Global Undergraduate Exchange Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central AsiaProgram in Eurasia and Central Asia

(Global UGRAD) 2012 – 2013(Global UGRAD) 2012 – 2013

Global Undergraduate Exchange Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)Program (Global UGRAD)

Funded by the Bureau of Funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the US Affairs (ECA) of the US Department of StateDepartment of State

Administered by IREXAdministered by IREX

To promote democracy, To promote democracy, economic prosperity, economic prosperity, international cooperation, and international cooperation, and mutual understandingmutual understanding

One-year academic program One-year academic program for outstanding undergraduate for outstanding undergraduate studentsstudents

Bureau of Educational and Bureau of Educational and Cultural AffairsCultural Affairs

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. Over 250 current and former heads of state and government are alumni of ECA programs.

IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. We enable innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. We enable local individuals and institutions to build key elements of a vibrant society: local individuals and institutions to build key elements of a vibrant society: quality education, independent media, and strong communities. To strengthen quality education, independent media, and strong communities. To strengthen these sectors, our program activities also include conflict resolution, technology these sectors, our program activities also include conflict resolution, technology for development, gender, and youth. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual for development, gender, and youth. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $60 million and a staff of over 400 professionals worldwide. portfolio of over $60 million and a staff of over 400 professionals worldwide.

Global UGRAD Academic StudyGlobal UGRAD Academic Study

One year of full-time, One year of full-time, non-degree study at over non-degree study at over 40 different colleges, 40 different colleges, universities, and universities, and community colleges all community colleges all across the United States.across the United States.

Eligible Fields of Study Eligible Fields of Study *AccountingAccountingAgricultureAgricultureAnthropologyAnthropologyBiologyBiologyBusinessBusinessChemistryChemistry

Computer ScienceComputer Science Criminal JusticeCriminal JusticeEconomicsEconomicsEducationEducationEngineeringEngineeringEnvironmental Environmental ManagementManagement

GeologyGeologyHospitality ManagementHospitality ManagementInternational RelationsInternational RelationsJournalismJournalismLawLawMass CommunicationsMass CommunicationsPhysicsPhysicsPolitical SciencePolitical SciencePsychologyPsychologySociologySociologyUrban PlanningUrban PlanningU.S. StudiesU.S. Studies

*Other fields will be considered

Host Institution PlacementsHost Institution Placements

Accredited colleges and universities in the USAccredited colleges and universities in the US– First-year students will attend two-year community colleges and First-year students will attend two-year community colleges and

live in campus housing (dormitories) or with American host live in campus housing (dormitories) or with American host familiesfamilies

– All other students (second year, third year, fourth year) will All other students (second year, third year, fourth year) will attend four year universities and colleges and will live in attend four year universities and colleges and will live in dormitoriesdormitories

Only those institutions approved by IREX and ECA Only those institutions approved by IREX and ECA may host fellowsmay host fellows

Fellows may NOT choose Fellows may NOT choose or or change placements change placements

Professional TrainingProfessional Training

Global UGRAD Fellows complete a part-time internship during their Spring semester.

Fellows intern 10 hrs/week for no more than 40 hrs/month

Internships allow fellows to gain professional experience and skills

Experience gained through internships can directly apply to future careers in home countries

A fellow researching alternative energy sources

Community ServiceCommunity ServiceGlobal UGRAD fellows complete community service during first semesterGlobal UGRAD fellows complete community service during first semester

Experience the principles of community service and social responsibility in the United States

Fellows complete 20 hours of Fellows complete 20 hours of community service in their host community service in their host communitycommunity

Past fellows have volunteered Past fellows have volunteered at such places as the Red at such places as the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and at Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and at local secondary schoolslocal secondary schools A fellow volunteering at a local day care

Cultural ExchangeCultural ExchangeGlobal UGRAD fellows conduct country presentations to Global UGRAD fellows conduct country presentations to

enlighten and educate Americans on their countries.enlighten and educate Americans on their countries.

Fellows conduct two Fellows conduct two country presentations: country presentations: one on-campus and one on-campus and one off-campusone off-campus

Fellows often use Fellows often use pictures, music, food, pictures, music, food, and dance to share and dance to share their country’s culturetheir country’s culture

A fellow presenting her country’s flag and national clothing

Cultural ImmersionCultural ImmersionGlobal UGRAD fellows immerse themselves in American culture Global UGRAD fellows immerse themselves in American culture

by participating in the Passport to America programby participating in the Passport to America program

Fellows explore and Fellows explore and record different aspects of record different aspects of American culture such as American culture such as arts, holidays, sports, and arts, holidays, sports, and music.music.

Fellows receive stamps in Fellows receive stamps in their “Passports”their “Passports”

Fellows discuss their Fellows discuss their activities online and reflect activities online and reflect with other fellows.with other fellows. A fellow experiences American football

Visa & Financial SupportVisa & Financial Support

J-1 visa support;J-1 visa support;Round-trip travel from fellow’s home city to host Round-trip travel from fellow’s home city to host institution in the United States;institution in the United States;Accidence and sickness coverage;Accidence and sickness coverage;Tuition and mandatory university fees;Tuition and mandatory university fees;Room and board (housing and meals);Room and board (housing and meals);Small incidentals allowance;Small incidentals allowance;Limited allowance for books;Limited allowance for books;A wide variety of alumni networking and training A wide variety of alumni networking and training opportunities.opportunities.

IREX Support in the USIREX Support in the US

Assist you in your adjustment to Assist you in your adjustment to American culture, life, and studies.American culture, life, and studies.

Guide you in choosing your Guide you in choosing your courses, community service courses, community service projects, and internships.projects, and internships.

Collaborate with your host Collaborate with your host institution advisors, faculty, and institution advisors, faculty, and staff on all details of your studies staff on all details of your studies and time in America.and time in America.

Coordinate all financial and travel Coordinate all financial and travel issues directly related to your time issues directly related to your time as a Global UGRAD fellow.as a Global UGRAD fellow.

Each fellow will be assigned an IREX staff member in Washington, DC who will be your primary contact in the US.primary contact in the US.

Host Community SupportHost Community SupportAll fellows will have host advisors and campus coordinators who All fellows will have host advisors and campus coordinators who

will assist you in your daily life in your host communities.will assist you in your daily life in your host communities.

Help make your host Help make your host community a home away from community a home away from homehome

Offer daily support and adviceOffer daily support and advice

Identify courses for you to takeIdentify courses for you to take

Coordinate and/or create Coordinate and/or create Passport to America activitiesPassport to America activities

Identify community service, Identify community service, internship, and country internship, and country presentation opportunitiespresentation opportunities

Who can be a Global UGRAD FellowWho can be a Global UGRAD Fellow

A citizen, national, or permanent resident with a passport from:A citizen, national, or permanent resident with a passport from:ArmeniaArmenia AzerbaijanAzerbaijan Belarus GeorgiaBelarus GeorgiaKazakhstanKazakhstan KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan MoldovaMoldova RussiaRussiaTajikistanTajikistan TurkmenistanTurkmenistan UkraineUkraine UzbekistanUzbekistan

Meets all Eligibility Requirements*Meets all Eligibility Requirements*

Submits an application and two additional copies by the Submits an application and two additional copies by the deadline (online applications are encouraged)deadline (online applications are encouraged)

Is eligible for a US J-1 visaIs eligible for a US J-1 visa

*For complete details about eligibility requirements please refer to the participant *For complete details about eligibility requirements please refer to the participant instructions.instructions.

Program RegulationsProgram Regulations

Immediately upon program Immediately upon program completion, fellows must return completion, fellows must return to their home countries for two to their home countries for two years years

Fellows may not continue their Fellows may not continue their studies in the USstudies in the US

Fellows may not work while in Fellows may not work while in the US (with the exception of the US (with the exception of the internship)the internship)

Selection ProcessSelection Process

Merit-based open processMerit-based open process

All applications first reviewed for technical All applications first reviewed for technical eligibility eligibility

Eligible applications read, evaluated & Eligible applications read, evaluated & ranked by panel of academic specialistsranked by panel of academic specialists

Highest rankings = Semi-finalistsHighest rankings = Semi-finalists

What Makes a Great Global What Makes a Great Global UGRAD UGRAD Applicant?Applicant?

Academic ExcellenceAcademic ExcellenceCross-Cultural InterestCross-Cultural InterestDemonstrated Leadership PotentialDemonstrated Leadership PotentialProficiency in English (both written and Proficiency in English (both written and spoken)spoken)Flexibility and Suitability as an Exchange Flexibility and Suitability as an Exchange StudentStudentCommitment to Returning to Home Commitment to Returning to Home Country after Completion of ProgramCountry after Completion of ProgramPreference to applicants living outside Preference to applicants living outside capital citiescapital citiesPreference to students that represent Preference to students that represent indigenous, disadvantages, and indigenous, disadvantages, and underrepresented communities with no underrepresented communities with no prior experience outside their countriesprior experience outside their countries

Semi-finalistsSemi-finalists

Semi-finalists notified in early Semi-finalists notified in early 20122012

Semi-finalists interviewed in Semi-finalists interviewed in English in home country by a English in home country by a bi-national committee of U.S. bi-national committee of U.S. specialists, program alumni, specialists, program alumni, and U.S. Embassy and U.S. Embassy representativesrepresentatives

Must take Official TOEFL Must take Official TOEFL exam in home country in exam in home country in February or March February or March 20122012 (testing and travel paid for by (testing and travel paid for by IREX) IREX)

FinalistsFinalists

Finalists and alternates Finalists and alternates notified by phone in notified by phone in spring spring 20122012

Finalists attend a pre-Finalists attend a pre-departure orientation in departure orientation in their home country in their home country in June or July June or July 20122012

Fellowships begins in Fellowships begins in August August 20122012

Global UGRAD ApplicationsGlobal UGRAD Applications

Visit local IREX office for Visit local IREX office for paper applicationspaper applications

Apply online Apply online (encouraged!) or (encouraged!) or download the download the application at application at www.irex.org

Tips for Writing Personal Tips for Writing Personal Statements: The Do’s Statements: The Do’s

www.accepted.comwww.accepted.com

Create a uniting theme or Create a uniting theme or thesis and use throughout thesis and use throughout essayessay

Do a self-assessment before Do a self-assessment before writing—know what you writing—know what you want to write aboutwant to write about

Use concrete examplesUse concrete examples

Distinguish yourselfDistinguish yourself

Begin with attention-Begin with attention-grabbing intro (quote, grabbing intro (quote, anecdote, etc.)anecdote, etc.)

End with restatement of End with restatement of theme or thesistheme or thesis

Revise at least 3 timesRevise at least 3 times

Have someone else edit or Have someone else edit or proofread itproofread it

Write succinctly and to the Write succinctly and to the pointpoint

Tips for Writing Personal Tips for Writing Personal Statements: The Don’tsStatements: The Don’ts

www.accepted.comwww.accepted.com

Don’t stray from the thesisDon’t stray from the thesis

Don’t write an autobiography Don’t write an autobiography or resume in proseor resume in prose

Don’t be a clown (but gentle Don’t be a clown (but gentle humor is ok)humor is ok)

Don’t try too hard to impress Don’t try too hard to impress the readerthe reader

Don’t use clichés or generic Don’t use clichés or generic statementsstatements

Don’t make excusesDon’t make excuses

Don’t make things upDon’t make things up

Don’t begin with “My name Don’t begin with “My name is…” or “I was born in…”is…” or “I was born in…”

Don’t be afraid to start overDon’t be afraid to start over

Submitting ApplicationsSubmitting Applications

IREX offices IREX offices

or representatives throughout Eurasia:or representatives throughout Eurasia:

• Insert Local Contact Information and other Insert Local Contact Information and other Local LocationsLocal Locations

No faxed or emailed applications accepted.No faxed or emailed applications accepted.

Application DeadlineApplication Deadline

Applications are due Applications are due Thursday, Thursday, December 22, 2011 December 22, 2011 by 17:00by 17:00

Applications will be Applications will be accepted any time accepted any time before that – come before that – come early, but don’t be late!early, but don’t be late!

Application GuidelinesApplication GuidelinesOnly Only completedcompleted applications acceptedapplications accepted

No documents accepted No documents accepted separatelyseparately

Submit Submit oneone original and two original and two copies (for a total of copies (for a total of threethree applications)applications)

Make one more copy for Make one more copy for yourselfyourself

Applications must be Applications must be completed in completed in EnglishEnglish and and typed or hand-written in typed or hand-written in black inkblack ink

Typed applications are Typed applications are strongly recommendedstrongly recommended

If hand-written, applications If hand-written, applications must be clear and readablemust be clear and readable

Include your full name and Include your full name and citizenship in provided space citizenship in provided space on the upper right-hand on the upper right-hand corner of every pagecorner of every page

Complete all sections! If Complete all sections! If there is no answer, write N/A there is no answer, write N/A (not-applicable)(not-applicable)

Don’t Forget…Don’t Forget…

Two completed Two completed recommendations recommendations (with an accurate (with an accurate English translation if English translation if necessary, which may necessary, which may be done by applicant).be done by applicant).

Questions?Questions?

May be addressed to IREX May be addressed to IREX staff at:staff at:

www.irex.kzwww.irex.kz