DUSHANBE, February 5, 2014, Asia-Plus — The Government of the United States of America announces the 2014-2015 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) in Eurasia and Central Asia.
Formerly known as the Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program, the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia builds the capacity of youth leaders from underserved populations across the region. Through U.S.-based training and practical experience in leadership, life-skills, civic engagement, and internships, youth leaders are empowered to implement long-term civic and economic changes in their communities, building stability through increased local capacity and cross-cultural understanding.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the Global UGRAD Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, supported by the people of the United States, and implemented by IREX. The Global UGRAD program in Eurasia and Central Asia is open to full-time undergraduate students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan for non-degree study in the United States.
Participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and the Russian Federation will spend one semester of non-degree study in a US university or community college. Participants from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan will spend one academic year of non-degree study in a US university or community college.
All participants will attend classes full-time during their academic program and perform a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer service in their host community. Academic year participants will complete a part-time internship during their second semester. Students in their first year at the time of application will be enrolled in two-year community colleges and will live with host families or in dormitories. All other students will attend four-year colleges and universities and live in dormitories on campus.
The fellowship provides J-1 visa support, round-trip travel from fellow’s home cities to host institution in the United States, accident and sickness coverage, tuition and mandatory university fees, room and board (housing and meals), small incidentals allowance, limited allowance for books, and a variety of alumni networking and training opportunities.
Fields of study for the Global UGRAD program include accounting, agriculture, anthropology, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, economics, education, engineering, environmental management, geology, hospitality management, international relations, journalism and mass communication, law, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, urban planning, and U.S. studies. Other fields will be considered.
