View source for Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers

{{Program
|ProgramName=Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers
|ProgramType=Program
|OrgSponsor=Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
|TopOrganization=Department of State
|CreationLegislation=Fulbright Act of 1946
|Purpose=Fulbright Distinguished Awards brought global teachers to the U.S. to boost skills and share practices, enhancing understanding in classrooms worldwide.
|Website=https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/
|ProgramStart=2010
|InitialFunding=Congressional appropriations
|Duration=Ongoing
|Historic=No
}}
'''Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers''' (DAI) brings international primary and secondary educators to the United States for a semester-long exchange to enhance their professional skills, pursue individual projects, and share educational practices with U.S. counterparts. Hosted by U.S. universities in collaboration with the Institute of International Education (IIE), it serves educators from over 20 participating countries, offering coursework, classroom observation, and cultural activities to strengthen teaching methodologies and global competence, with over 500 participants since its inception by 2025.<ref>Fulbright Teacher Exchanges, "Fulbright DAI Program Details," https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/programs/dai/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref>

{{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/}}

==Goals==

* Enhance participants’ teaching expertise through professional development and U.S. classroom exposure.<ref>Fulbright Teacher Exchanges, "Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers," https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/programs/dai/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref>
* Promote mutual understanding by sharing educational practices and cultural insights between U.S. and international educators.
* Build global competence among educators and students, aiming for participants to implement inquiry projects in their home countries.

==Organization==

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) within the Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).<ref>Institute of International Education, "Fulbright DAI Program," https://www.iie.org/programs/fulbright-distinguished-awards-in-teaching-program-for-international-teachers, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> Funding comes from Congressional appropriations, with additional in-kind support from host universities like Indiana University, covering tuition, travel, and stipends. The program collaborates with Fulbright Commissions or U.S. Embassies for participant selection based on teaching excellence and leadership.

The leader at the Department of State level is the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, currently Lee Satterfield (as of February 19, 2025).

==History==

The program began in 2010 under the [[Fulbright Act of 1946]], building on earlier Fulbright teacher exchanges to meet the demand for globally competent educators, rooted in Senator J. William Fulbright’s vision of peace through education.<ref>Fulbright Teacher Exchanges, "Program History," https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/about/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> It evolved from short-term exchanges into a semester-long format, expanding to over 20 countries by 2025, with key developments including virtual components added during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2025, it continues to support international teacher development with plans for broader country inclusion.

==Funding==

Initial funding in 2010 came from Congressional appropriations, though specific amounts for DAI’s launch are not isolated from broader Fulbright budgets.<ref>U.S. Department of State, "Fulbright Program Funding," https://eca.state.gov/fulbright/about-fulbright/funding-and-administration, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> Funding started in 2010 and persists, with the Fulbright Program receiving approximately $266 million in FY 2023, a portion supporting DAI’s semester-long exchanges, augmented by university cost-sharing. There’s no funding end date, with annual renewals sustaining the program.

==Implementation==

The program operates annually, hosting participants for a fall semester (August to December) at U.S. universities like James Madison University, with educators engaging in coursework, school placements, and inquiry projects.<ref>Fulbright Teacher Exchanges, "Fulbright DAI Program Details," https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/programs/dai/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> Selection occurs via country-specific Fulbright bodies, with participants spending up to 20 hours weekly in U.S. schools, ongoing with no fixed end date, adapting to global educational needs.

==Related==

* [[Fulbright U.S. Student Program]]
* [[Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program]]
* [[Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program]]

==External links==

* https://www.fulbrightteacherexchanges.org/
* https://eca.state.gov/fulbright - Department of State Fulbright overview
* https://www.iie.org/programs/fulbright-distinguished-awards-in-teaching-program-for-international-teachers - IIE administration details
* [[wikipedia:Fulbright Program]]

===Social media===

* https://twitter.com/FulbrightPrgrm
* https://www.facebook.com/fulbright

==References==

[[Category:Programs and initiatives]]
[[Category:Programs]]
[[Category:Department of State]]