Academic Exchange Programs – Teachers

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and educators. ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world. Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today. ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society – including young people, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals – increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans.
The Fulbright Teacher Exchanges advance American competitiveness by providing world-class professional development to K-12 educators. Through Fulbright programs, teachers prepare thousands of U.S. students with skills to succeed in an increasingly competitive and dynamic world. Additionally, U.S. Fulbright teachers travel abroad to advance American excellence in critical fields such as math, science, history, engineering, and technology. International Fulbright teachers travel to the United States for training focused on American educational strengths such as English-language acquisition, technology and AI, and programs serve to strengthen relationships between the U.S. and participating countries, fostering new potential markets for American business and influence.
The Community College Administrator Program advances U.S. global leadership in vocational-technical education, supports systemic education policy change in priority countries, and fosters strategic partnerships that advance U.S. interests in trade and commerce. CCAP introduces foreign higher education leaders to the key tenets of U.S. community college administration and innovative approaches to addressing labor market demands.

Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcement for further eligibility criteria. The suite of Fulbright Teacher Programs includes a number of components targeted to U.S. and international teachers to enhance mutual understanding, build education leaders, and create globally-engaged students worldwide. These programs result in the exchange of approximately 400 educators annually across more than 75 countries reaching over 75,000 students annually around the world. Over the course of their careers, they will influence more than 1.5 million students. They include Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program, Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers, Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Short-Term Program, Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program for U.S. Teachers (DA), Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools, and the Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms. The Community College Administrator Program provides six-week programs of study for officials with higher education planning responsibilities and administrators from post-secondary vocational and technical institutions. Since its inception in 2014, the program has sponsored approximately 340 alumni from 17 countries.

Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau’s Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed/validated by an authorized Grants Officer, and sent via the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) to the recipient’s responsible officer identified in the application.