AFS Global STEM Educators

AFS Global STEM Educators is a 6-week, full-scholarship, virtual exchange program for in-service Educators worldwide (ages 18+) teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) at the secondary level (working with students ages 13-18). This online, interactive certificate program is designed for Educators to build the skills needed to become globally competent leaders and foster global competence in their school communities and beyond.

Participants will examine intercultural issues in education, explore resources for teaching about sustainable development and global citizenship to students, and develop ideas to build bridges in multicultural classroom environments. This program will help you explore key concepts and principles of Global Citizenship Education and learn to foster 21st century skills with your students.

Global STEM Educators will:

Examine intercultural issues and the fundamentals of globally competent teaching.
Bridge perspectives on STEM education in local and global contexts.
Explore teaching resources on sustainability, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and global citizenship education.
Reflect on one’s own teaching context and develop new ideas to build bridges in multicultural classrooms.
Boost self-awareness and empathy for diverse cultural backgrounds, perceptions, and behaviors.
Earn an AFS global competence certificate and digital badge reflecting new credentials.

There are 250 scholarships available, divided across two cohorts:

Cohort 1: 6 April – 12 May 2024
Cohort 2: 22 June – 28 July 2024

bp, a global energy company, provides funding that supports these scholarships.

The program is available only via scholarship award.

Applications for the 2023 AFS Global STEM Educators will open in February 2024.

Applications for the 2023 Global STEM Educators are open to in-service secondary-level STEM educators from anywhere in the world, who meet the following criteria:

Birthdate

Applicants must be 18+ years of age to apply (birthdate at least April 6, 2006)

Language

Interests & Availability

Interest in global citizenship education, education for sustainable development and experiential learning methodologies
Interest in STEM, sustainability, and global competencies
Curiosity and willingness to interact with diverse global peers and explore different cultures and ways of teaching.
Availability to complete the Global STEM Educator online learning certification (approximately 2-3 hours per week for 6 weeks) and to use at least one of the activities from the Educator Toolkit with your students (minimum 15-45-minute lesson plan).

Technology*

Diversity

What will I do in the Global STEM Educators program?

The Global STEM Educators is a virtual exchange program that aims to help teachers build the skills and understanding needed to become globally competent and develop global competence in your students.

This program will help you explore key concepts and principles of Global Citizenship Education and learn to foster 21st century skills with your students.

During this program, participants will:

Explore different views, experiences and best practices in a collaborative virtual learning environment.
Make local and global connections with other educators interested in Global Citizenship Education.
Experience different training, communication and teaching styles.
Earn a certificate of completion indicating the number of hours of engagement, types of activities and topics covered.

How do the virtual activities work? What if I miss one of the activities?

The 6-week virtual learning certification consists of both “live” synchronous activities (dialogue sessions on Zoom with your global peers, led by certified AFS facilitators) each week, as well as self-paced/asynchronous content (online video modules, discussion forums, case studies and quizzes).
Scholars will have access to teaching resources, tools for self-reflection, and connection with other teachers from around the world in a virtual community,
Participation will require approximately 3-4 hours of your per week
The virtual program is designed to be flexible enough that it can fit around your schedule.
The live sessions will be offered at multiple times to accommodate diverse time zones and schedules.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Applicants must serve as secondary level teachers for 13-18-year-old students.
Must be able to participate fully in activities (online modules, discussion forums and live dialogue sessions) conducted entirely in English.
Demonstrated interest in global citizenship education, education for sustainable development and interacting with different cultures.
Motivated in-service teachers from all backgrounds who reflect the diversity of populations around the world, particularly underrepresented populations, are strongly encouraged to apply!

What technology will I need access to in order to participate?

I submitted my application! When will I be notified regarding a decision?

Who is funding the Global STEM Educators?

Global STEM Educators scholarships are funded by bp, a global integrated energy company. The program and its curriculum are wholly developed, managed, delivered, and certified by AFS Intercultural Programs.

Both AFS and bp recognize the crucial role of STEM skills – including a broad range of STEM disciplines, such as engineering, digital, data science and more – combined with global competence in solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.

AFS Global STEM programs endeavor to build global, diverse talent prepared to develop innovative solutions to help society reach a sustainable future, and to attract more people into the STEM fields. The programs are designed to empower underrepresented populations, especially young women, with pathways to STEM and sustainability education, skills, leadership, and social impact.

A virtual exchange program providing 250 scholarships for educators (age 18+) at the secondary level (working with ages 13-18).

Who can apply?

Birthdate

Language

Interests & Availability

Technology*

Diversity

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I do in the Global STEM Educators program?

How do the virtual activities work? What if I miss one of the activities?

What are the eligibility requirements?

What technology will I need access to in order to participate?

I submitted my application! When will I be notified regarding a decision?

Who is funding the Global STEM Educators?

Explore other Global STEM programs

AFS Global STEM Changemakers Initiative

AFS Global STEM Academies

AFS Global STEM Accelerators

AFS Global STEM Innovators