Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad


Join a group of U.S. K–16 educators, administrators, and university students on a four-week Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) to Ecuador in Summer 2022.


What You'll Do

Program participants will:

  • study the Kichwa language at the novice level with 40 hours of instruction
  • explore Andean culture, cosmology, and the Ecuadorian educación bilingüe intercultural system through workshops and lectures from guest speakers
  • enjoy immersive experiences via excursions to the cloud forest and other historic and cultural sites
  • collaborate with their peers and design a science/social studies mini unit alongside an Ecuadorian teacher at a Kichwa-Spanish bilingual school

And the best part: you’ll get to immediately observe your curriculum being taught to Ecuadorian students and then bring it back to the U.S. to teach your own students!


Learn more about this program and submit your application by Dec. 1.

Program At-a-Glance


When: June 4 – July 2, 2022

Where: Quito and Otavalo, Ecuador

Why: The purpose of our GPA program is to promote bilingual intercultural education and hands-on approaches to science and social studies learning in various languages.

Check out our itinerary below for an in-depth look at what's planned.

Who Should Enroll


Ideal candidates for this program are U.S. K – 16 educators and administrators as well as university students.

Undergraduates should be in their third year or beyond. Graduate students are also welcomed to enroll.

We're looking for individuals who are innovative problem solvers and can connect cross-culturally.

You'll also be expected to maintain a standard of academic and professional integrity, obey the laws of Ecuador, and protect the non-political character of the project.

We want to keep with the spirit and intent of the Fulbright program and will contribute positively to the promotion of mutual understanding between peoples of the U.S. and those of Ecuador.

Apply Now


Ready to get started? First make sure you meet the program eligibility requirements below. Then choose which application method you’d like to do.

You can apply online or mail a physical application (PDF) to Linda D’Amico at:

Minné 120
Winona State University
175 W. Mark St.
Winona, MN 55987

Regardless of which method you select, applications are due Dec. 1.

About the Portfolio


Besides traveling abroad, one of the coolest parts of this program is that you’ll have the opportunity to co-design a five-lesson mini-unit in science or social studies with an Ecuadorian teacher whose interests align with yours.

Your mini-unit will use Kichwa, Spanish, and English to teach objectives related to indigenous and Western understandings of the topic.

Then you’ll get to observe your curriculum being taught in the Ecuadorian teacher’s classroom.

Observing your curriculum in a classroom will be greatly beneficial to identify areas that are solid and other areas that could be improved.

When you return to the U.S., you’ll be expected to publish your portfolio online, share and present your unit at a local or national professional venue of your choice, and teach your science/social studies curriculum to your own students.

For you to participate in the GPA program, you’ll need to meet these requirements:

  • COVID-19 fully vaccinated
  • Wear face masks each day during the trip
  • Be in good health (we’ll be at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet)
  • Be able to walk on uneven surfaces; go up and down steps; walk uphill, downhill, and on dirt roads
  • Have your U.S. passport for international travel
  • Are passionate about bilingual intercultural education
  • Are culturally sensitive, open-minded, and flexible
  • Contribute $150 for didactic materials for the partner school in Ecuador
  • No alcohol or illegal drugs permitted
  • Obtain your own travel insurance, secured at your expense

Preferred candidates have one or more of these qualities:

  • Have a Spanish educational background (at least Intermediate Spanish)—this is needed to communicate with Ecuadorian staff
  • Training or experience in bilingual/bicultural education, teaching English as a second language to speakers of other languages, or second language content teaching
  • Experience in indigenous or heritage language education
  • Specialty in science education or social studies education

We may be able to accommodate exceptional candidates who don’t speak Spanish based on their expertise and experience in science, social studies, or bilingual education.

Pre-Departure Orientation Training

Before arriving in Ecuador, you’ll have 16 hours of online training that will cover:

  • Kichwa language pre-test
  • Bilingual pedagogy mini session
  • Best practices in cross-cultural collaboration
  • Ecuador cultural instruction
  • Health and safety guidelines in Ecuador
  • Program goals review

On-Site

Once you arrive in Quito, Ecuador, you’ll travel to a study site near Otavalo to begin the program.

Weeks 1, 2, & 3

During these three weeks, you’ll be attending a Kichwa-Spanish bilingual K–12 school near Otavalo where you’ll collaborate with our Ecuadorian teacher-partner, study Kichwa, and engage in a variety of workshops—all while staying in local hospedajes.

Week 4

In the final week of the program, we’ll take you on excursions to the cloud forest and other historic and cultural sites, as well as two days in Quito. We’ll wrap up the program with a Kichwa language post-test.


Return

Upon your return to the U.S., you’ll complete your portfolio.

Expenses taken care of by the Fulbright-Hays grant:

  • Flight to and from Quito, Ecuador
  • Lodging in Ecuador (you may be paired with a roommate)
  • Food and drink (no alcohol)
  • Travel in and around Ecuador, including taxi, shuttle, and bus

Expenses participants must cover:

  • U.S. passport
  • Travel insurance
  • Travel to and from your U.S. airport
  • $150 in didactic materials to be donated to the partner school in Ecuador
  • Spending money at your discretion

Optional expenses participants must also cover:

  • Between three and eight undergraduate or graduate credits (tuition and fees apply)

Interested program participants may be able to earn between three and eight upper-division credits at the undergraduate or graduate level at Winona State University.

Speak with WSU Admissions regarding how these credits will transfer (e.g., cross-cultural communication, Andean studies, Spanish language, environmental studies, bilingual education practicum).

You may also want to talk with your state licensing board regarding how these credits can help with your educator license renewal.

Please indicate your interest in earning university credit on your application. Cost for university credit isn’t included in expenses covered by Fulbright-Hays.