Study of the U.S. Institutes for students in Social Entrepreneurship

The Embassy of the United States of America and Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission are proud to announce Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders from Europe 2017 program for students interested in Social Entrepreneurship.

The program will take place in June and July 2017; exact dates will be communicated at a later time. The Institutes will be administered by FHI 360, pending the availability of funds and ECA award approval. The Institute will be hosted by the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga. The deadline for candidate applications to be received is midnight on Friday, January 20, 2017.

Program Description:

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders from Europe 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. The SUSI programs for Student Leaders from Europe are five-week Institutes that consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. Each Institute will have up to 22 participants and will include a four-week academic residency component and a one-week integrated study tour. The coursework and classroom activities will be complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. During the academic residency, participants will also have the opportunity to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom.

Institute Description:

The Study of the U.S. Institute for European Student Leaders on Social Entrepreneurship will examine social entrepreneurship in the United States, including the development, history, challenges, and successes of U.S. social enterprises. The program will be interactive and experiential, and will combine classroom instruction with panel discussions, business visits, and volunteer opportunities. The Institute will give participants a foundation in how to employ entrepreneurial skills to address social issues and will provide opportunities to meet with American local community leaders. The Institute may address topics such as business ethics, negotiations, emerging markets and risk analysis, microfinance, corporate social responsibility, strategic business planning and innovation, and women and minorities in entrepreneurship. The academic residency will be complemented by an educational tour that will take participants to another area of the U.S. where they will meet with local, state, private, and not-for-profit organizations working in the field. The Institute will then conclude with a visit to Washington, D.C. The Institute on Social Entrepreneurship will be hosted by the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, pending the availability of funds and ECA award approval.

Other Essential Program Information:

Program Funding:  All program-related costs will be fully covered.

Housing and Meal Arrangements: Housing will be in shared university dorms on campus with common bathrooms. Participants may be expected to share a room with another student of the same gender. Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own.

Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State’s coverage of $100,000 with a $25 co-pay for the duration of the program. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Information on the health benefit program may be found online on the Department of State’s website: http://usdos.sevencorners.com.

Program Requirements and Restrictions: Participants are expected to fully participate in the academic program. They should attend all lectures and organized activities, and complete assigned readings. Candidates should be made aware that the Institutes are very intensive and that there will be little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program.

Under no circumstances are participants allowed to arrive in the U.S. prior to the start date of the Institute or remain in the U.S. after its end date. Similarly, participants will not be permitted to leave the Institute to visit relatives or friends while in the U.S. If a relative or friend wishes to visit them, it will be addressed on a case by case basis in consultation with the ECA program officer and the host institution. Participants are required to return to their home countries immediately following the end of the Institute.

Violations of program rules, host institution rules, or local, state or federal laws can be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.

English Language Ability: All candidates must be proficient in English so that they can actively participate in the academic program. Host institutions will take into account that the level of comprehension and speaking ability of students may vary and will prepare lectures and discussions that meet the highest academic standards while using language appropriate for students where English is their second or third language.

Candidate Description and Qualifications:

The participants are expected to be highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Their fields of study will be varied and may include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and other professional fields.

Candidates nominated for this program will:

• hold Hungarian citizenship
• be proficient in English;
• be interested in the Institute topic;
• be between 18 and 25 years of age;
• have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies, and therefore be committed to return 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 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 make adjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.

Finalists will be invited for a personal interview as part of the selection procedure; interviews will be conducted in English.

Please submit your application form in .doc or .docx format to the following addresses:

info@fulbright.hu
kovacsv@state.gov
valim@state.gov

Application Deadline: January 20, 2017