Summer Study of the United States Institutes Program (Vietnam)

They are seeking qualified candidates to nominate for these programs. University lecturers, researchers, and secondary school educators who wish to apply for the programs are invited to submit the online application form by the application deadline. Selections will be announced in March/April 2025.

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars and Secondary Educators are intensive post-graduate level academic programs that provide foreign university faculty and secondary educators the opportunity to deepen their 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 at academic institutions abroad.

The program will take place at various colleges, universities, and academic institutions throughout the United States over the course of five-to-six weeks in summer 2025. Each Institute includes a four-week academic residency component and, if possible, a one-week integrated study tour to another region of the United States.

All participant costs, including program administration, international and domestic travel and ground transportation, housing and subsistence costs, book, cultural, postal and incidental allowances will be sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Categories

• SUSI for Scholars: SUSI for Scholars comprise the following themes in U.S. Studies: American Politics and Political Thought; Contemporary American Literature; Journalism and Media; U.S. Culture, Identity, and Society; U.S. Economics and Sustainable Development; and U.S. Foreign Policy.
• SUSI for Secondary School Educators: 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. Two of the Institutes are tailored for secondary school teachers; please note that the Institutes for Teachers focus on content and materials about the United States rather than teaching methods and pedagogy. The third Institute is tailored for experienced administrators including teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, Ministry of Education officials, and others.

Themes

• SUSI for Scholars:
  • American Politics and Political Thought: The Institute on American Politics and Political Thought will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly motivated foreign university faculty and practitioners insight into how intellectual and political movements have influenced American political institutions and American democracy.
  • Contemporary American Literature: The Institute on Contemporary American Literature will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly motivated foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an examination of contemporary American literature.
  • Journalism and Media: The Institute on Journalism and Media will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly motivated foreign journalism instructors and other related specialists with a deeper understanding of the roles that journalism and the media play in U.S. society.
  • U.S. Culture, Identity, and Society: The Institute on U.S. Culture, Identity, and Society will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly motivated foreign university faculty and other specialists with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions through the lens of diversity and national unity.
  • U.S. Economics and Sustainable Development: The Institute on U.S. Economics and Sustainable Development will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign university faculty, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with a deeper understanding of key components and structures of the U.S. economy.
  • U.S. Foreign Policy: The Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly motivated foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of new approaches to U.S. foreign policy and how U.S. foreign policy is formulated and implemented.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible candidates for the Study of the United States Institutes must:
  • Be a Vietnamese citizen, between the ages of 30-50.
  • SUSI for Scholars:
    • be highly motivated and experienced scholars, researchers, and professionals generally from institutions of higher education or research-focused organizations (not-for-profits, think tanks, etc), preferably those having graduate degrees and substantial knowledge of the thematic area of the Institute or a related field.
  • SUSI for Secondary Educators:
    • be highly motivated secondary school teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers or textbook writers for secondary education and be actively seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. Studies into their curricula.
  • Ideal candidates are individuals whose home institution is seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. Studies into its curricula or work, to develop new courses or areas of research that correspond with the topics of the Institutes, are focusing on enhancing and updating existing courses on the United States, or are planning to offer specialized seminars/workshops for professionals in U.S. Studies areas related to the program theme. While the nominee’s scholarly and professional credentials are an important consideration, the potential impact and multiplier effect from their participation in the Institute is equally important. Ideal candidates will have little or no prior experience living or visiting in the United States.
  • Be comfortable with campus life and willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour.
  • Have an excellent command of English.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.