Description: The Study of the U.S. Branch has sponsored Student Leader Institutes since 2003. The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Young Women Leaders began as the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on Women’s Leadership in 2010 and was rebranded this year. SUSIs for Student Leaders 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. Each Institute hosts 20 participants. The Institutes consist of a four-week academic residency with a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. Site visits, leadership development, cultural activities, and community service complement the coursework and academic sessions. If conditions allow, the Institutes will include a one-week integrated study tour in the United States. Note that if the program must take place virtually, participants will engage in similar activities but online from their home countries.
2022 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Young Women Leaders on the following themes: Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment, Environmental Issues, and Public Policy.
Kazakhstan has four slots for the SUSI Women’s Leadership program; the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan would like to receive nominations from the strongest candidates. Participants’ expenses will be fully covered by the U.S. Government.
Duration: Five weeks
Program dates: June – July 2022
Candidate description and qualifications:
- be a female between 18 and 25 years of age;
- highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities;
- course of study will be varied and may include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and other professional fields. Emphasis should be placed on recruiting participants from historically underserved and disadvantaged groups, including minority communities, and individuals with disabilities, and who have little or no international experience;
- be interested in the topic of Women’s Leadership and learning about the United States;
- demonstrate strong leadership qualities, academic achievement and potential in their university and community activities;
- have no prior study or travel experience in the U.S. or elsewhere outside of their home country;
- be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;
- 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;
- be proficient in English (this will be tested at the interview).
Deadline: December 31, 2021
*Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Virtual Program Contingency: Should health, safety, and travel conditions continue to pose significant challenges, the SUSI will pivot to a virtual format. The virtual program would consist of a minimum of 36 hours of required programming with a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. To the extent possible, the virtual programming would include lectures, small group discussions, videos, readings, panels, site visits, leadership development, assignments, and individual and group activities. Participants would be expected to fully participate in the entire virtual program from their locations.
In order to apply, please provide fully completed application form (88 KB, DOC) by the close of business (COB) on December 31, 2021 to almaty@state.gov.
Please put in an email subject line: SUSI Applicant_Last name_First name_City
If you have any further questions, please email at almaty@state.gov.