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REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
STUDY TOUR ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION
TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
JULY 23 – AUGUST 5, 2008
PROGRAM CONDUCTED
BY:
National Council on Economic Education
1140 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 202
New York, NY 10036
FUNDED BY:
United States Department of Education and carried out in coordination with
the U.S. Department of State
Application deadline: MARCH 31, 2008
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 7, 2008
Notification of application status: APRIL 15, 2008
Download:
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS NCEE STUDY TOUR TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Organizational Overview
National Council on Economic Education
The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) is a national nonprofit
organization dedicated to promoting economic and financial literacy. Its mission
is to help students develop economic ways of thinking and problem-solving that
they can use in their lives as consumers, savers, investors, members of the workforce,
responsible citizens, and effective participants in the global economy. The National
Council on Economic Education and its nationwide network of affiliated state
councils and university-based centers on economic education deliver these programs
to the nation’s schools and work with a growing number of international
partners
Cooperative Education Exchange Program (CEEP) provides funding for the NCEE international program. CEEP-funded programs are administered through the United States Department of Education and carried out in coordination with the United States Department of State. Through CEEP, NCEE helps international partners undergoing the transition to a democratic market economy reform their educational systems through professional development, materials development, translation and adaptation, conferences, study tours, and organizational development. Through CEEP, NCEE brings together U.S. economic educators with their counterparts from emerging market economies. Since 1995, the National Council on Economic Education EconomicsInternational program has been responsible for conducting the economic education component of the CEEP. The CEEP also supports major activities in the area of civic education.
Program Overview
With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the NCEE is seeking qualified applicants to participate in a study tour to the Republic of South Africa for 12 K-12 U.S. educators who teach economics or incorporate significant economic content coverage in history, social studies, and other courses. One goal of the study tour to South Africa is to provide participants with an exceptional opportunity for professional development through observation of both the educational reforms underway and the realities people who live in countries undergoing economic transition face in their everyday lives. Another goal of the study tour is for participants to gain knowledge that will be communicated in their professional work when they return to the United States, through lessons and other educational activities for students, colleagues, and other community members.
The study tour will focus on participation in and observation of economic education activities and will include school visits, observations of teacher training activities, and meetings with provincial department of education officials and other leaders in education. Participants will meet with teachers, share ideas and experiences in economic education, and observe South African educators creatively delivering lessons in economics to students in elementary and secondary schools. U.S. participants will learn about educational reforms, training and delivery systems, curriculum and materials development, standards, and assessment in South Africa. Activities showcasing South Africa's culture will also be included.
Please note: Due to the full agenda of the study tour, participation in this study tour will require physical stamina and will involve long flights between the U.S. and South Africa, several hours of walking and remaining on your feet daily, taking part in walking tours, and carrying one’s own luggage. Each day begins early, and activities extend into the evening.
Program activities will begin with a two-day pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. The agenda for the orientation includes the following components:
- History and structure of NCEE;
- Tour objectives and expectations;
- A Who's Who of key players;
- Trip logistics;
- Cultural sensitivity exercises and information;
- South Africa’s educational system; and
- Post-tour follow-up projects and reports; and
- Ongoing involvement with NCEE and its affiliated network of centers and councils
| Arrive in Washington, D.C. | By noon, Wednesday, July 23, 2008 | |
| Pre-departure orientation | 4:00 – 8:00 PM, Wednesday, July 23 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursday, July 24, 2008 |
|
| Capitol Hill event and departure from Washington, D.C. to South Africa | Friday, March 7, 2008 | |
| Study Tour Program | July 26 – August 3, 2008 | |
| Departure to U.S. | Monday, August 4 , 2008 | |
| Arrive in U.S.A. | Tuesday, August 5, 2008 |
NCEE will cover the cost of accommodations (double-room occupancy) and meals during the study tour as well as international and in-country travel expenses. The study tour will be led by a U.S. economic educator and an NCEE program coordinator. These individuals are experienced in leading study tours and other educational programs in transition economies.
NOTE: Applicants must possess a U.S. passport valid through February 9, 2009 , with at least two blank pages at the time of application submission – no exceptions can be considered.
Professional Development Objectives
Upon returning to the United States, participants will be required to
share their new-found knowledge in the following ways:
- Write a report to NCEE that highlights impressions of South Africa, focusing particularly on economic education. (Report form will be provided by NCEE.) Reports are due no later than August 29, 2008;
- Work with their local NCEE-affiliated centers for economic education and/or state councils, both before and after the study tour, in an effort to share NCEE's work with other teachers in the state or community;
- Conduct presentations to teachers or educational, community, civic, or business groups on education or economic education in South Africa;
- Conduct a lesson or develop educational materials focusing on South Africa for their students.
- Submit a progress report on proposed presentations and activities by December 5, 2008 and a final report by March 2, 2009.
Selection Criteria
Preference will be given to U.S. citizens who:
- Are currently involved in K-12 economic education;
- Are actively involved in programs conducted by an NCEE-affiliated council or center (letter of recommendation from a council or center director is highly advised);
- Commit to engage in innovative outreach to promote the program such as attracting local media coverage, writing an article for school newsletter or professional journal, newsletter or other forums for outreach;
- Offer creative ideas for incorporating knowledge gained from the study tour into post-tour products;
- Possess demonstrated diplomatic skills and cultural sensitivity;
- Are experienced working in teams and groups;
- Are at least moderately experienced travelers who can effectively cope with the stress, uncertainty, and physical demands associated with overseas travel.
NCEE may conduct telephone interviews with some applicants. Those applicants who are selected to participate will be notified by e-mail on or before April 15, 2008. For more information about NCEE: http://www.ncee.net/.
Instructions for Application Submission
For your application to be accepted, the following application instructions must be followed.
- All applications must be typed. Handwritten applications will not be accepted. Please type your name on the top of each document.
- Application must be submitted by email. Each email should may include
two or three attachments.
- a single WORD document representing pages 3 through 7 of the application form. Do not submit each page as a separate WORD document.
- a scanned copy of the signature page (page 7) of the application, if you have professional responsibilities at school during the summer.
- a scanned copy of the signature and photo pages of your passport.
- 3. Scan documents to a manageable file size. Attachments larger than one megabyte will not be accepted.
- Letters of recommendation from council or center directors may be submitted separately (by email, fax, or by mail), but must be received by the application deadline.
Because of the volume of study tour applications submitted, NCEE cannot respond to individual email or phone inquiries regarding receipt or status of applications. Applicants wishing to verify receipt by NCEE of application documents or of letters of recommendation should utilize mailbox management functions available on email accounts, such as read confirmation and delivery confirmation.
Applicants without access to a scanner may submit clear, readable photocopies of the signature page and passport photo/signature page by fax. Fax to: Svetlana Smerdinskaya: +1-212-768-7894 or +1-212-730-1793.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATION:
March 31, 2008
EXTENDED TO APRIL 7, 2008 5:00 EDT
Late applications will not be considered
Download:
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS NCEE STUDY TOUR TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
National Council on Economic Education
1140 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Contact:
Svetlana Smerdinskaya: 212 730-6587 or
Barbara DeVita: 212 730-6703
Email:
southafircatour08@ncee.net