United States Embassy in Minsk: Study of the U.S. Summer Institutes (SUSI) Program

Deadline: 17 December 2017

The United States Embassy in Minsk is inviting Belarusian students to participate in the Study of the U.S. Summer Institutes (SUSI) Program.

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders from Europe are intensive short-term academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills. The Summer Institutes for European Student Leaders are five-week Institutes that consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. Each Institute will have up to 22 participants and will include a four-week academic residency component and a one-week integrated study tour. The coursework and classroom activities will be complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. During the academic residency, participants will also have the opportunity to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom.

Thematic Areas

Civic Engagement
Social Entrepreneurship

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates nominated for this program will:

be proficient in English;
be interested in the Institute topic;
be between 18 and 25 years of age;
have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies, and therefore be committed to return to their home universities following completion of the program;
demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and community activities;
indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;
demonstrate commitment to community and extracurricular university activities;
have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country;
be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;
be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel; and,
be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to make adjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.