Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program's Tunisia Undergraduate Scholarship Program (Tunisia UGRAD)

Education, International Education, Youth, Middle East and North Africa

As part of the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program, the Tunisia Undergraduate Scholarship Program (Tunisia UGRAD) builds the workforce capacity of a diverse group of youth leaders from underserved populations across Tunisia. The program provides participants with a deeper understanding of American culture and new globally-applicable skills and expertise to help them contribute to the economic growth and development of their country.

Through year-long programs of study in the U.S., exploration of American culture, community service, and professional internships, Thomas Jefferson scholars develop a broad and nuanced understanding of U.S. values and become 21st century global citizens prepared to contribute to the economic growth and development of Tunisia. The Tunisia Undergraduate Scholarship Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

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Goals

• Participants increase their academic, professional and leadership skills through full-time academic study, professional internships, and community service activities.
• Participants are better positioned to contribute actively to Tunisia’s development through increased workforce skills in their fields of study, increased life and leadership skills, and the drive to innovate.
• Participants create sustainable links with Americans and between Tunisian and American communities and increase their cross-cultural understanding through engaging with U.S communities, cultural activities, country presentations, and follow-on activities.

Background

University-educated Tunisian youth face distressing levels of unemployment. An intensive academic and experiential learning exchange program will provide talented participants with the opportunity to build state-of-the-art technical knowledge and skills in relevant fields of study, to be exposed to innovation and entrepreneurship, and to build deep connections between Americans and Tunisians, strengthening mutual understanding, economic development, and future stability.

Project Activities

Undergraduate Study and Skills Building: Participants attend a year-long, academic program at U.S. universities and colleges, which includes coursework in their fields of study and in an American studies topic.

Community Service: Students give back to their American host communities by contributing a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer work during the semester. Students may volunteer in a variety of settings, such as after-school tutoring, community fundraisers, and disaster relief.

Internships: Fellows complete part-time internships, gaining experience in the American workplace and developing relationships with local businesses, government offices, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions.

Country Presentations: Students give at least one required presentation on Tunisia while in the U.S., sharing their country's history and traditions with Americans.

Cultural Passport to America: Participants present and reflect on how they have explored various aspects of U.S. culture, the linkages they’ve forged with Americans throughout the program and on their plans for sharing U.S. culture with their communities when returning home.

Alumni Programming: Alumni are provided with opportunities to continue to develop their workforce skills, support innovation and entrepreneurship, and maintain networks forged through the program.