We, the in-country partner of the Professional Fellows Exchange Program sponsored by the US Department of State, facilitate transformative 5–6-week exchange program, fostering global collaboration and leadership development.
Application deadline: April 30, 2024
The Professional Fellows Exchange program is scheduled for May-June, 2025.
Theme: Economic Empowerment
Interested applicants must adhere to the following requirements to be eligible to apply:
Be emerging leaders in either civil society or the private sector in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka who have demonstrated expertise in economic empowerment and entrepreneurial/small business development in the respective countries.
Have relevant experience and expertise in the small business/entrepreneurship/economic empowerment profession;
Be either a Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Sri Lankan citizen;
Be interested in experiencing hands-on the activities in a U.S. business or economic empowerment organization;
Be committed to the importance of a sustainable and empowering business sector in a democracy;
Be proficient in written and spoken English as the entire exchange program and professional placements will be conducted in English;
Be computer-literate;
Be between the ages of 25 and 40.
Through this program, participants will specifically:
Be exposed to the day-to-day workings of the U.S. business workplace through quality professional experiences of four weeks;
Gain exposure to a variety of American business organizations and networks in Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.;
Get a conceptual and practical background for integrating themselves into the American business environment through conceptual lectures, discussions and exercises to expose them to concepts related to budgeting, business plans, strategic communication, leadership and management principles, social media developments, the business/government interface, intellectual property, contracts and business ethics;
Enhance their leadership skills to facilitate positive change in their workplaces and communities as they develop personally and professionally;
Participate in weekly face-to-face feedback sessions with University of Oklahoma faculty to reflect on their professional experiences for that week;
Be exposed to a variety of business networks in Oklahoma designed to support start-up companies and to governmental/media institutions that can influence business;
Be exposed to rich cultural experiences that represent Oklahoma’s unique environment especially the Native American experience, and exposure to American family life in a variety of settings;
Become acquainted with the Bangladeshi-American, Indian-American, Pakistani-American and Sri Lankan-American communities in the Oklahoma City metro area;
Be exposed to networking opportunities with U.S. placement hosts and partner organizations in an ongoing discussion and exchange of ideas, support and resources;
Get connected to a network of alumni from previous professional exchanges programs, professional placement providers and university faculty to facilitate ongoing discussion and exchange through social networking; and
Have the opportunity to reconnect with Oklahoma stakeholders who will make reciprocal visits to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Self-directed; Able to work independently, as well as in a teamwork environment;
Able to adjust to changing cultural settings and environments;
Considered leaders in their profession and their community;
Genuinely interested in developing and/or expanding on an individual project of their own selection in their home workplace or community; and
Innovative and open to new ideas.
Ability to travel without family members (including children) or other individuals (relatives, friends);
A guarantee that participants will, at all times, comply with all program requirements and program activities.
NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS CONTAINING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION NOT WRITTEN IN ENGLISH, WRITTEN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION AND NOT ANSWERING THE ABOVE QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED WHEN APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED.