UConn Programs Fostering Social Change
across the Globe

UConn's Global Training and Development Institute, located within the Center for Continuing Studies (CCS), is expanding the University's global reach by providing social entrepreneurship training programs to dozens of individuals throughout Europe, Central America, and Africa. The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (DOS ECA) has awarded CCS over $1.25 million to develop and host three innovative educational and cultural exchange programs throughout 2011 and 2012.

Roy Pietro, Associate Director for CCS and Principal Investigator for all three grant programs, noted that "the grant funding also supports dozens of follow-up social change projects in local communities throughout the three continents, and allows for ongoing networking and collaboration between the foreign exchange program participants and their counterparts in the U.S. These educational and cultural exchange programs are designed to advance UConn's ongoing commitment to global citizenship."

Both the Costa Rican and Turkey exchange programs have been designed as 2-way exchanges, allowing the U.S. participants to travel back to each country to establish new bi-lateral relationships, experience the local culture, and assist in the social change project implementation.

In Empowering Women through Social Entrepreneurship, DOS ECA awarded CCS a $450,000 grant to provide Fellowships to 20 young Costa Rican professionals working at government agencies, civil society organizations, women-owned businesses, healthcare agencies or educational institutions in that country. In addition, 20 Americans employed by the U.S. organizations hosting a 2-week internship for each Costa Rican Fellow, will be provided with Fellowships and participate in program activities held in both countries. UConn has partnered with the University of Peace (UPEACE), a UN affiliated university located in San Jose, Costa Rica, for this program. UPEACE will be responsible for coordinating all in-country activities, including participant selection and planning logistics for the Costa Rican-based exchange.

In Young Turkey/ Young America: A New Relationship for a New Age, grassroots and non-profit leaders from both Turkey and the U.S. will attend workshops and field-based learning activities to help them better address the pressing social and economic challenges facing both countries. The DOS ECA awarded CCS a $325,000 grant to provide leadership development and social entrepreneurship training to 16 Turks and 16 Americans who are mid-career professionals (24-35 years old) working and/ or advocating for the improved socio-economic conditions of marginalized populations in disadvantaged communities. UConn has partnered with Bahcesehir University's American Studies Center, in Istanbul, Turkey, and the Istanbul chapter of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) to plan and facilitate the Turkey-based exchange program activities.

In Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders (SUSI), DOS ECA awarded CCS a $480,000 cooperative agreement to host two concurrent summer institutes for college student leaders from North and Sub-Saharan Africa this past July. Each five-week Institute hosted 20 students, and included U.S. history and business skill development with a focus on social entrepreneurship. Numerous UConn faculty and subject-matter experts in academic disciplines such as political science, business, women's studies, non-profit leadership, and human rights, assist in the facilitation of workshops for the exchange programs.

"The Center for Continuing Studies plays an important role in the academic, societal, and international success of the University," said Doug Cooper, UConn Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. "It is exciting to see CCS's Global Training and Development Institute advance this mission to higher levels with exciting partnerships and substantial federal grants."

These Department of State grants are authorized under the Fulbright-Hays Act to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Study of the U.S. Institutes are designed and funded by ECA's Study of the U.S. Branch. Participants in the Study of the U.S. Institutes are among over 40,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. For more than 60 years, ECA has funded and supported programs that seek to promote mutual understanding and respect between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

For more information on these programs, please contact Roy Pietro at 860-486-4252 or Roy.Pietro@uconn.edu

For more information about ECA programs, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/.