[6]The Crimea Undergraduate Exchange Program provides promising undergraduate students from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea opportunities for one academic year of non-degree study in a US university or community college.
The selected students spend one academic year at an American university or community college, allowing them to develop a nuanced understanding of the United States and to share their country and culture with America. Following the program, Crimea UGRAD fellows return to finish college in their home country, share what they have learned with others, and contribute to the development of Crimea.
The Crimea UGRAD Program is a program of the United States of America through the Department of State Public Affairs Section in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Information for Applicants [7]
• Promote youth leadership and community participation and increase cross-cultural understanding between Ukraine, specifically the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and the United States
• Strengthen U.S./home-country relationships by preparing fellows to use the skills and knowledge acquired in the United States to serve as community leaders and “cultural ambassadors” for the United States
Citizens of the United States and Autonomous Republic of Crimea within Ukraine lack opportunities to get to know one another and have substantive dialogue. Through their programs of study, exploration of U.S. culture, and integration into U.S. communities, Crimea UGRAD fellows come into close contact with Americans and develop lasting relationships with U.S. universities, schools, businesses, and community organizations, leading to increased mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within Ukraine.
Undergraduate Study: Crimea UGRAD fellows are placed at accredited universities and colleges throughout the United States for a yearlong program of full-time study.
Community Service: Fellows give back to their American host communities by contributing a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer work during the year. Fellows may volunteer in a variety of settings, such as after-school tutoring and enrichment programs, blood drives, community fundraisers, and disaster relief.
Internships: In addition to their second semester academic studies, fellows complete part-time internships, gaining experience in the American workplace and developing relationships with local businesses, Congressional, city, and county government offices, nonprofit organizations and other institutions.
Country Presentations: Fellows each give two required presentations during the fellowship, sharing their countries’ histories and traditions with Americans at their host institutions and in off-campus settings such as schools, retirement homes, and Rotary clubs.
Cultural Passport to America: At the start of the fellowship, each participant receives a “Cultural Passport to America”, which is modeled to look loosely like a U.S. passport. For participation in cultural events and activities, Crimea UGRAD fellows receive Passport stamps from their university and college advisors, allowing staff to track the activities of their students in a fun but structured way. Through the Passport, fellows present how they have explored various aspects of U.S. culture and the linkages they’ve forged with Americans over the program year. The Passport also guides students in reflecting on how they’ve served as cultural ambassadors for their home countries while in the United States, and on their plans for sharing US culture with their communities when returning home.
Please send questions to crimea@irex.org [8].
Please send completed applications to crimeaugrad@irex.org [9].