Fulbright Seminars for School Administrators are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX in the U.S., Fulbright Finland Foundation in Finland, and Singapore's Ministry of Education in Singapore.

Fulbright Seminars for School Administrators send cohorts of K–12 school and district administrators to Finland and Singapore for an intensive program (approximately 10 days in length) to learn about best educational practices in other countries with the goal of improving outcomes for all students.

Fulbright Seminars for School Administrators are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX in the U.S., Fulbright Finland Foundation in Finland, and Singapore's Ministry of Education in Singapore.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. ECA strives to achieve this goal through a wide range of international exchanges as authorized by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. ECA works in close cooperation with U.S. Embassies and bilateral Fulbright Commissions overseas to promote personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad.

The Fulbright Finland Foundation is an independent not-for-profit based in Helsinki, Finland. With the purpose of promoting a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States, the Foundation collaborates with a range of government, foundation, university and corporate partners on both sides of the Atlantic to design and manage study and research scholarships, leadership development programs, and internationalization services.

The Ministry of Education in Singapore is committed to its mission of Molding the Future of the Nation, and with this, its commitment to developing the people who will determine the future of the nation.  Its key responsibilities include formulating, implementing and continually reforming education policies on education structure, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.  Every child will be provided with opportunities to develop holistically and maximize his or her potential, prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.  Towards this end MOE will ensure Every School is a Good School via effective school leadership, high professional teacher standards, school innovations, customized resourcing and strong partnerships between school and the community.

• Briefings, panel discussions, and events to provide an overview of the education system of the host country and education and professional topics of interest to school administrators
• Visits to schools and educational institutions, aimed at observation and sharing of best practices
• Networking events with education professionals, and participation in conferences and roundtable discussions

Eligibility Requirements

At the time of application, applicants must have the following:

• Five or more years of experience working as a K–12 school and/or district administrator:
  • Eligible titles include, but are not limited to: principal, assistant principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, dean, associate/assistant dean, head of school, director
• Full-time employment as a K–12 school and/or district administrator at a public, charter, private (secular and religious) school or district in the U.S., a U.S. territory, or within the Department of Defense Education Activity*
• Master’s degree
• U.S. citizen living in the U.S., a U.S. territory, or on a Department of Defense Education Activity Campus
• Ability to travel for the entirety of the program

*Full-time employment as an administrator is defined as 90% or more of contracted time spent in an administrative function such as providing instructional leadership and developing, implementing, and evaluating district and school systems and policies.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Track record of professional experience and effective leadership;
• Observable dedication to K-12 educational leadership and administration, and a commitment to leverage professional development opportunities for impact in schools and communities;
• Demonstrated efforts toward innovation and successes in improving the learning environment and overall academic progress of students; 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and serve as an ambassador of Fulbright Teacher Exchanges;
• Priority will be shown for applicants working in high-need schools or districts, or with traditionally underserved populations, and for applicants from traditionally underrepresented areas in exchange programs;
• Preference will be given to applicants without significant professional experience (study, research, teaching, or employment) abroad.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Current IREX employees and consultants and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, and siblings) are not eligible to compete in any grant programs that IREX implements. The U.S. Department of State and IREX do not discriminate against grant applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law. This program promotes diversity in education. It supports inclusion and strongly encourages applicants with disabilities to apply.

Prior participants in the Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program are not eligible to apply. Applicants may only apply to one (1) cohort: Finland 2020, Singapore 2020, or Singapore 2021.

E-mail: FulbrightAdministrators@irex.org

Fulbright Seminars for School Administrators  are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX in the U.S., Fulbright Finland Foundation in Finland, and Singapore's Ministry of Education in Singapore.