Office of International Programs

Mandela Washington Fellowship at Appalachian 2021

Beginning in mid-June 2021, Appalachian State University virtually hosted 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging Civic Engagement leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Learn More

Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement at Appalachian 2019

The 2019 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) provided outstanding secondary school teachers of English, social studies, math, science, and special education with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills and increase their knowledge about the United States. Learn More

Mandela Washington Fellowship at Appalachian 2019

In 2019, the Fellowship provided 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. higher education institution with support for professional development after they return home. Appalachian's Institute hosted 25 Fellows and focused on leadership and skills development in Civic Engagement. The Fellows, who were between the ages of 25 and 35, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries. 

Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program- 2018

In Fall 2018, the Teaching Excellence and Achievement program, a program of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, provided unique opportunities to further expertise in the teaching of English as a Foreign Language or Science for 19 Fellows, enhanced their abilities in student-centered inquiry and project-based teaching and instructional design and assessment, and helped them to develop important skills in teacher-leadership to support their work across their teaching careers.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute 2018

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. In 2018, the Fellowship provided 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. college or university with support for professional development after they returned home.

Reciprocal Exchange Grant- Grant Workshops in Nigeria

In May of 2018, Jesse Lutabingwa travelled to Nigeria to conduct grant workshops through a Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange Grant. The grant workshops were developed in collaboration with Dr. Segun Fatudimu, Founder and Director of Sozo Networks.  This grant was provided and administrated by the U.S. Department of State and IREX.  Related Links:

Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program- 2017

In Fall 2017, the Teaching Excellence and Achievement program, a program of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, provided unique opportunities to further expertise in the teaching of English as a Foreign Language or Science for 21 Fellows from 18 countries, enhanced their abilities in student-centered inquiry and project-based teaching and instructional design and assessment, and helped them to develop important skills in teacher-leadership to support their work across their teaching careers.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute- 2017

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. In 2017, the Fellowship provided 1,000 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. higher education institution with support for professional development after they return home.

Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute- 2016

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. In 2016, the Fellowship provided 1,000 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. higher education institution with support for professional development after they return home.

STEM Research Abroad in Angers

In 2016, Appalachian State University and the University of Angers in Angers, France received a grant from the French Embassy, under the Transatlantic Friendship and Mobility Initiative, to fund 10 Appalachian students $2,500 each to conduct research abroad at the University of Angers during summer session 1 of 2016.

North Carolina-Pakistan School Exchange III

Appalachian State University has received a third grant totaling $397,713 from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, to continue an exchange project between public schools in Watauga County and Taxila, Pakistan. The project will be directed by Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for international education and development, and Dr. Arshad Bashir, a Fulbright doctoral graduate from the educational leadership program in Appalachian’s Reich College of Education. A native of Pakistan, Bashir previously taught in Taxila and is now assistant director of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program (2014)

Appalachian is excited to host the Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program for the fourth year. Appalachian is one of four U.S. universities selected through a competitive process to implement the program. The TEA Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) based in Washington, D.C.

North Carolina-Pakistan School Exchange II

Appalachian State University has received a second grant totaling $297,529 from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, to continue an exchange project between public schools in Watauga County and Taxila, Pakistan. The project will be directed by Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for international education and development, and Dr. Arshad Bashir, a Fulbright doctoral graduate from the educational leadership program in Appalachian’s Reich College of Education. A native of Pakistan, Bashir previously taught in Taxila and is now assistant director of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program (2013)

The Teaching Excellence & Achievement (TEA) Program is designed to enhance the capacity of 21 teachers representing 17 countries to teach English. TEA Fellows are from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Haiti, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. These teachers will develop their expertise in the teaching of English as a foreign language, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge of the United States while at Appalachian.

Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program (2012)

The Teaching Excellence & Achievement (TEA) Program is designed to enhance the capacity of 21 teachers representing 17 countries to teach English. TEA Fellows are from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Haiti, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. These teachers will develop their expertise in the teaching of English as a foreign language, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge of the United States while at Appalachian. The program started on September 18 in Washington, DC and will end on November 5 in Washington, DC.

Bringing Offshore Outsourcing Management to the Carolinas

The Bringing Offshore Outsourcing Management to the Carolinas (BOOM-Carolinas) project is Appalachian State University and Asheville-Bucombe Technical College’s (ABTech) response to the challenges created by offshore outsourcing. Offshore outsourcing of business services, both business processing and information technology (IT) has raised new challenges for the Carolina businesses and Appalachian. It has made it necessary for the university to integrate business processes and IT outsourcing in its business educational programs. It has also raised the need for Appalachian to develop students’ understanding of India, a destination of most of global outsourcing services, as well as the need to train local businesses in taking advantage of opportunities created by offshore outsourcing, while at the same time combating the threats of this phenomenon.

Preparing Faculties of Specific Education and Faculties of Kindergarten for Accreditation

Appalachian State University conducted a 10-day study tour on Preparing Faculties of Specific Education and Faculties of Kindergarten for Accreditation for 25 Egyptian high education administrators and faculty members. The study tour, conducted in North Carolina in July/August 2008, was aimed at exposing the Egyptian educators to accreditation issues and approaches of schools and colleges of education at three universities in North Carolina.

Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program: Pakistani Secondary-Level Biology Educators (2008)

Appalachian State University conducted two six-week training programs for 30 Pakistani secondary-level biology teachers. The programs were conducted in Boone, North Carolina in July/August 2007 and July/August 2008. The programs involved university faculty from multiple fields and made optimal use of the university's strong partnership with Ashe, Avery, and Watauga school districts. The training programs contributed to the important goal of developing science and educational technology skills while strengthening the English proficiency of Pakistani secondary-level biology teachers.

Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program: Pakistani Secondary-Level Biology Educators (2007)

Appalachian State University conducted two six-week training programs for 30 Pakistani secondary-level biology teachers. The programs were conducted in Boone, North Carolina in July/August 2007 and July/August 2008. The programs involved university faculty from multiple fields and made optimal use of the university's strong partnership with Ashe, Avery, and Watauga school districts. The training programs contributed to the important goal of developing science and educational technology skills while strengthening the English proficiency of Pakistani secondary-level biology teachers.

Comprehensive School Reform Models for Egyptian Educators

Project summary Appalachian State University conducted two 15-day study tours on Comprehensive School Reform Models for 40 Egyptian educators. The study tours, which took place in North Carolina April/May 2007 and December 2007, exposed the Egyptian educators to various successful comprehensive school reform models in the U.S.

Study Tour on K-12 Accreditation for Egyptian Educators

Appalachian State University conducted a 10-day accreditation study tour for the Egyptian educators. The study tour, which took place in Georgia and Florida on May 16 – 26, 2007, exposed the Egyptian educators to best practices in the K-12 schools accreditation process in the U.S.

Curriculum Development for Higher Education in the Kurdistan Regional Government

The Curriculum Development Project is a partnership between Appalachian State University and the Kurdistan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The project addresses critical gaps in Kurdistan’s higher education system resulting from more than 30 years of wars and embargos. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the State Department, and the Kurdish universities recognize that the present curriculum must be reformed to provide students with the skills and abilities needed to address current and future needs of the country.

Legislative Fellows Program for South African Young Leaders

Appalachian State University, in collaboration with the Africa Governance Transformation, has received a grant to implement a two-year Legislative Fellows Program (LFP) for South Africans. LFP is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Appalachian State University in the U.S. and Africa Governance Transformation in South Africa. The goals of LFP are to strengthen South Africa's democracy, assist in the empowerment of mid-level government professionals, and enhance technical skills and institution-building capacity for South African legislative professionals. The target groups are the National Parliament and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Parliament, as well as local government professionals in the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa.

Capacity Building for Undergraduate Study Abroad in Egypt, India, South Africa, and Taiwan

The goal of the project is to build the capacity of selected Appalachian’s international partner institutions to successfully host Appalachian and other U.S. students who pursue studies at their institutions as part of their academic programs. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for two years (2009 – 2011). The targeted countries are Egypt, India, South Africa, and Taiwan, locations where Appalachian has signed new agreements in the last two years.

Renewable Energy, Efficiency Energy, and Competitiveness: A Partnership Between Appalachian State University Fundacion Universidad de Las Americas Puebla

Appalachian State University and Fundación Universidad de Las Américas–Puebla (FUDLAP) propose to work together to implement Mexico-TIES project focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency and competitiveness under the TIES Phase IV Cycle 1 Competition. Appalachian and FUDLAP have been working together since 2003 when the two institutions signed an agreement that provides a framework for student and faculty exchanges and collaborative research activities. While most of the student and faculty exchanges that have taken place have been in the social sciences and humanities disciplines, the TIES project will provide an opportunity to expand the exchanges in the natural sciences and engineering disciplines. Appalachian has a robust renewable energy and energy efficiency program that is widely recognized nationally for the contributions made by faculty and students in the arena of energy studies and sustainable application of technology.

U.S.- Brazil Sustainability and Sustainable Development Education Initiative

One of our greatest challenges today is to learn to live with each other on this planet in a sustainable manner. We are facing the grave consequences of climate change and growing inequalities between the rich and the poor. The key to overcoming our many environmental challenges is to educate for sustainability. Sustainability is closely related to the concept of sustainable development, which means meeting the needs of the present generation without compromizing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The convergence of a number of events in recent years suggests that a unique opportunity to advance sustainability and sustainable development education has arrived. This trend is fostering interdisciplinary linkages among the natural and social sciences. Higher education institutions in both the U.S. and Brazil have an important role to play in creating a sustainable future.

Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program (2011)

The Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) was conducted in North Carolina for 22 TEA Fellows from September 23 – November 7, 2011. The TEA Fellows came from Argentina, Cambodia, Estonia, Guatemala, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Russia, Thailand, and Turkmenistan. The program involved university faculty from multiple fields and made optimal use of the university's strong partnership with local public schools in Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes counties.