“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
For Educators
The Global Illinois Scholar Certificate's Resource page has an extensive list of opportunities for teachers and students to expand their global competencies through study and travel. Be sure to check out their options, some of which are identified below.
The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (Fulbright TGC) Program is a yearlong professional learning opportunity and short-term exchange for elementary, middle, and high school educators from the United States to develop skills to prepare students for a competitive global economy.
The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program provide an opportunity for K–12 educators from the United States to conduct research and engage in other professional learning experiences abroad for three to six months. Participants work on individual inquiry projects on a topic relevant to education in the United States and the host country, take courses at a host university, and collaborate with colleagues on educational practices to improve student learning. The Short Term Program is an abbreviated program focus for 2-6 weeks.
Fulbright Teacher Exchange: MOOCs for K-12 Educators. "These interactive massive open online courses (MOOCs), which include lesson plans and videos, allow educators to engage with knowledgeable peers and experts, and support educators in fostering students’ global competences."
The United States Institute of Peace
USIP’s Peace Teachers program is rooted in the conviction that educators can be pivotal in bringing themes of global conflict and peace into their classrooms, schools and communities. At a time when violent international conflict regularly dominates headlines, teachers are the key to helping young people obtain the knowledge, skills and perspectives they need to envision their role in creating a more peaceful world and shape new ways to manage violent conflict. While educators often welcome this role, many face challenges — including a lack of information about how to teach peacebuilding or national security issues in an approachable format.
Grosvenor Teacher Fellows are an integral part of the National Geographic community, working to further students’ understanding of the planet and empower them to generate solutions for a healthier and more sustainable future. They help ensure that the next generation is armed with geographic knowledge and global awareness.
Connections & Collaborations through on-line learning.
Leading for Global Competence provides school leaders with the skills to promote global competence within the K-12 learner experience.
Through the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship, public school educators develop the knowledge and skills to integrate global competency into their daily classroom instruction, advocate for global competency in their schools and districts, and help students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world. Fellows transform their classrooms to give students a global perspective.
Online Modules for Educators
Primary Source's six online modules will help you build a foundation for global awareness and provide concrete examples and strategies for supporting cultural competence in your classroom and school community. Each one-hour module – taken anytime at your own pace and on your own schedule – addresses key concepts and themes for global learning. These modules are the perfect starting point for individual educators or for the entire school or district!
For Students
Want an education that provides authentic global exploration, mastery of skills, and project-based learning all while experiencing different cultures, then Think Global School might be for you.
TGS provides a global educational experience for high school students who are interested in studying in 4 different countries during the school year, which begins in July and ends the following June. For each of the 8-week terms students study in a different country with 5 weeks in between. For a global learning experience, check out their website and application process.
Two Program offers: Tack Action Lab & Global Citizen Year Academy Global Citizen Year currently offers two experiences designed to launch the leaders our world needs now. Both programs select talented students who represent society’s diversity and equip them with the empathy, agency and global network to drive impact today – and over the course of their lives.
It's not just a trip abroad. It's life in 45+ countries. AFS is all about immersion. Whether students are learning a second language or connecting with a newfound community, AFS will help students engage deeply with local life.
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception in 2001.
Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time.
Photo Gallery
Proof that going outside your comfort zone - whether at home or abroad - enriches your life beyond expression.
AFS Exchange Student from Norway, 2015-2016
AFS Exchange Student from Japan, 2022-2023
AFS Exchange Student from Sweden, 2015-2016
Eric now works in New York City.
Prague, Czech Republic
September 2007
Pictured with me are the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Richard Grabor, my Czech Principal, František Dubský, & Czech mentor teacher, Zbyněk Přikryl. František and Zbyněk played a key role in the success of my year teaching in the Czech Republic. To this day they remain dear friends.
Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
June 2008
When going on exchange or pursuing professional development opportunities outside your comfort zone, the folks you meet along the way end up being an essential part of the experience, enriching the learning in deep and meaningful ways well beyond what any testimonials or course descriptions could capture.
Global Mama's Cooking Class!
The group with whom you share your professional development experiences makes all the difference. I learned as much from these educational experts as I did working with the Ghanaian teachers and students. You sign up for a professional growth opportunity; you gain life experiences that alter your teaching, your perspective, and potentially your trajectory.