Candidate applications now being accepted from 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.  Applications to this program have now closed.  The following is for reference only

Program Overview:

The Fulbright Commission in Chile, on behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, is seeking outstanding Chilean university students to participate in a short-term academic exchange program to learn how entrepreneurial skills can address social issues.  Program dates are January 11 until February 15, 2020.  The Institute will host a group of up to 20 students from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.  The Institute will be conducted in English and will be hosted at the Institute for Training and Development (ITD) in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Application forms must be completed online here.  Send supplemental documents (concentración de notas over your university program up until now, awards, and one letter of recommendation from a professor at a higher education institution) in ONE email to SUSI2020Chile@gmail.com. The letter of recommendation does not have a specific format, but should speak to candidate qualifications.  It may be in English or Spanish. Deadline for applying is 11:59 PM on Sunday, September 22, 2019.  Applications received after this deadline will NOT be accepted.

Program Description:

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.  The five-week Institutes consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures.  The coursework and classroom activities are complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. The Institutes include an academic residency component of approximately four weeks and a domestic study tour of approximately one week.  During the academic residency, participants also have the opportunity to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom.

The four-week academic residency will provide participants with an overview of how entrepreneurial skills can address social issues.  The Institute will review the development, history, challenges, and successes of social enterprises and community leaders, in the United States and globally.  The program will give participants a foundation in how to employ entrepreneurial skills to address social issues and will provide unique opportunities to meet with diverse community leaders and social entrepreneurs.  The Institute will address topics such as organizational development and management, 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 Arizona. Throughout the Institute, participants will meet with local, state, private, and not-for-profit organizations working in the field.  They will also be challenged to create follow up community projects to implement in their home communities upon returning to their countries of origin.

The program will conclude in Washington, DC, where participants will have the opportunity to meet with other peers from Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru who are participating in another Institute.

Application and Call :

More information

1. What is Covered: participant costs, including program administration; domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances; and housing and subsistence. ITD will arrange and pay for participants’ international travel costs. Applicants are responsible for acquiring and paying for their own passport.
2. Housing and Meal Arrangements: Participants will reside at the ITD House, an 11 bedroom home situated in the center of Amherst, MA and a 10-minute walk from the Amherst College campus.  Most meals will be provided at the Amherst College dinning commons, though some meals will be provided by the program, and participants will also receive per diem that they can use to dine at local restaurants.  Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied.
3. Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State’s coverage of $100,000 with a $25 co-pay per medical visit and $75 co-pay per emergency room visit for the duration of the program.  Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
4. 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 Institute is 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 United States.  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
5. English Language Ability: English Language knowledge and/or proficiency are required to participate in this program.  All candidates must be proficient in English so that they can actively participate in the academic program. Interviews will be conducted in English.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1) What degree of English proficiency should a nominee have? All participants must be fully proficient in English; throughout the Institute they will need to fully understand lectures, actively participate in discussions, and read and write assignments in English.  Interviews will be at least partially in English to confirm this.

2) Can a nominee who is a dual citizen (U.S. and country of origin) participate in Study of the U.S. Institutes? No. U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) are NOT eligible to participate in this program.

3) How much free time will a participant have during the program? There will be some free time during the program.  However, nominees MUST understand that this is an intensive academic program and they are expected to fully participate in all lectures, activities, and scheduled events.

4) If a nominee has relatives in the U.S., would s/he have time to see them? Participants will NOT be allowed to leave the Institute to visit relatives or friends.  Occasionally, it is possible for a relative or friend to visit the participant on a specific day designated by the host institution if the schedule permits.  These situations will be addressed on a case by case basis in consultation with the ECA program officer and the host institution.

5) Can a participant arrive early/late or stay after the Institute? No. Participants who choose to travel to the United States on a Study of the U.S. program are required to abide by the terms and conditions of the program.  These terms state clearly that student leaders may NOT arrive in the United States before the program start date or remain in the country after the close of the institute.

6) Can a graduate student participate in this Institute? No. Study of the U.S. Institutes are designed exclusively for undergraduate students with at least one remaining semester of study.

7) Can a participant miss one part or component of the Institute? No. All participants are expected to participate in all scheduled lectures, events, site visits, trips, and activities.

8) How much money will participants need to bring for the program? The Study of the U.S. Institutes cover all basic costs of an individual’s participation including transportation, lodging, and meals.  Generally, host institutions provide for meals through a combination of a cafeteria meal plan, a pre-loaded debit card for use at local restaurants, and/or a cash allowance to permit participants to purchase food for cooking.  Information on housing and meal arrangements will be provided by the host institution six weeks prior to the start of the Institute.  Other than the meal stipend mentioned above, participants should not expect to receive any spending money from the Institute.  Participants should bring their own spending money if they wish to purchase souvenirs or other items during their time in the United States.

9) Can a student who participated in the English Access Microscholarship Program or Youth Ambassadors Program participate in this Institute? Yes.