General information about GSE
This information is based on the situation of the year 1995.
THE PROGRAM
The Group Study Exchange Program of The Rotary
Foundation of Rotary International is an educational
activity which promotes international understanding
through organized travel and person-to-person
contact. The program provides travel grants for teams
of professional men and women to exchange visits
between paired areas in different countries. Team
members study the institutions and ways of life in each
other's countries, develop personal acquaintances,
observe their own professions as practiced abroad,
and exchange ideas. During their time abroad, Group
Study Exchange teams are expected to travel with a
sense of mission, sharing personal knowledge of their
own country with those they meet and observing the
customs, vocations and lifestyles of the country they
are visiting.
Reciprocity is the key to Group Study Exchange.
Each of the two paired districts sends and receives a
team at designated times usually during a one-year
period (between 1 July and 30 June). Each district
first selects a team of outstanding people who
represent a cross-section of the district's businesses
and professions. The team then travels to a district in
another country for a study program of four to six
weeks.
While visiting the paired district, each team follows a
carefully planned itinerary. Team members visit
government and legal institutions, schools and colleges,
and historical and scenic points of interest. They
observe social practices and participate in religious,
cultural and recreational activities. Each team member
also spends five days studying his or her profession or
related activities in the host district. Wherever
possible, accommodations are in local homes, thus
allowing team members to personally experience family
lifestyles in their host countries.
TEAM COMPOSITION AND
MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
A Group Study Exchange team consists of 4 non-
Rotarian business or professional people and a
Rotarian team leader.
Note:
Spouses may not accompany teams.
Applicants for team membership:
- must have been employed full-time in a recognized
business or profession for at least two years at the
time of application;
- must be committed to remaining in the workforce
for a considerable period of time after the
exchange;
- must be citizens of the country in which they reside
and must either reside or be employed in the
sending Rotary district;
- must have some proficiency in the language of the
country to be visited;
- must be exemplary in their business or professional
attitudes, enthusiastic about their vocations, and
capable of deriving maximum educational value
from the program;
- must be personable, cooperative, articulate, and
well-informed about their own vocations;
- must be willing and able to speak at Rotary clubs
and other organizations both in the host area and
upon return home.
The following are ineligible for Group Study
Exchange team membership or for any award
granted by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary
International:
- a Rotarian
- an employee of a Rotary Club, district, or other
Rotary entity, or of Rotary International;
- any Rotarian's or Rotary employee's spouse; or ancestor
(parent or grandparent by blood); or lineal
descendant (child or grandchild by blood and any
legally adopted child), and
- a spouse of a lineal descendant.
TERMS OF THE GROUP STUDY
EXCHANGE AWARD
For each team member, The Rotary Foundation
provides the most economical round-trip air ticket
between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians
in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group
travel in their district. Each team member is
responsible for all personal and incidental expenses
incurred before, during, and after the study tour.
Team members selected by the Rotary district
committee must agree to:
- accept the decisions of the Rotarian team leader at
all times.
- remain with the group throughout the study tour
except when individual activities are planned;
- maintain standards of behavior which will reflect
positively on Rotary and the home country;
- obtain insurance coverage as specified by the terms
of the award
- undergo a physical examination as specified by the
terms of the award;
- keep a daily journal of events and observations
during the study tour;
- prepare and submit final reports of the study tour as
required by the sponsoring district and The Rotary
Foundation;
- speak about study tour experiences to Rotary clubs
and other organizations upon return home.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Interested applicants for Group Study Exchange team
membership should first contact a local Rotary club
for information about the local district's plans. By
February of each year, Rotary clubs should be able to
tell applicants whether the district will participate in a
Group Study Exchange during the upcoming year
(1 July - 30 June) and, if so, with what country/area it
will exchange teams. By May or June, approximate
dates for team travel should be determined. (
NOTE:
Not all Rotary districts participate in the
Group Study Exchange Program every year.)
If the district is planning an exchange, local Rotarians
can provide further information about application
materials, procedures and deadlines. Initial
application must be made through a local Rotary
club. Final team selection takes place at the district
level. Applications sent directly to The Rotary
Foundation will not be considered
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston. Illinois. U.S.A. 60201
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