals and technical experts.
I. Opportunities for Students
A. The Fulbright Program:
The Fulbright program is the largest U.S. government program for academic exchanges, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. In Egypt, the program is administered by the bilateral Fulbright Commission, which is the oldest and largest Fulbright program in the Arab world. Since 1949 nearly 5,000 Fulbright scholars have been selected for grants in Egypt or the United States. The Commission has pursued the same mandate for the last six decades: to cultivate mutual understanding through mutual educational exchange.
The Fulbright Student Program promotes leadership development, the study of languages, and the development of international expertise in a wide range of fields among recent graduates, graduate students, and developing professionals and artists. The Program equips future leaders with the skills to thrive in an increasingly global environment by pursuing one academic year of career-launching study or research abroad.
A component of the Fulbright Visiting Student Program is the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program. This Program provides an opportunity for young teachers of English to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of the society and values of the United States while strengthening foreign language instruction at U.S. colleges and universities.
Eligibility: FLTA applicants must be teachers of English or in training to become teachers of English and should possess a university degree at the beginning of the program. Fluency in English is mandatory, demonstrated by a score of no less than 213 (CBT) or 550 (paper-based) on the TOEFL. Applicants must demonstrate maturity, dependability, integrity and professionalism. Applicants should be between 21 and 29 years old at the time of application.
Duration of Programs: One academic year.
For information on eligibility requirements, program duration, contact information and applications for either Fulbright program, please visit the Fulbright Commission website: http://www.fulbright-egypt.org
B. The Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program
This program is part of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program which fosters cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding between young emerging leaders around the world and the United States and it is funded by the U.S. Department of State. Grantees from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia are selected on the basis of merit for scholarships to pursue one year of non-degree undergraduate study at U.S. institutions. Although credits earned at U.S. institutions may not count toward degrees at Egyptian institutions, students obtain a substantial exchange experience through their participation at U.S. colleges or universities, in required community service and internship activities, and academic and cultural workshops.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Egyptian citizens, nationals, or permanent residents qualified to hold a valid passport issued by Egypt. Applicants must be in good academic standing in their first, second, and third year of undergraduate study or final year of secondary school (age 18-25). They must have a desire to engage with U.S. communities and to participate in community service activities.
Applicants must be able to complete coursework in English.
Duration of Program: One academic year.
Contact e-mail: CairoNESA@state.gov
C. The MEPI Student Leaders Institute
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Student Leaders Institutes provide opportunities for young leaders from Egypt to join their peers from across the Middle East and North Africa to participate in an intensive summer leadership training program in the United States. The course also aims to deepen the participant’s understanding of U.S. culture and society.
Eligibility: Egyptian students in their first, second, or third year of undergraduate study with demonstrated leadership and English proficiency.
Duration of Program: Five-week summer program.
Contact e-mail: CairoMEPI@state.gov
D. Tomorrow’s Leaders
The Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship Program offers a four year university-level scholarship and internship opportunities at select institutions of higher learning in the Middle East and North Africa (in Egypt, the American University in Cairo) supported by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). The scholarship supports students from around the Middle East region who are academically qualified and who are otherwise unable to afford higher education. Essential elements of the scholarship include mentoring and internship opportunities with local civil society, business and non-governmental organizations, as well as a U.S.-based study abroad semester for each participant.
Eligibility: This program is open to graduating high school students from traditionally underserved groups. Applicants should demonstrate sufficient English-language skills to participate in U.S. university-level classes. Participants must be citizens of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, West Bank/Gaza, or Yemen and cannot hold U.S. citizenship or be a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident.
Contact Email: MEPIexchanges@state.gov
E. Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders (SUSI)
Hosted by academic institutions throughout the country with funding from the U.S. Department of State, these student leader institutes focus on developing a better understanding of the United States, including an intensive academic component, an educational study tour to other regions of the country, local community service activities, and unique opportunities to get to know American peers.
Eligibility: Egyptian students in their first, second, or third year of undergraduate study with demonstrated leadership and English proficiency.
Duration of Program: Four to six week summer program.
Contact e-mail: CairoSUSI@state.gov
F. Community College Initiative
The Community College Initiative is a program of the U.S. Department of State and is administered in Egypt through the Fulbright Commission. It offers non-degree educational opportunities, professional development, and exposure to American society at U.S. community colleges for young Egyptians between ages 20 - 30 who have completed a secondary degree, either technical or general. Grant duration may range from one to two years and will result in either a “Certificate” in a specialized technical skill or an “Associate Degree” in a general or technical field that may lead to future studies or employment.
Eligibility: Secondary school completion with a technical or general degree
Duration of Program: One or two years
Contact: e-mail: egteam@bfce.eun.eg
G. The Lotus Scholarship Program
The Lotus Scholarship Program offers comprehensive scholarship packages to talented and deserving Egyptian students to obtain undergraduate degrees from Egyptian private universities in fields of studies that are important to Egypt’s current and future development. Supported in Egypt by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the program is managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE) through its MENA Region Office based in Cairo, working in partnership with a consortium of Egyptian private universities and local organizations. The Program also offers an opportunity to spend a semester at a U.S. university for about half of the 100 students selected annually. The program’s web-site is: www.iie.org/lotus
Eligibility: Egyptian students in the last year of public or Azhari high school who have outstanding credentials and financial need.
Duration of Program: Full undergraduate scholarship at Egyptian institutions.
Contact e-mail: lotus@iie-egypt.org
H. The Leadership in Education and Development Program (LEAD)
Each year, two public high school students - one male and one female - from each of the governorates in Egypt are chosen to receive full, undergraduate scholarships to the American University in Cairo. Supported in Egypt by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the program has awarded scholarships to over 350 Egyptian students. About 45% of Egyptian LEAD students spend a semester studying at U.S. universities including Harvard University, Portland State University, the State University of New York, James Madison University, the American University, Bard College and the University of Chicago.
Eligibility: High-achieving, low income, recent high school graduates.
Duration of Program: Five years.
Contact e-mail: LEAD@aucegypt.edu
I. Model American Congress Exchange
Hosted by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, the Model American Congress exchange is funded by the U.S. Department of State. It includes an intensive introduction to the U.S. Congress, an educational study tour to Philadelphia -- the historic ‘birthplace’ of American government -- local community service activities, and an opportunity to see the workings of the U.S. Congress first hand, by working as an intern in a congressional office.
Eligibility: Egyptian students in their second and third year of undergraduate study with demonstrated English-language proficiency, leadership and potential are selected on a competitive basis from participants in Egypt’s Model American Congress program. The Model American Congress programs at Cairo, Fayoum and Pharos universities are open to interested students from any Egyptian university.
Duration of Program: Two-week summer program.
Contact e-mail: Cairoculture@state.gov
J. The American Research Center in Egypt Fellowships
The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1948 by a consortium of educational and cultural institutions to support research on all aspects of Egyptian history and culture, foster broader knowledge among the general public, and strengthen American-Egyptian cultural ties. ARCE is administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers and the American Councils for International Education. It administers research fellowships for students enrolled in doctoral programs at North American universities, and for postdoctoral scholars and professionals affiliated with North American universities and research institutions. Through the fellowship program ARCE also has the capacity to fund Egyptian scholars to conduct research for up to six months in the United States.
Over the course of five decades, ARCE’s fellowship program has benefited more than six hundred scholars, whose research interests span the diversity of Egypt’s periods and cultures. Program alumni include directors and faculty of Middle Eastern studies departments at leading universities in the United States and abroad, and curators of Egyptian and Near Eastern art at major museums and research institutions. The goal of ARCE’s fellowship program is to promote a more profound knowledge of Egypt and the Near East through study and research and to aid in the training of American specialists in academic disciplines that require familiarity with Egypt.
Eligibility: Pre-doctoral and post-doctoral candidates
Duration of Program: Up to six months
Contact e-mail: cairo@arce.org
II. Exchange Opportunities for Youth
A. Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
The Youth Exchange and Study program provides scholarships for high school students (15-17 years) to spend up to one academic year in the United States. Students live with American host families and attend an American high school. They engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about Egyptian culture. For information on eligibility requirements, program duration, contact information and how to apply, please visit the website of the Egyptian Society for Intercultural Exchanges (ESIE) at http://www.afs-egypt.org/.
Eligibility: High school students or recent graduates
Duration of Program: An academic year, September - June
Contact e-mail: info@afs.org
III. Exchange Opportunities for Scholars and Artists
A. Fulbright Scholar Program/Scholar-in-Residence Program
The Fulbright Commission in Egypt was established in 1949, and is the oldest and largest Fulbright program in the Arab world. Since 1949 nearly 5,000 scholars have been American Fulbrighters in Egypt or Egyptian Fulbrighters in the United States. The Commission has pursued the same mandate for the last six decades: to cultivate mutual understanding through mutual educational exchange.
The Fulbright Scholar Program/Scholar in Residence Program offers lecturing/research awards in the United States to Egyptian college and university faculty and administrators, and professionals from business and government, as well as artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, and independent scholars. Information on eligibility requirements, program duration, contact information and how to apply is available on the Fulbright Commission website, http://www.fulbright-egypt.org
Eligibility: Ph.D with relevant teaching experience and English language proficiency.
Duration of Program: Three to ten months
Contact e-mail: usteam@bfce.eun.eg
B. Study of the United States – Scholar Institutes (SUSI)
Study of the United States Scholar Institutes are programs supported by the U.S. Department of State to strengthen curricula and improve the quality of teaching about the United States in educational institutions around the world. Egyptian participants interact with American scholars, meet with experts in their disciplines, visit civic institutions and explore the diversity and culture of the United States. Programs are offered on American Politics and Political Thought, Contemporary American Literature, Journalism and Media, Religious Pluralism in the United States, U.S. Culture and Society, U.S. Foreign Policy, U.S. National Security Policymaking, and Secondary Education
Eligibility: Highly-motivated and experienced professionals from institutions of higher education seeking to introduce or enhance aspects of U.S. studies in their curricula or to offer specialized seminars/workshops in U.S. studies.
Duration of Program: 6 weeks
Contact e-mail: CairoSUSI@state.gov
C. Civic Education and Leadership Fellowship
A program funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) provides Egyptian university teachers and scholars the opportunity to participate in a specialized civic education and leadership program at the Maxwell School for Public Affairs at Syracuse University in New York.
Eligibility: Egyptian university educators and scholars.
Duration of Program: Five months
Contact e-mail: CairoMEPI@state.gov
D. Iowa International Writer’s Workshop
This summer program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, is a globally-renowned ten-week residency program at the University of Iowa for international writers who participate in activities in the fields of writing, translation, and the arts.
Eligibility: The program is designed for established and emerging creative writers, poets, dramatists, and nonfiction writers.
Duration of Program: Three months
Contact e-mail: ExchangesCairo@state.gov
E. Fulbright Specialist Program
The Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) promotes linkages between U.S. academics and professionals and their Egyptian counterparts at host institutions in Egypt. The program is designed to award grants to qualified U.S. faculty and professionals, in select disciplines, to engage in short-term collaborative 2 to 6 week projects. International travel costs and a stipend are funded by the U.S. Department of State. Participating host institutions cover grantee in-country expenses or provide in-kind services.
Project activities focus on strengthening and supporting the development needs of host institutions abroad and do not fund personal or clinical medical research and related projects involving patient contact. Eligible activities include short-term lecturing, conducting seminars, teacher training, special conferences or workshops, as well as collaborating on curriculum planning, institutional and/or faculty development.
U.S. faculty and professionals apply to join a Roster of Specialists for a 5 year term. Roster candidates are reviewed by peers in the same discipline, and by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB).
Eligible institutions wanting to host a Fulbright Specialist submit project applications through the Fulbright Commissions in Egypt. Projects must be reviewed and approved by the Fulbright office in their home country and the U.S. Department of State. For additional information see the Fulbright Commission website: http://www.fulbright-egypt.org
Eligibility: U.S. faculty and professionals
Duration of Program: 2-6 weeks
Contact e-mail: usteam@bfce.eun.eg
IV. Exchange Opportunities for Teachers
A. Secondary School Educators Institutes Program
The Secondary School Educators Institutes provide secondary educators with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, education, and culture, past and present. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the programs are organized around a central theme or themes in U.S. studies and have a strong contemporary component.
Eligibility: Highly-motivated, experienced secondary school educators or teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, or Ministry of Education officials.
Duration of Program: 6 weeks
Contact e-mail: CairoSUSI@state.gov
B. Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)
This program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, brings outstanding secondary teachers to the United States to further develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States.
Eligibility: Secondary-level, full-time teachers with five or more years of classroom experience in either English as a Foreign Language, Social Sciences (social studies, civics, history, or geography) or Math and Sciences.
Duration of Program: Six weeks of professional development including a two-week internship.
Contact e-mail: CairoTEA@state.gov
C. International Leaders in Education Program
This program invites outstanding secondary school teachers from the Near East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and Latin America to the United States for a semester to further develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States.
Eligibility: Secondary-level, full-time teachers with five or more years of classroom experience in select areas.
Duration of Program: Semester-long graduate course and an 8-week internship.
Contact e-mail: cairoilep@state.gov
V. Exchange Opportunities for Professionals
A. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
The Humphrey Program provides a year of professional enrichment and non-degree graduate-level study in the United States for accomplished mid-level Egyptian professionals in a wide range of areas. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed in Egypt by the Fulbright Commission. For information on eligibility requirements, program duration, contact information and how to apply, please visit the Fulbright Commission website: http://www.fulbright-egypt.org
Eligibility: Mid-career professionals
Duration of Program: 10-month non-degree programs
Contact e-mail: egteam@bfce.eun.eg
B. Fortune/State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Program
Fortune, a leading American business magazine and the U.S Department of State established the Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership in May 2006. This public-private partnership places talented, emerging women leaders from all over the world in mentoring programs with some of the women identified by Fortune as America’s Most Powerful Women Leaders. The program includes a three-day orientation in Washington, D.C., where the participants meet with senior women in government, academia and business. The international participants are then paired with one of the women leaders for an approximately three-week mentorship assignment in cities across the United States. During the three weeks, American and international participants work together in mentoring relationships to share the skills and experiences necessary for strengthening women’s leadership. Each participant will have the opportunity to shadow a senior executive and engage in activities specifically designed by the company to meet the needs and interests of the participant.
Eligibility: Emerging self-motivated women leaders in the business and non-profit sectors, between the ages of 28 - 43 with good English language skills.
Duration of Program: Four weeks
Contact e-mail: Exchangescairo@state.gov
C. Leaders for Democracy Fellowship
Funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), this program provides young civic and democratic reform leaders from the Middle East and North Africa with the opportunity to complete academic coursework at Syracuse University in New York; to participate in practical, skill-building experiences, with Washington, DC-based civil society organizations; and to network with like-minded reformers and activists inside and outside the region.
Eligibility: The program is open to applicants age 25 - 40 with a bachelor's degree, five years of work experience and sufficient English language fluency to function successfully in an American academic and professional environment. Duration of Program: 3 months
Contact e-mail: CairoMEPI@state.gov
D. Borlaug Program
The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program aims to promote food security and economic growth by increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity. It accomplishes this by:
- Providing training opportunities for early and mid-career researchers and policymakers from developing and middle-income countries;
- Fostering collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity;
- Facilitating the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies to strengthen agricultural practices
- Addressing obstacles to the adoption of technology, such as ineffectual policies and regulations.
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Priority Research Areas: Areas of training and research can be in any agriculture-related field including plant pathology, entomology, veterinary sciences, microbiology, agricultural economics, food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary topics, natural resources management, agricultural biotechnology, global climate change, and agricultural policy. Allowable training topics vary by country and year and can be found in the country-specific application announcements posted on the website.
Training Venues: Training venues include U.S. universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or other U.S. government agency research facilities, and not-for-profit institutions.
Length of Fellowships: Fellowships can run from six to twelve weeks depending on research topic and funding available.
Contact e-mail: agcairo@fas.usda.gov
E. Cochran Fellowship Program
The Cochran Fellowship program provides high quality training to help middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies improve their agricultural systems and strengthen and enhance trade links with the United States.
The program provides U.S.-based agricultural training opportunities for agriculturalists from middle-income countries, emerging markets and emerging democracies.
Priority Areas: Training opportunities are for agricultural professionals, including senior and mid-level specialists and administrators working in agricultural trade and policy, agribusiness development, management, animal, plant, and food sciences, extension services, agricultural marketing, and many other areas. Since its inception in 1984, the Cochran Fellowship Program has provided U.S.-based training for over 14,300 international participants from 123 countries worldwide. Approximately 25 Egyptians will participate in the Cochran Fellowship program in 2011-2012.
Training Venues: State universities, with field visits to farms and ranches.
Length of Fellowships: 2-3 weeks in the United States.
Contact: agcairo@fas.usda.gov