AFS Global Up Educators

What are Global Up Programs?

Global Up with a unique virtual program that develops essential and lifelong global power skills: collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, cross-cultural communication, open-mindedness and flexibility. Everyone who completes this program will obtain the award-winning AFS Global Competence Certificate (GCC) and a digital Credly badge that certifies their learning achievements. More than 8,000 individuals from 60+ countries have obtained this Certificate to date.

With the Global Up Educators program, you will learn to collaborate effectively across differences through the virtual interactive program that requires no travel. The Global Up Educators enhances global competence and equips teachers to foster global competence in their students. After completing the AFS Global Up Educators program, you are more self-aware, aware of other perspectives and can bridge across differences

In 2024, AFS will provide 10 full scholarships for the Global Up Educators program for candidates according to the criteria below:

Who can apply for this scholarship?

Applicants to the AFS Scholarships in Vietnam must meet all of the following criteria outlined:

Nationality/Citizenship or Country of Legal Residence – Vietnam
Language – English (ability to communicate/interact)
Interest – Interest in global citizenship education/competencies
Diversity – Talented in-service teachers from all backgrounds who reflect the diversity of Vietnam, particularly women, underrepresented populations, and applicants with high financial need, are strongly encouraged to apply!
High School Teacher – Teaching at the secondary level (working with students ages 13-18).
Previous experiences with AFS – Only candidates who have NOT previously obtained the AFS Global Competence Certificate or participated in an AFS Global Up or Global STEM program before can apply for this scholarship.

What is the timeline for applications?

AFS Global Up Educators is a 6-week, full-scholarship, virtual exchange program for in-service Educators worldwide (ages 18+) teaching 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 Up Educators will:

Examine intercultural issues and the fundamentals of globally competent teaching.
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.

Hear from the Educators alumni:

Application & Program Dates

April 14: Application opens
June 13: Application deadline
June 14 – 30: scholarship selection (application review/online interviews)
July 1: scholarship decisions announced via email
July – August: Vietnam Cohort virtual exchange (exact dates to be informed after the selection)

The program is available only via scholarship award.

Applications for the Global Up Educators are open to in-service secondary-level educators from Vietnam, who meet the following criteria:

Birthdate - applicants must be 18+ years of age to apply

Vietnamese citizenship or residence
Command in the English Language
Ability to participate fully, both online and in a classroom setting, in a program conducted entirely in English
Teaching at the high school/secondary level (students age 13-18 years old)

Interests & Availability

Interest in global citizenship education, education for sustainable development and experiential learning methodologies
Curiosity and willingness to interact with diverse global peers and explore different cultures and ways of teaching
Availability to complete the Global Up 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

Previous experiences with AFS

What are the dates of the Global Up Educators program?

The 5-week all-virtual Global Up Educators program will run in one cohort in 2025:

July – August (exact dates to be informed after the selection)

What will I do in the Global Up Educators program?

The Global Up 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 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 and interacting with different cultures.
Motivated in-service teachers from all backgrounds who reflect the diversity of Vietnam, particularly underrepresented populations, and applicants with high financial need are strongly encouraged to apply!
Only candidates who have NOT previously obtained the AFS Global Competence Certificate or participated in an AFS Global Up or Global STEM program before can apply for this scholarship.

AFS Global Up Educators

A virtual exchange program providing 10 scholarships for educators at the secondary level (working with ages 13-18 during the program)

In 2025, AFS will provide 10 full scholarships for the Global Up Educators program

Who can apply for this scholarship?

What is the timeline for applications?