Sponsored Programs in Higher Education

American Councils for International Education administers several higher education programs sponsored by a variety of governments and institutions outside of the United States. These programs develop vital national and institutional capacity abroad while enriching American campuses with a more diverse student population.

The AMZ Renaissance Foundation Fellowship Program

American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, in collaboration with The AMZ Renaissance Foundation, has announced the Foundation’s new Afghanistan Undergraduate Fellowship Program, which will support the undergraduate study of five Afghan students at select U.S. universities. The first group of students will commence their academic programs in August 2008. By the year 2011, twenty students will be enrolled in undergraduate degree programs as AMZ Renaissance Foundation Fellows.

Kosovo American Education Fund

The Kosovo American Education Fund Graduate Scholarship Program (KAEF) serves as a catalyst for the development of Kosovo by investing in motivated, talented individuals with leadership potential, and providing them with graduate-level fellowships at select universities in the U.S. Returning to Kosovo, graduates will assume positions of leadership in private, public, and non-governmental institutions that are essential to the success of their country.

Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program

The Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program (NESA UGRAD) is a part of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD Program), a scholarship program managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State for emerging student leaders from underrepresented sectors around the world. Launched in 2007, NESA UGRAD provides a substantive exchange experience at a U.S. college or university for students from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Participants engage in one year of undergraduate, non-degree studies at a diverse network of accredited two- and four-year institutions.

Republic of Tatarstan Higher Education Fellowship "Algarysh"

Under an agreement signed with the government of Tatarstan, a region within the Russian Federation, American Councils will administer The Republic of Tatarstan Higher Education Fellowship, which will provide scholarships for up to 50 undergraduate and graduate students to study for one year at a U.S. university. Graduates of the program will meaningfully contribute to the social, economic, and educational development of Tatarstan.

The success of these programs in jump-starting national and institutional development has paved the way for the ongoing development of similar initiatives in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, and serves as a model for achieving sustainable development through education.

Regional Programs in Higher Education U.S. - Central Asia Education Foundation

The Foundation's mission is to encourage and assist development and growth of a vibrant open-market private business sector in Central Asia by supporting the quality of-and affordable access to-western business know-how and practices at institutions of higher learning in the region that have adopted Western curriculum and teaching methods. The program will initially focus on three activities: (1) providing need-based business education scholarships to citizens of the five republics at three select universities located within the region; (2) designing and implementing a program of business faculty and curriculum development with each of the universities; and (3) creating an internship program for students to provide them with the opportunity to work or study abroad in democratic countries with open-market economies.