Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders from Europe
In partnership with the U.S. Department of State, Meridian International Center implemented a five-week academic exchange program for 60 European undergraduate student leaders each year. Participants engaged with U.S. culture and developed global leadership skills through the Study of U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders from Europe program.
SUSI Mission
SUSI's programs were founded on a belief in the unlimited potential of intercultural exchanges to promote leadership skills in young leaders.
Our Approach
The program was implemented in partnership with American universities and is comprised of a series of interactive classroom activities, volunteering opportunities, community-based projects, and site visits to U.S. cities of all sizes. SUSI student leaders experienced an in-depth investigation into program themes and enhanced their understanding of American values.
Academic Institutes, Residencies, and Study Tours
Each SUSI for Student Leaders from Europe Institute includes a four-week intensive Academic Residency at a partner university and an approximately one-week Study Tour in a second city.
The four-week Academic Residency deepened participants’ understanding of U.S. institutions and culture and empowered them to take action in their home communities. Academic Residencies were followed by curated Study Tours highlighting diverse American communities as models of resiliency and thematic expertise in areas of interest to participants.
Students examined civic engagement study and practice in the global context, exploring the many principles that have underwritten historic American social movements. They developed research skills to document the context, issues, communities, personalities and investigation skills to report on local examples of civic engagement in and around East Lancing, Michigan.
University of Nevada, Reno (2022) and Shippensburg University (2023-24)
Participants explored climate change through the lenses of watersheds, food systems, and energy and environmental policy. Students worked and connected with diverse environmental organizations to develop their understanding of the environment and its intersectionality with politics, race, culture, gender, poverty, history, and class. Participants got out in the field, interacting with the environment directly and meeting with practitioners and environmental specialists where they work.
Arizona State University (2022-2024)
The news media have never been more important in their role as a nonpartisan government watchdog even as decades of declining revenue and pervasive misinformation threaten to further weaken the industry’s ability to keep the public informed of critical current events. Participants learned innovative storytelling techniques that appeal to audiences across generations, cultures, and geographies. They had the opportunity to reimagine what news is and how to connect with audiences to keep them informed and empowered to make decisions in their daily lives.
Students examined civic engagement study and practice in the global context, exploring the many principles that have underwritten historic American social movements. They developed research skills to document the context, issues, communities, personalities and investigation skills to report on local examples of civic engagement in and around East Lancing, Michigan.
University of Nevada, Reno (2022) and Shippensburg University (2023-24)
Participants explored climate change through the lenses of watersheds, food systems, and energy and environmental policy. Students worked and connected with diverse environmental organizations to develop their understanding of the environment and its intersectionality with politics, race, culture, gender, poverty, history, and class. Participants got out in the field, interacting with the environment directly and meeting with practitioners and environmental specialists where they work.
The news media have never been more important in their role as a nonpartisan government watchdog even as decades of declining revenue and pervasive misinformation threaten to further weaken the industry’s ability to keep the public informed of critical current events. Participants learned innovative storytelling techniques that appeal to audiences across generations, cultures, and geographies. They had the opportunity to reimagine what news is and how to connect with audiences to keep them informed and empowered to make decisions in their daily lives.
Our Impact
Community Action Projects
Each participant designed and planned a Community Action Project (CAP) during their time in the U.S. on the SUSI program with support from staff at the Institute that employs what students learned from SUSI to create positive change in their home community. As SUSI alumni, participants were eligible to apply for Mini Grants to support the implementation of these projects.
Parameters for the CAPs were defined by each University and inspired by teachings, trainings, observations, and conversations each participant had during the Academic Residency and the Study Tour.
The projects reflected and met the social, economic, or other needs of participants’ home communities and allowed the impact of the SUSI program to extend far beyond each individual’s time in the U.S.
SUSI Alumni Engagement
The SUSI experience does not end when participants return home.
Meridian and university partners have developed a series of continuous mentorship, networking, and learning opportunities to transition participants to alumni and encourage them to join the Department of State’s International Exchange Alumni network. Participants have many opportunities to stay connected with SUSI alumni, other ECA program alumni, Institute hosts, and community members as they use the knowledge gained during the program to give back to their communities.
Upon return to their home countries, participants are eligible for post-program engagement opportunities to support ongoing leadership development and the implementation of Community Action Projects.
Organized a series of workshops to bring together high school students of different ethnic backgrounds. These workshops provided a platform for meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding; the students participated in volunteer activities and practiced intercultural communication through art. Participants reported increased awareness of each other's perspectives and experiences, leading to more empathy and a greater sense of unity among the group.
Sotirios Douklias
Greece
Worm Salad
Installed vermicomposting (worm composting) bins in his local community, trained university peers on their use, and held informational workshops for local businesses, farmers and high school students on how vermicomposting can offer a greener alternative for both waste management and fertilizer.
Dāvids Rubens
Latvia
21st Century Latgalian
Organized a workshop for high school students to raise awareness of their local identity through Latgalian, a minority language spoken in eastern Latvia. Panels on various topics were held in Latgalian, and students prepared short poems in the language. The workshop helped empower high school students to speak Latgalian in everyday communication.
Organized a series of workshops to bring together high school students of different ethnic backgrounds. These workshops provided a platform for meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding; the students participated in volunteer activities and practiced intercultural communication through art. Participants reported increased awareness of each other's perspectives and experiences, leading to more empathy and a greater sense of unity among the group.
Sotirios Douklias
Greece
Worm Salad
Installed vermicomposting (worm composting) bins in his local community, trained university peers on their use, and held informational workshops for local businesses, farmers and high school students on how vermicomposting can offer a greener alternative for both waste management and fertilizer.
Dāvids Rubens
Latvia
21st Century Latgalian
Organized a workshop for high school students to raise awareness of their local identity through Latgalian, a minority language spoken in eastern Latvia. Panels on various topics were held in Latgalian, and students prepared short poems in the language. The workshop helped empower high school students to speak Latgalian in everyday communication.
