Academic & Professional Exchanges

Our programs foster the sharing of information on U.S. society, values and expertise with interested Haitian audiences through professional, academic and cultural exchange programs. These programs, which are at the heart of the section’s work, seek to promote the free exchange of information and ideas, capacity building, and to increase understanding between the citizens of the United States and Haiti.


Academic Exchanges

Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S. and about our programs in Haiti.

The English Access Micro Scholarship Program (ACCESS) provides a foundation of English language and basic computer skills to bright, economically disadvantaged students primarily 13 to 21 years old in Port-au-Prince, Haiti through after-school classes and intensive sessions. The ACCESS program exposes students to U.S. culture and democratic values, improve the students’ potential to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of their countries, and increase their chances of competing for and participating in future U.S. exchange and study programs.

The students are participating in a two-year intensive English course, computer skills with enhancement activities to strengthen their leadership capacities. The courses are taught at Union School in Port-au-Prince and Université Laferrière Joseph in Cap-Haitian.

Program currently unavailable

Deadline: March 12 2020

More Information (PDF 152 KB)
Application Form (PDF 160 KB)

Application Deadline : May 1st, 2023

Established in 1946 by Congress, the Fulbright Program is named after former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright.The Office of Public Diplomacy of the Embassy of the United States is pleased to announce its annual open competition scholarship program for the 2024- 2025 academic year. The Fulbright Foreign Student program was established by the Government of the United States of America with the objective of fostering mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other nations. Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria in order to be judged in comparison to other applicants by a selection committee. Please visit the Embassy website and social media pages regularly for announcements.

Deadline: April 2, 2021

The Faculty Development Program is designed for professors and university administrators, currently teaching in Haiti. Applicants should intend to return to their position at their home institution upon completion of the program, continue their teaching responsibilities, and apply newly gained knowledge and experience. The goal of the program model is to introduce participants to best practices and theoretical approaches to curriculum development in the U.S. and provide them with concrete strategies on how to develop curriculum for a course, including an overview of academic and research resources. During the program, fellows will be expected to research and develop a course description, syllabus and outline specific teaching strategies for their proposed course.

How to apply (PDF 170 KB)

Application Deadline : December 15, 2022

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD Program) is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State that provides to a diverse group of emerging undergraduate student leaders, a substantive exchange experience for one semester or one academic year in a non-degree program.  Students will be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program in the United States and will live on the university campus. The students will have the opportunity to receive in-depth exposure of the U.S. society, culture and academic institutions. Students must complete at least one year of undergraduate study in Haiti before they begin the Global UGRAD program and they must return to their home country upon completion of the program. Scholarships are available for all academic fields and students aged 24 or younger may apply. Students must be proficient in English (minimum TOEFL score: 500).  English language training may be available for selected students. Once accepted students will travel to the U.S. in the fall or winter. They must return to Haiti after completing the program. Advertisements for this program are made through universities and we encourage universities with a four-year curriculum to name students.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 1ST, 2022

1. Summary: The Office of Public Diplomacy of the Embassy of the United States is pleased to announce its annual open competition for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. This one-year, full scholarship program is offered to individuals working either in the public or private sector who have a proven track record of leadership, a public service commitment, and the capacity to take full advantage of a self-defined program of independent study at a leading university. Since 2002, women have comprised about 40 percent of the Humphrey class; therefore, qualified women are encouraged to apply.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange, enhances leadership among international professionals who collaborate to address local and global challenges and foster change for our collective good. Through academic study and professional development with U.S. counterparts, this growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in fields of critical importance to advance societal and institutional capacity, promote human rights and freedoms, ensure sustainable lands, and develop thriving communities. By providing future leaders and policy makers with experience in U.S. higher education, society, culture, and professional organizations, the program provides a basis for lasting, productive ties between Americans and their professional counterparts overseas. The application deadline is July 1st, 2022.

2. Program Description:
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was established in 1978 as a Fulbright exchange that advances U.S. foreign policy goals through the exchange of mid-career professionals representing approximately 140 eligible countries from all world regions. Humphrey Fellows work in critical fields for collaboration, such as law and human rights, public health, including infectious diseases, climate change, and public policy. A recent evaluation found that 61 percent of Humphrey alumni return home and work in government in some capacity. Others are leaders in their fields driving policy, introducing new best practices, and implementing innovative management methods into their organizations. Additionally, 46 percent of alumni report having developed national policies, created national programs, served as national trainers, and/or advised government officials on legislation in their home countries. During their fellowship, Humphrey Fellows participate in non-degree study at approximately 13 host campuses across the United States and complete at least six weeks of a professional affiliation at a U.S.-based governmental, non-governmental, private sector, or international organization. Through their academic and professional experiences, they gain knowledge about the United States, deepen their professional expertise and experience in their field, and expand their networks to include U.S. and international counterparts.  Humphrey alumni are well positioned to serve as key interlocutors for posts around the world, helping achieve U.S. foreign policy goals and advance bilateral relationships. Alumni have lasting impacts on their communities, applying knowledge and skills acquired through their Fellowships to effect broad change across their organizations and fields of expertise.

3. Program Components:

a. Non-Degree Academic Study: Humphrey Fellows pursue tailored study programs at participating host institutions, where freedom from the requirements of a degree program gives each Fellow the flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program at a host campus. Approximately 13 U.S. campuses have been selected through a competitive process based on their ability to offer institutional and professional resources to host cohorts of Fellows in designated fields of study. Humphrey Fellows may not request placement at a particular university. Each campus has at least one designated faculty coordinator for academic and administrative support. In addition, faculty advisors assist Fellows in pursuing balanced academic and professional programs. Even though Fellows will spend time in an academic setting and are able to enroll in classes, the Humphrey Fellowship Program is classified as a non-degree program by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Humphrey Fellows cannot transfer from non-degree status to degree status under any circumstances during their program.

b. Leadership and Professional Development: Professional enrichment activities include professional visits, enhancement skills workshops, conferences, training programs, and a professional affiliation (placement). The professional affiliation provides firsthand exposure to a U.S. work environment on a full-time basis for a minimum period of six weeks. These professional affiliations strengthen Fellows’ connections with American colleagues and allow them to contribute directly to U.S. communities by bringing a global perspective to issues in their professional fields. Early in the academic year, each Fellow develops, with assistance from the local campus coordinator and faculty advisors, a detailed plan of practical professional activities geared to the Fellow’s program objectives.

4. Fields of Study:
Human and Institutional Capacity:

  • Economic Development
  • Finance & Banking
  • Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
  • Technology Policy and Management
  • Human Resource Management

Rights and Freedoms: 

  • Communications and Journalism
  • International Religious Freedom
  • Law and Human Rights
  • Trafficking in Persons Policy & Prevention

Sustainable Lands:

  • Agricultural and Rural Development
  • Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change
  • Urban and Regional Planning

Thriving Communities:

  • Contagious and Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health Policy and Management
  • HIV&AIDS, Policy, and Prevention
  • Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention (see 4b)
  • Educational Administration, Planning, and Policy
  • Higher Education Administration
  • Teaching English as a Foreign Language

5. English Language Training

In an effort to engage with candidates from non-elite populations, rural areas, minority groups, and others who may be excellent candidates but are lacking the necessary language skills, English language training is available for nominees with lower TOEFL scores. Currently, two opportunities for English training in the United States are available to prepare Fellows to participate in the academic year Humphrey Fellowship: 1) Long-Term English (LTE) language training is an intensive 16-week program; and 2) Pre-Academic English (Pre-Ac) language training is an intensive eight-week course. English language training participants will train together in groups at different campuses and then transfer to their academic-year host campuses after completing LTE or Pre-Ac.

6. Eligibility Requirements:
a. Appropriate candidates are mid-career professionals in leadership positions who have demonstrated a commitment to public service and the potential for professional advancement.

b. Candidates should have both the need to participate in the program and the potential to benefit from it. Accordingly, they should demonstrate the required experience, skills, and commitment while also indicating how they can benefit from this program in ways that they have not experienced previously and are not likely to experience without the Humphrey Fellowship. Applicants with distinguished records and no compelling need for the Humphrey experience are not appropriate candidates.

c. Individuals must hold a passport (or be eligible to hold a passport) of the country nominating them.

d. Prospective Fellows should have a minimum of five years full-time professional experience (prior to August 2023) in the relevant field and should be interested in the policy aspects of their field of specialization. Please note that candidates must have completed a university degree program requiring at least four years of full-time study to qualify for participation in U.S. graduate study programs.

e. Candidates should generally be proficient in both written and spoken English as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 525 (paper based) or 71 (internet-based), although exceptionally promising candidates with lower scores may be nominated and will be considered for one of the two English training programs (LTE and Pre-Ac).

f. U.S. universities require current English language test scores for Humphrey candidates from all countries outside the English-speaking Caribbean.  All nominees should take the TOFEL.

7. Application Forms:
a. IIE utilizes Slate as its online application system. https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey is the link for applicants.

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators (SUSIs) are intensive post-graduate level academic programs that provide foreign secondary school educators and administrators the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions

The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators (SUSIs) 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 Institutes focus on providing content and materials for participants to develop high school level curricula about the United States

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.  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.  A key cultural component of the program involves community service activities, which will 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.

 

Travel Arrangements:

For all Institutes, the implementing partner (UM) will arrange and pay for international and visa travel. The host institution will provide each participant with a small travel allowance

Candidate description and qualifications

Ideal candidates are individuals whose home institution is seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. studies into its curricula, to develop new courses in the subject of the Institute, 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. Also:

  • candidates must demonstrate English language proficiency (speaking, reading, writing, listening).
  • Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 30-50, highly motivated, experienced secondary school teachers and administrators.
  • Candidates should be willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program
How to apply:

Submit a Curriculum Vitae and a signed recommendation letter from employer by midnight (EST) Friday, January 13, 2023, to: papacademicprograms@state.gov

The Study of the U.S. Branch (ECA/A/E/USS) is pleased to invite candidate nominations from posts for a summer 2023 Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders from Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama interested in the topic of Women’s Leadership for Indigenous and Afro-Latina Women.  The five-week program will be conducted in Spanish and will take place in-person at the University of Arizona in Tucson beginning in July 2023; exact dates will be communicated at the time of selection.  Should health, safety, and travel conditions continue to pose significant challenges, the program will pivot to a modified virtual format.

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders are intensive short-term academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.  Each Institute hosts 20 participants.

The SUSI on Women’s Leadership for Indigenous and Afro-Latina Women will provide participants with an overview of women leaders in the U.S. in government, business, the private sector, and academia.  Topics may include, but are not limited to, history of women’s rights in the United States, women’s gender and racial issues including the struggle of the LGBTQI community for inclusion in the United States and Latin America, current challenges in global women’s issues such as the economic impact of the pandemic on women and girls’ lives, and the increasing role of indigenous and Afro-Latina women in their countries.

Candidate description and qualifications :
  • demonstrate Spanish language proficiency (speaking, reading, writing, listening).
  • demonstrate interest in the topic of Women’s Leadership.
  • be between 18 and 25 years of age.
  • have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies and be committed to returning to their home universities following completion of the program.
  • demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and community activities.
  • indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States.
  • have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher recommendations.
  • demonstrate commitment to community service and extracurricular university activities.
  • have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country.
  • be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive.
  • be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel; and
  • be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to adjust to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.
How to apply :

Submit a Curriculum Vitae and a signed recommendation letter from employer by midnight (EST) Friday, January 13, 2023, to: papacademicprograms@state.gov

Application Deadline: April 3rd, 2023

The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program will bring international secondary-level teachers to the United States for a six-week program to take academic seminars for professional development at a host university and to observe and share their expertise with teachers and students at the host university and at local secondary schools.

N.B.: The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program will be conducted entirely in ENGLISH.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 30TH 2022

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks, and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses. By promoting women’s economic opportunities and ensuring that women have the capabilities and resources needed to participate in the economy, the AWE program directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.

AWE uses a hybrid model that combines the online platform DreamBuilder (developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan) with in-class mentoring and facilitation. Through AWE, participants learn core business skills, then get together as a class to discuss the material with experienced implementers, local mentors, and U.S. Exchange Alumni. Partnerships with local NGOs, universities, and chambers of commerce offer women the opportunity to amplify their newly learned business skills and network with other businesspeople through speed mentoring, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship fairs.

At a local level, AWE harnesses the power of public-private sponsors, local partnerships, and U.S. Exchange Alumni networks to help women and their businesses grow. A 2021 evaluation of the program showed that 74 percent of women who complete the AWE program increase their business earnings and 29 percent hire more staff. By giving women the tools and the confidence they need, the AWE program is generating income and creating jobs in women-led businesses, driving local prosperity in more than 80 countries worldwide.