What is SUSI East-West Center?

The Study of the United States Institute (SUSI) for Student Leaders on Global Environmental Issues is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and hosted by the East-West Center. The vision of the Institute is to develop a vibrant network of young leaders connected to the U.S. who are equipped to create innovative solutions to 21st century environmental challenges.  Participants are competitively selected from U.S. Embassies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Brazil, China, Japan, Russia and Turkey. The first five-week institute begins May 19, 2013 and the second institute on July 7, 2013 . The first 3.5 weeks take place in Hawai‘i, followed by a field study to Boulder, Colorado, and final days in Washington DC.  

     SUSI participants learn about the environment through experiential methods and build leadership skills through active learning. In a series of Environmental Leadership Challenges, they work in teams to design and publicly present solutions to a diversity of audiences. A key outcome of the institute is to create a proposal for the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund, a $25,000 grant awarded competitively to State Department alumni.   

Follow this site for updates and activities along the SUSI journey!

Announcements:
June 13 - Depart Hawaii for Boulder, Colorado
June 7 - Final East-West Center Event, a Participatory Workshop to get feedback on home country projects
June 4 - Visit to HPOWER
June 1 - UH Manoa Hawaiian Studies Center - Volunteer Day on the Loi (Taro Patches)
May 31 - Pitch Idea & Get feedback from tourist
and staff at Hanauma Bay
May 30 - Learning Journey to Waikiki Aquarium, talk with Pacific Fisheries Management
May 28 - Participants pitch business ideas to 
Kualoa Ranch owner, David Morgan, on site
May 27 - Memorial Day - US Army Staff Sergeant leads Outdoor Leadership Training
May 25 - Waikiki Sailing. Sea turtles and flying fish sited
May 24 - Teams run Participatory Workshops to simulate American-style town hall meeting
May 22 - Expert Lecture Series with Makena Coffman (Energy), Victoria Keener (Climate Change) and Lauren Roth Venu (Water/Ecological Design)
May 21 - Futures Scenario Building Workshop
May 20 - Opening Ceremony & Traditional Hawaiian Hula Lesson
May 12 - Leadership Action Project proposals submitted
April 22 - EARTH DAY!  Participants preparing for SUSI start on May 19th in Honolulu, Hawaii.

This website developed by and for SUSI participants.  
The official East-West Center SUSI is www.eastwestcenter.org/susi