The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers (Fulbright DAI) is accepting applications for the academic year 2023-2024.   The US Department of State exchange programme provides scholarships for Bangladeshi primary and secondary-level teachers to participate in a semester-long non-degree, non-credit professional exchange programme with other educators from around the world.   The participants will get an opportunity to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the US.    They will receive full scholarships to take classes and engage in professional development activities in the North American country. While studying at a US university, each participant will work on completing an individual or a group project on a topic of their choice. They can choose to audit a range of academic courses that align with their professional development goals. The host university will provide coursework on a wide range of topics, including curriculum development, second language instruction, comparative education, educational leadership, and teaching methodologies, among others, from which participants can choose.   Fulbright DAI participants will take part in a seminar at their host university featuring discussions led by university staff, faculty members, and guests. The seminar topics will focus on reflecting on the field experience, shaping the inquiry projects, and examining trends and current issues in education, such as curriculum, instruction and learning, assessment, instructional technology, student-centred learning, and teacher leadership, among other topics that are of interest to participants.   Participants will be placed at an American elementary or high school to observe classes, co-teach, and share their expertise and information about their home country with their host institution.    Each of them will gain access to a virtual community of practice where they can collaborate and exchange ideas with like-minded peers and educational professionals working in various countries around the world.   The eligible participants need to have a minimum of five years of professional experience in full-time teaching by the start of the programme. They are also required to have excellent oral and written English language skills, to engage in postgraduate level coursework, familiarity with using Microsoft Office suite platforms such as Microsoft Word and Excel, and to be Bangladeshi citizens currently residing in Bangladesh.  The application window will remain open till 11:59pm EST Washington DC time May 13, 2023.

The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (Fulbright TEA) is accepting applications for the academic year 2023-24. The US Department of State exchange programme provides scholarships for Bangladeshi secondary-level teachers of English, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), mathematics, science, and social studies, including special education teachers in those subjects. Participants will receive scholarships to participate in a six-week non-degree professional development programme in the US. This programme will take place in January 2023 or September 2023. Participants will get the opportunity to take part in academic seminars for professional development and to observe and share their expertise with teachers and students at host universities and at local secondary schools.  The Fulbright TEA will consist of general academic seminars focusing on new teaching methodologies, student-centred learning, content-based instruction, lesson planning, and instructional technology training for teachers. Intensive English language instruction will be offered to teachers who need additional practice. Also, the programme will include a practicum of at least 40 hours with a US partner teacher in a secondary school near the host university to actively engage participants in the US classroom environment. Read more: Fresh primary scholarship results published after technical glitch Cultural enrichment, mentoring, and support will be provided to participants throughout the programme, which will provide participants with practical resources they can use in their teaching, as well as skills to train trainers. The eligible participants need to have a minimum of five years of experience in full-time teaching by the start of the programme. They are also required to have excellent oral and written English language skills, to engage in postgraduate level coursework, familiarity with using Microsoft Office suite platforms such as Microsoft Word and Excel, and to be Bangladeshi citizens currently residing in Bangladesh.  The application window will remain open till 11:59pm EST Washington DC time April 10, 2023.

The US Embassy in Dhaka Wednesday announced the resumption of its Fulbright Program in Bangladesh after six years. It also jointly launched the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) with Brac University (BracU) in Dhaka's Mohakhali. Fulbright Program, which "strengthens and expands people-to-people ties and educational linkages between the US and other countries," returned as US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas announced its resumption. The exchange programme was suspended in Bangladesh following the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack. Ambassador Haas also announced the AWE-(BracU) initiative at the event to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and foster local women entrepreneurs, especially from underprivileged backgrounds. Through the initiative, 50 women entrepreneurs will have access to mentorship opportunities with successful business owners as trainees to understand the practical challenges on the ground. The US envoy said both the decisions were made to celebrate the 50 years of ties between the US and Bangladesh. READ: Washington in touch with Dhaka on newly launched IPEF: US embassy spokesperson "Bangladesh is going to become a middle-income country in a couple of years and the role of women in economic empowerment is very important. So, it makes it all the more special to resume the Fulbright Program," he added. Under the Fulbright Program, Dr Sharon Hart, the first US Fulbright specialist, will work with the Women Empowerment Center of the Brac Business School for six weeks to help develop a curriculum for women's entrepreneurship and leadership training. Led by the US in partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide, the Fulbright Program offers international educational and cultural exchange programmes for "passionate and accomplished" students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach or pursue important research and professional projects. Throughout its 75-year history, the Fulbright Program has awarded nearly 8,000 students and scholars from 160 nations around the world and the US. With more than 4,000 State Department Exchange Program alumni, including 650 Bangladeshis who travelled to the US under the Fulbright exchange programs and more than 250 Americans who have conducted research and/or taught in Bangladesh, the US Embassy in Dhaka continues to offer academic and professional development opportunities for students, teachers, and scholars.