- Drawing on the long-established practice of oral exams and competitions within the Russian educational system, the Olympiada provides American high school and middle school students of Russian with a forum to demonstrate their achievement in Russian language. Participating students are also able to converse with native speakers and fellow students of Russian. State and regional Olympiada competitions take place throughout the United States from February through May. Participants may earn… Read More
- The Language Flagship is a national effort to change the way Americans learn languages. Flagship offers pathways for students of all academic majors and language levels to pursue advanced-level language study in one of six languages: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, or Russian.The Russian Overseas Flagship, established in 2004, provides an immersive overseas experience for undergraduate students enrolled at one of four U.S. Flagship universities. The program helps participants… Read More
- The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program seeks to provide high school students from countries around the world with a better understanding of American society and its people, institutions, values, and culture.Funded by the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this program helps students to foster lasting personal ties, engage in activities that promote mutual understanding across cultures, establish leadership skills, and understand… Read More
- American Councils for International Education partners with the U.S. Department of State on the NSLI-Y Program. We are reviewing this website to ensure compliance with recent executive orders and other guidance. The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students (ages 15-18) to learn less commonly taught languages in overseas immersion programs. NSLI-Y is a program of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau… Read More
- June 2 marked a milestone for American Councils for International Education in Uzbekistan as the fifth cohort of the Young Professional Internships Program (YPIP) officially launched, welcoming a dynamic group of 93 emerging leaders. The 2025 cohort joins a growing network of 167 young leaders shaped by the professional opportunities offered through YPIP, with one in 10 alumni working at American organizations or companies affiliated with or headquartered in the United States. The opening… Read More
- “Life-changing” - that’s how Heath Vickerman, a longtime host parent and local coordinator with American Councils, describes the experience of welcoming exchange students into his home in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. More than a dozen former students across the globe still call Heath and his wife, Tina, “Mom” and “Dad.” While exchange programs are often viewed as benefiting the students themselves, the experience is equally enriching for host families. To date, over 40,000 students from… Read More
- American Councils established the US Study Abroad Assistance Fund to help American students who need help covering pre-program expenses as they participate in programs we implement. The Assistance Fund, which was created with support from our Board of Trustees and senior leadership, provides awards for costs that most scholarships or programs do not cover, including passport fees, medical exams, luggage, and other incidentals. Eligible program finalists can apply for up to $300 in… Read More
- In 2024, American Councils marked its 50th anniversary by launching the "50 Alumni for 50 Years" campaign. This initiative recognized 50 of the most accomplished individuals from the over 100,000 alumni of American Councils’ administered programs over the past five decades, highlighting the enriching and enduring impact of international education and public diplomacy on alumni and their communities. The 50 Alumni for 50 Years initiative connected with alumni of 26 programs from 31… Read More
- On Friday, November 15, American Councils for International Education in Kosova hosted “Two Decades of Inspiring Change Makers,” a gala evening celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Kosovo American Educational Fund (KAEF). Over 250 guests attended the gala, including Prime Minister Albin Kurti, former President and KAEF Honorary Committee Member Atifete Jahjaga, former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, and representatives from the U.S. Embassy and the Albanian Embassy in Kosovo. In their… Read More
- On October 17, please join American Councils for International Education in celebrating 50 years of excellence in public diplomacy, language acquisition, and cultural exchange programs with the conference, Public Diplomacy and International Education in the 21st Century. Co-hosted by George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, the conference will engage diplomatic, government, business, and academic leaders in lively discussions on the transformative power of… Read More
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