SUMMARY: The Embassy of the United States of America is currently accepting applications for Summer Study of the United States Institutes.  Deadline for candidate nominations to be received at the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Conakry is January 22, 2010. Two institutes for secondary educators will be offered over the course of six weeks beginning in mid June 2010.  The ultimate goal is to strengthen curricula and to improve the quality of teaching about the United States in secondary schools and other academic institutions abroad.

INSTITUTE DESCRIPTION: The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators will provide two multinational groups of 30 secondary educators each (English teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, ministry of education officials, etc.) with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, education, and culture, past and present.  The programs will be organized around a central theme or themes in U.S. civilization and will have a strong contemporary component. Through a combination of traditional, multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, the programs will elucidate the history and evolution of U.S. educational institutions and values. The programs also serve to illuminate contemporary political, social, and economic debates in American society.  One institute will take place at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the second institute will take place at a site to be determined.  Specific program information will be posted on the ECA website as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, posts and prospective applicants are encouraged to visit our website to obtain general information about the FY-09 Institutes at:  http://exchanges.state.gov/academicexchanges/scholars.html

CANDIDATE DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

A. Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 25-50, highly-motivated and experienced secondary educators. The ideal candidate will be a secondary teacher, teacher trainer, curriculum developer, textbook writer, ministry of education official, or other related professional with responsibility for secondary education.

B. The ideal candidate will also be an experienced professional with little or no prior experience in the United States, 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 education professionals in U.S. studies.

C. Candidates should be willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour. While senior educators are eligible applicants, first consideration will be given to younger and mid-career professionals, and to persons who are likely to be comfortable with campus life and an active program schedule. 

NOMINATION FORMAT: Please request the application form by email from the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section at: ConakryPD@state.gov.  Applications must be submitted through email at: ConakryPD@state.gov  by January 22, 2010. Hard-copy applications will not be accepted.

Public Affairs Section

United States Embassy

Conakry, Republic of Guinea

www.guineeactu.com