The International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP) is a semester-long training program at a US university that brings outstanding secondary teachers from various countries to enhance their expertise in their subject areas, increase their knowledge about the US, and develop leadership skills. The program includes a customized education course, participation in two university courses, a technology workshop, teaching practicum at a US school, and cultural activities. Upon completion, alumni can apply for small grants to improve teaching in their home countries.
2. • The International Leaders
About ILEP
in Education Program
(ILEP):
is sponsored by the US
Department of State, Bureau
of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA).
3. • is implemented by IREX.
brings outstanding
secondary teachers from the
Near East, South Asia,
Southeast Asia, Africa, and
Latin America to the United
States.
is a semester-long training
program at a US university.
4. Goals of ILEP
• To further enhance the expertise of the
participants in their subject areas.
• To increase their knowledge about the United
States.
• To develop the leadership skills necessary to
implement and promote change within the
participants ‘ schools and home communities,
5. The International Leaders in Education Program
(ILEP)
ILEP was an intensive non-credit, non-degree
academic semester (January to May 2012) at a U.S.
university including:
• A customized course in education;
• Full participation in two higher-level undergraduate
or graduate U.S. University courses;
• A customized technology workshop;
• A teaching practicum at a U.S. secondary school;
• Organized U.S. civic and cultural activities.
6. Participating ILEP Countries
Lebanon Indonesia
Bangladesh Malaysia
Brazil Morocco
Egypt India
Ghana Philippines
Senegal Uganda
Kenya Peru
South Africa
8. Professional Development Modules
ILEP Fellows:
• Collaborate with colleagues at host
universities to design professional
development training modules
• Create modules on a topic of their choosing
relevant to the needs of their home school
environment
9. Technology Workshop
The goal of the technology workshop is to enhance
participants’ computer literacy skills for classroom
instruction and planning.
Topics may include:
Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, &
Publisher), Interactive Websites, Wikis, Blogs,
Podcasting, etc.
10. Audit Courses
• ILEP Fellows fully participate in two U.S.
University courses
• Courses may be in teaching methods or in
teaching subject area
• Courses may be graduate or upper-
undergraduate level and are subject to
availability and approval
11. Teaching Practicum
ILEP Fellows take part in a teaching practicum at a local
U.S. secondary school during which they:
• Observe a variety of teaching methods
• Work individually with a U.S. partner teacher on
creating lesson plans and pilot testing curriculum units
• Team teach with the U.S. partner teacher
• Participate in extra-curricular activities as available
12. Alumni Small Grants
After successfully completion of ILEP, alumni are
eligible to apply for small grants to improve
teaching in their home countries.
• Training workshops on topics concerning secondary
education in international alumni’s home country
to share and expand impact of the program to
peers at home.
Facilitator note: Please highlight to potential applicants that ILEP is a rigorous program. ILEP Participants are busy with program requirements at a minimum 40 hours per week.
One of the benefits of ILEP is that participating teachers have the opportunity to not only collaborate with professionals from the U.S. education community but with teachers from across the globe as well. ILEP Fellows are generally placed at Host Universities with at least one other teacher from their home country. In 2013, there are 75 slots for teachers to participate in ILEP from the above listed countries.
The education course is the cornerstone of the program and is designed specifically for the ILEP Fellows.
Fellows work together in groups of approximately 4 to 5 to design teacher professional development modules to aid in the sharing out of expertise upon return to their home country. Host Universities will coach Fellows through the design process of the modules.
ILEP Fellows’ technology skills and experience will be assessed in advance of the program through an IREX administered survey. Fellows may be placed in differentiated courses according to their tech skills and experience.
The audit courses allow ILEP Fellows the opportunity to interact with American Universitystudents as well as enhance their knowledge in an area of their choosing.
Fellows will be matched with a U.S. secondary school teacher in their same or similar teaching discipline. Fellows will have the opportunity to observe the U.S. classroom as well as team teach and lead lessons during the internship. Practicum schedules vary across Host Universities.
