The 2009 Scholarship Programs Summer Schools successfully prepared 170 graduate scholars for the rigors, both academically and socially, of life in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom over three weeks of social science and academic writing classes.
Focusing on the Scholarship Programs’ youngest grantee cohort, the Undergraduate Exchange Program aims to foster the next generation of academically gifted and socially attuned undergraduate scholars from the Balkans, Ukraine, and Mongolia. Addressing the needs of the undergraduates by incorporating essential preparations for U.S. life and the civic involvement components of the grant, the event has a positive effect on the initial exchange experience of the grantee.
Pre-Departure Orientation 2009
The first step into the life of an Undergraduate Exchange Program (UEP) scholar happens at the annual Pre-Departure Orientation, held at Sabanci University, Istanbul. The weeklong gathering is an invaluable opportunity for all incoming UEP students to create lasting friendships with their fellow scholars, immerse themselves in the spirit of the program, and receive vital information and training to make their transition into academic life in the U.S. as smooth as possible.
Academically, scholars choose from a range of courses which expose them to the concept of open society as well as giving them a taste of the demands awaiting them in the U.S. Elective courses range from Human Rights in the American Criminal Justice System to impressions of American society through photography, advertising and film. Academic and essay writing skills are also an integral part of the courses, which also improve critical thinking skills.
Scholars Igor Gavric and Sandra Kostadinova (see below) provide first-hand insight into the orientation program and the contribution it has made to their experience at their US universities thus far.
Home Country Projects
In addition to the Pre-Departure Orientation for incoming scholars, Istanbul also hosted a two-day meeting of the Home Country Project Alumni Committee. Home Country Projects are an integral and mandatory part of the UEP experience, taking place after each scholar returns home following their academic year in the U.S.