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International Exchange Alumni Programs include Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (TIES) and the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program.
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As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and educators. ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world. Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today. ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society – including young people, women, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals – increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans. The purpose of International Exchange Alumni Programs is to advance U.S. foreign policy by building and maintaining relationships with current and future leaders, including Americans, who have participated in international exchanges. Alumni engagement is an integral component of the U.S. Department of State’s public diplomacy that generates maximum return on the U.S. government’s investment in exchange programs. Alumni programs aim to unite alumni communities around the globe and foster post-exchange opportunities through follow-on activities, virtual engagement, funding opportunities and resources, and regional programs.
This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the
administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.
For more information on each of these data sources, please see the
About the data page.
The Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar (Alumni TIES) Program supports regional or sub-regional enrichment seminars for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs focusing on thematic topics that support U.S. foreign policy priorities and foster a shared sense of identity, networking, and dialogue among participating alumni. To support efforts of alumni to apply their international exchange and seminar experience with their communities, participants are eligible to compete for a small grants opportunity of up to $10,000 per project following the seminar. Approximately 130 U.S. alumni of various ECA exchange programs participated in four seminars in FY 2016.
In FY 2017, the Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars program involved approximately 200 alumni.
In 2018, 168 alumni from 64 countries, including the United States, participated in four Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars.
The Career Connections Seminars for U.S. Alumni series was launched and hosted three seminars in three different regions of the United States during FY 2019. The seminars enhanced the professional development of a total of 220 U.S. alumni.
The Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (TIES) hosted seminars in Accra, Ghana, Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Kansas City for an approximate total of 150 participants.
Twenty-four alumni received small grants for projects related to strengthening cities through entrepreneurship, business and trade for women entrepreneurs, and media literacy skills
In FY 2020, the Office of Alumni Affairs deployed the Alumni Rapid Response Fund (ARRF) to provide quick turnaround funding that supported 37 U.S. alumni projects addressing pressing local COVID-19 needs. Additionally, 39 U.S. alumni participated at the annual Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar (TIES).
To date, approximately 39 small grants were issued to U.S. citizen exchange alumni using FY2021 funding through the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program, reaching 65 U.S. citizen exchange alumni and 33 international alumni teammates. FY2021 funding will fund additional small grants in calendar year 2022 and 2023.
In May 2023, 39 exchange alumni from Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States participated in an Alumni TIES on environmental justice, food and water insecurity, and strategies for bringing minority voices into climate adaptation practices. Throughout the week, participants shared success and challenges of diversity and building consensus among indigenous communities with competing interests, highlighted the power of youth engagement, shared best practices for climate action in the digital age, promoted environmental and health benefits of parks and open spaces, and they told personal stories of helping communities in Barbados fight food insecurity through sustainable land use and surviving on the frontlines of climate change during hurricane Katrina.
The annual grant opportunity for teams of U.S. citizen exchange program alumni to utilize the skills, knowledge and networks gained through their U.S. government exchange programs to address issues faced by communities around the world funded 47 out of 187 very competitive submissions. The teams reflected a diverse range of exchange programs and communities across 24 U.S. states. Their projects will help strengthen democratic institutions; fight disinformation; protect the environment; support human rights, refugees, and migrants; foster alumni network development; and build community through arts, sports, language, and technology.
No Current Data Available.
No Current Data Available.
No Current Data Available.
Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):
For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.
OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.
