U.S. Embassy in Singapore

About the Study of the U.S. Institutes Program 

The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Scholars are intensive post-graduate level academic programs that provide university faculty and other scholars around the world the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The ultimate goal of the Institutes is to strengthen curricula and enhance the quality of teaching about the United States in secondary schools and other academic institutions abroad.

Program Format 

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSIs) will be conducted by various colleges, universities, and academic institutions throughout the United States beginning in or after June 2021. Each Institute will include a virtual academic residency and an integrated in-person experience approximately two weeks in length at a U.S. host institution.

If conditions allow, participants will travel to the U.S. in fall 2021 or winter 2022 to participate in educational and cultural activities inside and outside of the classroom, lectures, and site visits to local communities. The in-person component in the U.S. will be organized taking into consideration all necessary safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state, local, and campus authorities.

During the academic residency, participants will engage in Institute activities remotely from their home countries. The virtual program will consist of a minimum of 36 hours of required programming and will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. To the extent possible, the virtual programming will include lectures, small group discussions, videos, readings, panels, site visits, assignments, and individual and group activities. Participants must complete the entire virtual program in order to participate in the in-person program component in the United States.

Throughout the program, participants are expected to fully engage in all aspects of the program; they must attend all lectures and organized activities and complete assigned readings. During the U.S. component of the Institute, family members and/or friends may not accompany participants on any part of the program.

Program Tracks 

There are six different program tracks to cater to different areas of interest/ research/ teaching:

• The Institute on American Culture and Values will provide participants with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The Institute should examine the ethnic, racial, social, economic, political, and religious contexts in which various cultures have manifested in U.S. society while focusing on the ways in which these cultures have influenced social movements and American identity throughout U.S. history. The program should draw from a diverse disciplinary base and should itself provide a model of how a foreign university might approach the study of American culture and society. The University of Montana in Missoula, MT will oversee and administer this program; New York University in New York, NY will conduct and host the Institute.

• The Institute on Journalism and Media will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the roles that journalism and the media play in U.S. society. The Institute will examine the role of journalists in recognizing and preventing disinformation and will explore strategies for media and information literacy to counter disinformation. Additionally, the Institute will examine best practices in journalism by discussing the rights and responsibilities of the media in a democratic society, including editorial independence, journalistic ethics, legal constraints, and international journalism. In addition, the Institute will examine pedagogical strategies for teaching students of journalism the basics of the tradecraft: researching, critical thinking, reporting, interviewing, writing, and editing. The program will also highlight the impact of technology in journalism, including the influence of the Internet, globalization of the news media, and other changes that are transforming the profession. The University of Montana in Missoula, MT will oversee and administer this program; Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ will conduct and host the Institute.

• The Institute on Religious Pluralism in the United States will provide participants with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an examination of religious pluralism in the United States and its intersection with American democracy. The program will include a survey of the religious landscape of the United States, including religious groups; an exploration of the historical and contemporary relationship between church and state in the United States; an examination of the ways in which religious thought and practice have modified and have been influenced by, the development of American-style democracy; and discussions on the intersections of religion and politics in the United States in such areas as elections, public policy, and foreign policy. Participants will have opportunities to meet U.S. community leaders of different faiths who advocate for collaboration and tolerance among religious groups. The Institute for Training and Development (ITD) in Amherst, MA will oversee and administer this program; Seattle University in Seattle, WA will conduct and host the Institute.

• The Institute on U.S. Economics and Business will provide participants with a deeper understanding of key components and structures of the U.S. economy.  Using a multidisciplinary approach, the program will explore various topics of socioeconomics; how financial institutions, investors, and businesses interact to support sustainable economic development and growth; and increasing diverse and equitable employment through institutional regulation, social inclusion strategies, and private and public policies. Throughout the Institute, Scholars will engage in a case study involving the fishing industry, which will examine the interplay of climate change, U.S. business innovation, corporate regulation, entrepreneurship, and economic theory. Participants will have opportunities to learn about key institutions and stakeholders in the U.S. economy and meet with a diverse range of business leaders and small business owners, among others. A symposium where scholars will present their own research and scholarly practices will allow for robust discussion and an exchange of diverse perspectives.  The Institute for Training and Development (ITD) in Amherst, MA will conduct and host the Institute in Boston, MA.

• The Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy will provide participants with a deeper understanding of new approaches to U.S. foreign policy and how U.S. foreign policy is formulated and implemented.  The Institute will include a historical review of significant events, individuals, and philosophies that have shaped U.S. foreign policy. The Institute will explain the role of key influences on U.S. foreign policy including the executive and legislative branches of government, the media, the U.S. public, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral institutions. The program will also examine the current U.S. foreign policymaking landscape and recent trends that are shaping policy. The University of Montana in Missoula, MT will oversee and administer this program; the University of Delaware will conduct and host the Institute in Newark, DE.

• The Institute on Workforce Development will provide participants with a deeper understanding of how recent socioeconomic trends have changed the concept of work, workforce development, and career paths in the United States. The academic program will include a thorough discussion of the role of U.S. educational institutions, particularly community colleges, in preparing Americans with the skills needed to succeed in multiple industries including business, technology, science, the creative arts, and emerging fields. The Institute will offer opportunities for participants to research new ideas, in conjunction with American peers, to better understand the evolution of work, the changing demand for skills, and the advancements in workforce development through retraining and reskilling. The University of Montana in Missoula, MT will conduct and host this Institute.

Award Information 
Selected participants will be awarded the following:

• International airfare
• Housing and subsistence while in the U.S.
• Book, cultural, mailing, and incidental allowances
• Health insurance while in the U.S.
• U.S. visa support

 Eligibility and Preferred Qualities: 

• Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR
• Scholars and professionals with at least six years of experience and substantial knowledge of the thematic area of the Institute (Participants are generally aged 30-50 and come from institutions of higher education or research-focused organizations such as non-profits and think-tanks)
• Highly motivated individuals who have firm plans to enhance, update or develop courses/educational materials with a U.S. studies focus or component, or offer specialized seminars/workshops for education professionals in U.S. studies or related fields
• Dedicated to their field of expertise as demonstrated through past scholarship, accomplishments, and professional duties
• Little to no experience in the U.S. is preferred

Timeline 

• February 23, 2021: Competition Opens
• March 10, 2021: Application Deadline
• March 15, 2021: Interviews with Shortlisted Candidates
• Mid-Late April 2021: Selected Participants are Notified
• June 2021 or Later: Program Commences

Application Details 

To apply, please fill out the application form here. Please note that the deadline to apply is March 10, 2021. 

For more information, please contact:

Academic & Professional Exchanges Specialist
Public Affairs Section
U.S. Embassy Singapore
27 Napier Road
Singapore 258508
Email: Singaporefulbright@state.gov