Updated December 10, 2007
CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL & EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
ABOUT OUR EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
The United States Mission to South Africa offers a variety of exchange opportunities to South African citizens. Exchange programs are offered for professional development and enrichment, research, and Masters and Doctoral studies.
This page describes some of the key exchange programs sponsored or coordinated through the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Office. For additional information please contact us.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Fulbright Teacher Exchanges
American Fulbright Teacher Kate Mahady, a social science teacher from Tucson, Arizona, has just completed a year-long teaching exchange at Refeng Thabo High School in the small rural town of Tweeling, in the Free State Province.
Kate (middle) poses with two of her South African colleagues on the occasion of her good-bye party. She is wearing one of her farewell gifts, a traditional Basotho wedding dress. Full text
J. William Fulbright Program
The primary goal of the Fulbright Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of South Africa through educational, cultural and professional exchanges. Since 1953 more than 1,500 South Africans and Americans have participated in the Fulbright exchange program. The Fulbright Commission in South Africa administers thirteen (13) programs for both American and South African citizens to whom grants are given for research, teaching, curriculum development, and Masters and Doctoral studies in a wide variety of fields.
Fulbright South Africa websiteHubert H. Humphrey Program
The Humphrey program brings accomplished professionals from South Africa the United States generally at a midpoint in their careers for a year of study and related professional experience. Fellows are selected based upon their potential for national leadership and commitment to public service, in either the public or private sector. Fellowships are granted competitively to professional candidates specifically in the fields of: natural resources and environmental management, public policy analysis and administration, law and human rights, finance and banking, economic development, agricultural development/economics, human resource management, urban and regional planning, public health policy and management, technology policy and management, educational planning, teaching of English as second language, communications/journalism, and drug abuse epidemiology, education, treatment and prevention.
Hubert H. Humphrey WebsiteFulbright/American Political Science Association (APSA) Congressional Fellowship Program
The Fulbright/APSA Congressional Fellowship Program is a pilot program that offers foreign scholars, public policy professionals, and journalist the opportunity to study the workings of the U.S. Congress as a congressional fellow and staff person working in a Congressional office. The Fulbright/APSA Fellows will part of a larger group of about 40 to 45 APSA Congressional Fellows comprised of political scientists, journalists, U.S. federal employees, health specialists, and other professionals from the U.S. and other countries.
Fulbright/APSA Congressional Fellowship ProgramOTHER EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES
Citizen Exchange Program
The Office of Citizen Exchanges manages professional, youth, and cultural public-private exchange partnerships with non-profit American institutions, including community organizations, professional associations, and universities. The citizen exchange program is coordinated to address thematic areas that in the past have included conflict resolution, civic education, media development, rule of law, environmental protection, judicial reform and other professional disciplines.
Citizen Exchange Program websiteCultureConnect
CultureConnect is a U.S. Department of State initiative to build and strengthen relationships among diverse world cultures, especially for youth.
CultureConnect websiteADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational and training programs. The bureau does so by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences. The website provides additional educational and cultural programs offered by the U.S. government.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs maintains a list of open Request for Grant Proposals and accompanying solicitation documents and notices. RFGPs are normally published on Thursdays in the Federal Register. The list does not replace the Federal Register as the most-up-to-date source on RFGPs, but serves as an additional source of information.
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs website List of requests for grant proposals
Announcements
HUBERT H. HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIP
The Public Affairs Section is accepting online applications for this program. Find out more
HAVE YOU BEEN ON AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM?
Join State Alumni by visiting their interactive website.