IREX is soliciting proposals from U.S. universities to serve as hosts for educators in the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program. 

Purpose

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) offers a suite of Fulbright Teacher Exchange programs funded by Congress for U.S. and international educators. These professional learning programs provide opportunities for elementary and secondary educators in the United States and around the world to develop their teaching practice and bring global skills and perspectives to their schools. Through these exchanges, educators forge lasting connections and prepare their students to be future leaders, equipped to work with others around the world to address global challenges.

The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (Fulbright TEA) supports practicing international secondary school teachers. The program includes academic seminars that focus on topics such as new teaching methodologies, student-centered learning, instructional technology, and content-based instruction. The program includes a practicum of at least 40 hours, including opportunities to observe and co-teach with a U.S. partner teacher in a U.S. secondary school near the host university, to actively engage participants in the U.S. classroom environment. Participants will also learn about the United States and their host communities through an offering of cultural activities. In addition to the broad general pedagogical topics mentioned above, the program includes specialized cohorts in the themes of gender in education, media literacy education, and climate education.  

We expect to select approximately eight (8) universities to host approximately 185 participants in cohorts of approximately 23 educators per university. This six-week program will run in both the early Spring of 2025 and in the Fall of 2025.  

As part of the application, host universities should indicate their cohort preference (Spring 2025, Fall 2025, or either), the disciplines they would be able to support if selected to host a general pedagogy cohort (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Special Education), and the thematic area they would be able to support if selected to host a specialized cohort (gender in education, media literacy education, climate education) in place of a general pedagogy cohort. All institutions applying to host a Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program cohort should demonstrate their ability to host a General Pedagogy cohort and one of the three specialized cohorts. If a university is ultimately selected to host one of the three specialized cohorts, the program will be tailored to that thematic area and the thematic area should be infused into all major program components (academics, civic/cultural activities, field experiences, etc.). All cohorts will be programmed in Spring 2025 or Fall 2025.

During the host university selection process, ECA and IREX will take into consideration each host university’s stated preferences.

Eligibility requirements

ECA and IREX intend to solicit proposals from institutions across the United States that reflect diversity within higher education in the United States and that are equipped to meet the specific requirements of Fulbright Teacher Exchange programs.

Proposals are due to IREX by 5:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The proposal narrative must be no longer than 20 pages. Proposals should be addressed to Jonathan Ferguson, Senior Project Director, IREX, and emailed as a single PDF file to FulbrightTEA@irex.org. Late submissions and requests for deadline extension will not be considered.

IREX anticipates announcing awards in July 2024. If awarded a subgrant from IREX, applicant organizations will be subject to the U.S. Department of State Terms and Conditions and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, 2 CFR 200. 

Proposals will be reviewed by an independent selection committee that will make recommendations to ECA for funding.

How to submit an Application

1. Download the Request for Applications [Fulbright TEA Host University Request For Applications] for the full outline of required application components.
2. Submit proposals to FulbrightTEA@irex.org

Questions?

For specific questions regarding the application to host the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program please contact FulbrightTEA@irex.org

For more information on Fulbright Teacher Exchanges please visit Fulbright Teacher Exchanges

This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by IREX.