Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad

Fulbright-Hays Seminars are short-term study travel seminars abroad for American educators in social sciences and humanities. The aim is to improve their understanding and knowledge of the people and culture of other countries.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and annually offers up to eight Seminars throughout the world. The primary outcome of these seminars is the development of curriculum or course material on Australia that is then integrated into each participant’s school and shared with other American educators.

Australian Seminars

The Australian-American Fulbright Commission hosted seminars in 2005 and 2006. More than just tours, both seminars enabled the participants to gain first hand experience of Australian culture through home stays, school visits in urban and rural areas plus to spend time with local aboriginal communities. With its unique and fragile landscape the Australian environment is a fascinating place to visit and study. Lectures, workshops and guided tours during the seminars provided participants with opportunities to better understand Australia’s fascinating past and its current environmental challenges.

• 2006 Seminar - Australia - an ancient, delicate and unique environment
• 2005 Seminar - Australia: new country, old history
  

Sharing Australia in the American classroom

Upon their return to America, the participants were required to complete and submit a curriculum project which drew on their seminar experiences in Australia. Participants then use these curriculum projects in their classrooms, share them with colleagues, and conduct outreach activities in their schools, institutions, and communities. The topics of the projects that arose out of the seminars are diverse and draw on a wide variety of disciplines including music, literature, language, art, study of indigenous cultures, and human rights issues.

The participants’ curriculum projects are available for use in classrooms by teachers.