The U.S. Department of State’s Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders in Journalism and New Media consisted of three one-year awards that brought student leaders from South Asia to the U.S. for five weeks. Twenty undergraduate students per year from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated in the program between 2011 and 2013. Participants were able to develop an understanding of the role of media in a democratic society, the ethical dimensions of media work, the importance of freedom of expression and the role of citizens in the journalistic process as well as of changing media business models evolving in the U.S. and elsewhere. They also developed competency in basic multimedia skills (information gathering, editing, production, distribution). The program exposed participants to a variety of interactive and social media as well as mainstream and national media through which they gained first-hand experience of the different processes that constitute journalistic activity (including researching, writing, editing and reporting). Participants honed their leadership skills through a variety of conceptual lectures and discussions, exercises, simulations and community service projects. These programs provided student participants with a broad exposure to American life and media through professional and cultural visits in Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. They also experienced the diversity of American life with special emphasis on the Native American communities and direct interaction with Oklahoma families.
“Since participating in SUSI, I have joined in one of the leading Web Portal of Bangladesh Priyo.com as Video Journalist. As I am interested about Film & Digital Production, attending this program made me able to share my works through new media more than before. And my leadership quality has improved too!” – Shahla Rodoshee, SUSI 2013, Co-founder, Dream On; Content Strategist, Bongo BD, Bangladesh
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs sponsored the Professional Fellows Exchange for Bangladeshi Young Entrepreneurs in 2012. Gaylord College, in collaboration with the then Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (CCEW) on the OU campus, hosted this one-year program. It brought two groups of 11 Bangladeshi small business owners for two five-week exchanges that included hands-on experience in the inner workings of a relevant U.S.-based workplace. Following the U.S. exchanges, two groups of U.S. business professionals and business educators (whom the Bangladeshi participants had contact with while being in the U.S.) traveled to Bangladesh for two-week exchanges. Through this inaugural offering of the Professional Fellows Exchange Program, we aimed to provide participants with professional business and educational experiences as they worked alongside a U.S. peer and exchanged ideas during lectures, workshops and simulations. In addition, the program provided participants with rich cultural experiences that represent Oklahoma’s unique environment, especially the Native American experience and exposure to American family life in a variety of settings.
“Life changing experience! Created a virtuous cycle of friendship, respect and opportunities. Once a visitor, I am now expanding my horizon to many fronts in the U.S., including hiring an OU alum as an International Portfolio Manager for my company!” - Minhaz Anwar, Chief StoryTeller @BetterStories Limited
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs sponsored the Professional Fellows Exchange for Bangladeshi Media Professionals in 2013. This one-year program brought 18 Bangladeshi media professionals and educators to the U.S. in two exchanges. It also took about a dozen media professionals from the U.S. to Bangladesh for two two-week reciprocal exchanges. The program goal was to provide participants with professional experience that would nurture their talent and prepare them for more responsible leadership positions in their news organizations and educational settings. While they spent time in Oklahoma, they also visited media organizations in Washington, D.C. and attended the Professional Fellows Congress with other participants on similar programs. During the outbound exchanges, U.S. media professionals visited media outlets in Bangladesh, met with media executives and owners, offered workshops to media professionals in print and broadcast media and worked with Bangladeshi students on issues related to media freedom, communicating during crises, leadership, newsroom management and more.
“The professional fellowship program ended with the beginning of exchanging ideas with people from different parts of the world- to me that's the most amazing part. The program allowed me to evaluate myself and motivated me to strive for making a difference in this world every day.” - Sohana Nasrin, former Assistant Editor, ICE Business Times
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs sponsored the Professional Fellows Exchange Program for Bangladeshi and Nepali Entrepreneurs in 2014. Gaylord College, in collaboration with the then Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (CCEW) on the OU campus, hosted this one-year program that brought about a dozen entrepreneurs from each country to the U.S. for two five-week exchanges. A selected group of U.S.-based business owners and entrepreneurs traveled back to the two countries for two two-week exchanges. While in the U.S., participants collaborated with local counterparts to share knowledge, experience, best practices and leadership skills. Each was placed in an individually tailored placement for four weeks before participating in the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C., alongside other professional fellow participants. While on the outbound exchanges to Bangladesh and Nepal, U.S. fellows participated in workshops with students, educators and entrepreneurs, visited a variety of small businesses and startups and were exposed to the rich cultural environments in the two countries.
“It's been an amazing experience to see how the developed world functions and thinks as compared to the developing world. Coming from Nepal we have been emerged on engaging insightful teaching, exchanges and cultural aspects of better thinking and working in my healthcare field. It's been a life-changing experience for me and my colleagues.” – Dr. Bishal Dhakal, Founder and Director of the Board, Health at Home, Nepal
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs sponsored the Professional Fellows Exchange Program for Bangladeshi, Burmese and Indian Young Entrepreneurs between 2015 and 2017. Gaylord College, in collaboration with the then Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (CCEW) on the OU campus, hosted this three-year program that brought 60 entrepreneurs to the U.S. (two groups of 10 per year). As part of the program, 24 U.S. business owners and operators from Oklahoma traveled to the three countries for reciprocal exchanges. While in the U.S., international fellows worked alongside business peers in tailor-made working placements to exchange experience, best practices and skills related to networking, leadership, and industry-specific knowledge. They also engaged with local Bangladeshi, Burmese and Indian expat communities in Oklahoma. Following their time in Oklahoma, and before returning to their home countries, fellows participated in meetings and cultural events as well as the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C. U.S. counterparts traveled to Burma and India for reciprocal exchanges and to work with their foreign counterparts, experience business practices, culture and tradition in the two countries.
“Before I come to join this program, I asked myself what I expected to learn from the U.S. business environment and how I could apply that to my country? Firstly, it was great to meet with friends from Bangladesh and India. They all are very kind and help each other. And they do everything in mutual respect to each other though we all come from different cultures, religions, and business backgrounds. Secondly, the most important thing I learned from the U.S. business environment is how they operate their business with responsibility for people and planet and for sustainable economic development in the future.” - Ngun Za Hmung, Director, The Backyard Travels & Tours, Myanmar
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs sponsored the Professional Fellows Exchange Program for Pakistani, Indian, Nepali, and Kazakh Young Entrepreneurs between 2018 and 2020. Gaylord College, in collaboration with the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (ICCEW) on the OU campus hosted this three-year program to empower emerging leaders in entrepreneurship and small business development. One half of the program consisted of an exchange of foreign fellows from the four countries to the U.S. and the other half provided U.S. business professionals an opportunity to travel on outbound exchanges to two of the four countries. Part of the inbound program had to be done through a virtual bootcamp and other virtual interactions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. The program aimed to promote mutual understanding and establish networks among mid-level professionals in the five participating countries while also promoting increased knowledge of U.S. businesses and business networks, as well as enhanced leadership skills.
“This was an eye-opening experience for me in many ways. On personal level, this was my very first ever international travel experience which offered a myriad of opportunities to help me explore my inner self. It showed me the world out of my bubble and comfort. On a professional level, my understanding of leadership has changed after the PFP experience. I am further empowered to empower other women.” – Prakriti Mainali, Co-founder, Shakti Milan; Founder Omana BnB; Founder, Women in Social Entrepreneurship, Nepal
“I am a person who belongs to the rural area of Pakistan where de-motivation, discouragement, negativity, low steam, and aimless life is very common. I am the luckiest person to become part of this amazing journey called Professional Fellowship Program. I have learned how to lead a life of finding possibilities in every situation. I am growing into an even stronger leader than I was before coming to the program.” - Sajid Soomro, Founder, The Learning Tree, Pakistan
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs is sponsoring the Professional Fellows Exchange Program for Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan Young Entrepreneurs, starting in 2022. Gaylord College, in collaboration with the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (ICCEW) on the OU campus is this three-year program to empower emerging leaders in entrepreneurship and small business development. One half of the program consists of an exchange of foreign fellows from the four countries to the U.S. and the other half provides U.S. business professionals an opportunity to travel on outbound exchanges to two of the four countries. The program aims to promote mutual understanding and establish networks among mid-level professionals in the five participating countries while also promoting increased knowledge of U.S. businesses and business networks, as well as enhanced leadership skills.
"Before joining the Professional Fellows Program at Oklahoma University, I couldn't imagine the impacts that PFP will create in my life. Those magical 35 days with all the beautiful minds truly helped me to be a much better version of myself. The perfectly tailored professional and leadership training gives the participants an unmatched lifetime experience. PFP program is intensive, exhaustive, thorough, and fulfilling - a complete fellowship package that a young leader can ask for. Thanks to OU & PFP for everything.” – Sudip Paul, Co-Founder & Head of Operations, Grit Technologies Limited, Bangladesh
"Personally, I enjoyed meeting a diverse group of people, traveling with them, and sharing meals, which helped us become like family. Professionally, the program equipped me with valuable management skills and boosted my confidence, making me better equipped to make decisions. Moreover, the connections I made with people worldwide have expanded my network and opened up new opportunities." – Ali Masood, CEO, GOHO Rooms, Pakistan
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs sponsored the Pakistan Partnership Program for Journalists in Urdu from 2015. Gaylord College hosted this program for journalists from Pakistan who work in Urdu-speaking media organizations. To date, the grant has brought over 100 journalists to the U.S. These journalists work in major cities such as Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Baluchistan, Karachi. Some were also from the Kashmir region. The goal with the program is to orient Urdu-speaking Pakistani journalists to American media through training, lectures, discussions and site visits to small, medium, and large media markets in the U.S. To achieve this, participants visit media organizations in Oklahoma, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. Discussions focus on topics such as professionalism, ethics, and safety of journalists. Participants also enjoy a diverse cultural experience that represents unique aspects of three distinct parts of the U.S., including exposure to American family life. The grant brought another 20 journalists to the U.S. in 2022.
“I participated in US-Pakistan Professional Partnership Program for Journalists in Urdu in 2016. The program was a life-changer for my professional career. Being the first female journalist from far-flung district of Swat was not an easy task for me. The program not only helped me make news more effectively but also motivated me to dare for gathering facts. It helped me to be confident while working in patriarchal society where conservative thoughts hinder the freedom of expression.” - Shaista Hakim, SWAT
The Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness in Pakistan collaborated with Gaylord College in Summer 2024 to host the above program for five women entrepreneurs and a program manager from Pakistan. The goal of this five-week program was to empower a select group of women entrepreneurs from Baluchistan in Pakistan through tailor-made professional placements, guest speakers, workshops and more. The group also visited Washington, D.C., where they were hosted by the Pakistani embassy and the Global Good Fund. Before returning to Pakistan, they visited New York City, where they were welcomed by Etsy, UN Women and others.
“Each training and activity provided by the program has enriched my understanding and skills, which I have diligently applied within our organization. Representing our organization has been a significant responsibility, and I am committed to implementing the knowledge gained for our collective betterment.” - Sumera Mehboob, CEO MRC Balochistan, Curator Global Shapers Khuzdar HUb.
