U.S. Embassy Bern Youth Council Are you a Swiss citizen or resident between the ages of 15-21? Do you want to develop your leadership skills and empower Swiss youth? Do have a say in shaping policies that affect young people in Switzerland? If so, we invite you to apply for the U.S. Embassy Bern Youth …
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The U.S. Embassy in Bern is thrilled to announce the winners of the Women’s History Month Essay Competition! After evaluating the submissions, the panel selected three outstanding winners. We extend our congratulations to all the winners for their exceptional work and insightful consideration of the essay topic. The essays submitted demonstrated a deep understanding and …
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Last Updated: May11, 2023 As of 12:01am EDT on May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. See here for more information.
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Call for Applications for Fulbright Programs 2024-2025 Academic Year “The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs, and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.” – J. William Fulbright Would you …
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In partnership with Movetia , the Swiss National Agency for Exchange and Mobility, the Fulbright program in Switzerland will offer three English Teaching Assistant awards as part of the general English Language Assistantship program. The application deadline for the 2023/2024 program cycle is October 11, 2022. For more information on the program, the requirements and deadlines …
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Interested in learning about diplomacy, exploring global issues, community activism and American culture? Then you should apply for the 2022 Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The fellowship takes place from June 25 to July 23, 2022, all costs will be paid for. The application deadline is February 19, 2022. …
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The U.S. Embassy in Bern is proud to support Dr. David Mooney, Executive Director Institutional Planning, Integration and Development at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), as a guest speaker at Swisspower and SIG Genève’s virtual public event on energy efficiency «Mehr Schub für die Energieeffiziens» https://swisspower.ch/veranstaltungen/energieeffizienz-event/ Energy efficiency is one of the three pillars of …
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Congrats to this year’s Swiss YTILI 2021 nominee Raphaela Kurer, co-founder and CPO of Meloncast, a digital decision-making tool for targeted, informed, marketing. Raphaela will join Entrepreneurs from across Europe for the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative YTILI exchange program in the United States. The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative YTILInetwork is an ECA State Department flagship exchange program with the goal of …
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February 11 is International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day to emphasize the importance of gender balance in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). So many solutions to today’s global challenges demand a strong background in STEAM fields, and these disciplines are stronger when women are equally represented. The …
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2021 marks 75 incredible years of the Fulbright Program! Join Embassy Bern as we celebrate the program’s history of positive impact on the lives of individuals as well as on global and local communities. To find more information on the U.S. government’s flagship international education exchange program and to read participants’ stories, visit https://fulbright75.org/
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Attention budding Swiss and Liechtensteiner songwriters!! The U.S. Embassy in Bern is delighted to announce a five-day virtual songwriting workshop led by professional musician and Arts Envoy, Derik Nelson. This unique, week-long event will offer something to beginning and experienced musicians alike. The first lesson kicks off Monday evening 30 November at 6pm. For 5 …
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2020 marks the 80th anniversary of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) , the Department of State’s premier professional exchange initiative for emerging leaders. The short-term visits foster mutual understanding and develop cultural and professional connections. The program has over 225,000 alumni worldwide, including more than 300 Swiss alumni including Swiss Federal Councilors Simonetta Sommaruga and Karin Keller-Sutter; State Councilor Christian …
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U.S. Fulbrighters in Switzerland In September 2019, 13 students from the United States arrived in Switzerland to conduct research in their respective fields of study. They spread out over the country, from Basel to Lucerne, Fribourg, Bern, Lausanne, and Geneva. Filled with excitement, they were eager to capitalize on a year of living the Swiss …
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For three weeks in February and March, Kevin Oh, Associate Professor of Learning and Instruction at the University of San Francisco, visited the School for Education at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts NorthWestern Switzerland as a Fulbright Specialist. The goal of his time at the FHNW was to give lectures to future primary …
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U.S. Embassy Bern is proud to announce new in-person advising opportunities for students interested in study exchanges to the U.S. Our EducationUSA advisor will be at the BIZ Bern (Bremgartenstrasse 37, 3001 Bern) on the following dates: February 6, 10:00 – 12:00 March 5, 10:00 – 12:00 April 2, 10:00 – 12:00 May 7, 10:00 – 12:00 June 4, 10:00 …
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All photos: © Alain Herzog / EPFL On Monday, December 16, Ambassador Edward McMullen visited the Federal Polytechnic University in Lausanne (EFPL), which celebrates its 50th birthday this year. After a warm welcome and presentation by the EPFL President, Martin Vetterli, the visit proceeded to the laboratory of Prof. Pierre Dillenbourg, where digital and virtual technologies …
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Interested in learning about diplomacy, exploring global issues, community activism and American culture? Then you should apply for the 2020 Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The fellowship takes place from the end of June to the end of July 2020 (exact dates will be communicated later), all costs will …
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Social scientist Joanna Woronkowicz was selected as a Fulbright Specialist to work with Zurich University of the Arts (ZhdK Zurich). We caught up with her to learn more about her experience in Zurich and with the program. What was your motivation to collaborate with ZhdK Zurich? I had a couple of motivations. First, I wanted …
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Since 2013 Sarah Charley has lived and worked in the Geneva area. Sarah is part of the CERN Press Office and manages the US CERN Communications and Media Relations. She is responsible for planning media visits for US journalists, coordinating US VIP visits with the CERN Protocol Office, working with US university press offices and …
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Last month we hosted a “Benjamin Franklin Night” at the Ambassador’s Residence! The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute (BFTF) is a 4-week program in the U.S. that aims to build links between Europeans and Americans. At the institute, participants discuss topics relating to transatlantic relations and diplomacy. There are a total of 10 U.S. …
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When you experience a different culture through educational and cultural exchange you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you—deepening your knowledge of foreign cultures and strengthening international relationships. Leaving the familiar behind and plunging into the unknown shows a commitment to understanding other people and cultures; and a commitment to learning about …
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Interested in learning about diplomacy, exploring global issues, community activism and American culture? Then you should apply for the 2019 Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The fellowship takes place from June 29-July 27, 2019, all costs will be paid for. The application deadline is February 18, 2019. Last year’s participant …
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In July, a group of five Swiss students and their teacher from Kantonsschule Olten traveled to Kilarney, Ireland for the 2018 GLOBE Learning Expedition and Student Experience to present their scientific research projects to hundreds of other international students and scientists. They presented two environmental research projects and were one of the few groups invited …
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Devin Bayly came to Switzerland as a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. We caught up with him to learn more about his experience here and with the program. Hailing from Tucson, Arizona, Devin is a 26-year-old junior at the University of Arizona …
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Dorai Raz came to Switzerland as a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. We caught up with her to learn more about her experience here and with the program. Dorai is a senior at University of California at Berkeley, where she transferred after …
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Lindsey Depledge came to Switzerland as a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. We caught up with her to learn more about her experience here and with the program. Originally from Santa Barbara, CA, Lindsey is a junior at the University of California …
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Nangha came to Switzerland as a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. We caught up with her to learn more about her experience here and with the program. Nangha is a senior at the University of California, Davis, studying History and Political Science. …
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On August 25, students from the 11th and 12th grade classes at the International School of Bern visited the U.S. Embassy for Career Day. The students chose to visit the Embassy to learn about diplomacy and what it entails. The visit started with a panel discussion with Embassy staff who described their career paths …
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Javier came to Switzerland as a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. We caught up with him to learn more about his experience here and with the program. Javier is a U.S. Navy veteran and a recent graduate from the University of California, Berkeley. …
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Dalal came to Switzerland as a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. We caught up with her to learn more about her experience here and with the program. Dalal is a communications student from the University of Illinois at Chicago studying international studies …
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U.S. Embassy Bern invited a class of 12-14 year olds from Primarschule Neufeld in Thun that participates in NASA’s Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program. They came to visit the certified wildlife habitat and learn about its ecosystem. At the end of their tour, students made drawings of their observations. GLOBE is an international science and education program that provides students and …
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On May 15, Chargé d’Affaires Tara Erath welcomed the Global Tampa Bay investment delegation and Swiss business leaders at the official residence to highlight the Greater Tampa area as an investment destination. In her opening remarks, Chargé Erath emphasized the Florida region’s opportunity to build upon existing links with Switzerland and the formidable economic dynamism …
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On May 5th, the Embassy received 17 students from the Bezirksschule Oftringen. The students met with representatives of the Public Affairs, Regional Security and Management Sections, as well as one of the marines; the students asked a wide array of questions ranging from the life of diplomats, the work done at the Embassy, to what …
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On April 24th, Chargé d’Affaires Tara Feret Erath addressed the Swiss and American high school participants in the 13th annual student exchange between Basel Stadt and its sister state, Massachusetts. Swiss students from Gymnasium Leonhard and Wirtschaftsgymnasium are hosting students from Reading Memorial High School and Natick High School, following their own visit to Massachusetts. …
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What is the secret to business success? How do companies in Switzerland and the U.S. innovate and adapt to change? And how closely do Switzerland and the U.S. work together on economic issues? These are some of the questions that students of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland explore during the ConnectUS …
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U.S. Embassy Bern is an active participant in the Schulen Nach Bern program that enables students throughout Switzerland to travel to Bern for a week of debate, government meetings and embassy visits. On February 16, Embassy officers welcomed a French-speaking high school class from CO Goubing in Sierre, Canton Valais. The officers described day-to-day work …
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Apply Now! The 2017 Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Fellowship Program application period opens on January 9, 2017 and closes on February 8, 2017 at 5:00 pm EST. Please review the YTILI Fellowship Program Overview & Selection Process document for a detailed description of the program, requirements and expectations, selection process and timeline. The 2017 YTILI Fellowship year will commence in …
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The Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Bern is pleased to announce the 2017 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Summer Institute for students from the age of 16 to 18. Applications are now being accepted for program participation. The four-week institute will address important issues such as youth engagement, democracy and civil society development, …
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Announcing Diversity Scholarship for a High School Exchange Year in the U.S. To celebrate the value of a diverse society, the U.S. Embassy is teaming with international exchange organization YFU, to offer the “Celebrating Diversity” scholarship, an award covering a portion of the costs of a study abroad year in the U.S. for Swiss students. …
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On December 5, Ambassador Suzi LeVine and Eric LeVine visited Uzwil Oberstufe to learn about the students’ participation in the GLOBE program . Second-year students presented their research on leaf growth which they had gathered over the course of the school year. Their attention to data integrity and keen observation skills demonstrated how much young people can accomplish when …
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Since the dawn of our democracy, the American Dream has been about opportunity and the fact that anyone from anywhere in society can pursue and achieve a life where they are safe to live, love, and be happy. What I love about this is that we’ve also exported this as a global dream! But in …
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On Tuesday, November 15th, Ambassador Suzan LeVine delivered a speech at Akademie der Generationen, a forum for learning based in Solothurn. More than 150 participants from businesses, government, education and even students from a local high school came to hear her address: “Switzerland and the U.S: Learning Together.” Ambassador LeVine highlighted the strong and enduring …
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On October 20 and 21, Ambassador Suzan LeVine and her husband, Mr. Eric LeVine, hosted a high-level delegation from Microsoft headed by President Brad Smith as well as a JP Morgan Chase executive. Microsoft had expressed particular interest in how the Swiss Vocational Education and Training system works, meeting with apprentices, and comparing programs to …
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Following an invite by Mattias Nutt to join the local GRTweetBier meet up, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, decided to spend a whole day in Chur and get to know the capital of Canton Graubünden. Their visit started off at a training session of the Kantonspolizei Graubünden. They got to see the trainees in …
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On May 24, 2016, Ambassador LeVine and her husband, Eric, traveled to Zurich to meet with members of the Zurich Cantonal Government and talk about the growth of Swiss start-ups. While there, they also met with the South Pole Group to learn more about how the private sector can help reduce carbon emissions. Later, the …
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Inflection Point Thank you so much to Academic Director Dr. Ron Daniel, the Board of Directors, and, of course, Webster Geneva’s director Dr. Clementina Acedo for the invitation and honor to be here with you here today! To the 137 new graduates and your family and friends who are here today – congratulations! Scholars, Graduates, …
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On Tuesday, April 19, Deputy Chief of Mission Jeff Cellars addressed the 11th Massachusetts – Basel-Stadt Students Exchange Program participants. The 30 American high school students came to Basel for a two-week homestay sponsored by CityBasel and Wakefield High School via a Sister City Agreement with Boston. In his remarks, Mr. Cellars stressed the significance of face-to-face interactions with people from foreign …
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As part of our youth outreach campaign, Ambassador LeVine and her husband Mr. Eric LeVine visited schools in Sion, Sierre, and Zurich on Wednesday, April 13, and Thursday, April 14. The Ambassador spoke about the American presidential election system, explaining how delegate selection, primaries and caucuses, and grassroots organizing contribute to democratically electing a leader …
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On Tuesday, March 22, The U.S. Embassy in Bern held a student visa information session for study abroad advisors from Swiss universities and higher education institutes. Public Affairs Officer Stephanie Morimura and Consular Officer Matthew Boullioun described Fulbright scholarship opportunities for Swiss students and scholars , and outlined the student visa application process . The session also served as a networking opportunity for the …
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Embassy Bern places a high priority on meeting with Swiss students to discuss U.S. policy, the work of the Embassy and to share information on current developments in the U.S., such as the presidential elections. As a part of this ongoing educational outreach, Ambassador Suzan LeVine, along with her husband Eric LeVine, visited two schools …
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On February 10, Ambassador Suzi LeVine met with students of the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz who participate in the ConnectUS program. The Ambassador gave the students an overview of the U.S. presidential elections, focusing on how the U.S. primary and general election works and the importance of grassroots voter mobilization. She also explained how the U.S. and Switzerland …
Read More» Ambassador LeVine, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu, and Swiss Ambassador to the U.S. Martin Dahinden join representatives of Zurich North America and Harper College to mark the official launch of an innovative, first-of-its-kind U.S. apprenticeship program for the insurance industry. Zurich North America is a participant in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship …
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A class of students from USI – Università della Svizzera italiana (Lugano, Switzerland) has been invited by the US Department of State in Washington to the finals of P2P: Challenging Extremism , an initiative managed by EdVenture Partners through which the US Government has called on university students around the world to develop positive social media narratives to …
Read More» On June 4, Dr. Alicia Soderberg, Professor in Astrophysics at Harvard University and one of the first scientists to observe supernovas – the catastrophic death of a star — spoke with students at Gymnasium Hofwil in Münchenbuchsee about her work. She went into detail about how she detected the supernova. She was one of the …
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Meeting with Swiss students to discuss U.S. policy and share information on education systems in the U.S. and Switzerland is a high priority for Embassy Bern. As part of the ongoing educational outreach, Ambassador Suzi LeVine and Public Affairs Officer Stephanie Morimura recently visited two schools in the Canton of Bern. On May 20, Morimura …
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On April 20, 2015, Deputy Chief in Mission Jeffrey R. Cellars delivered a speech to students participating in an exchange program between Basel-Stadt and Massachusetts at the historic Basel Rathaus (City Hall). For several years, Basel and Massachusetts have been “Sister-States;” the exchange is a result of the ongoing cooperation of both states in the …
Read More» On June 30, 2014, Ambassador Suzan LeVine met with members of the Swiss Game Developers Association (SGDA) and Game Design Students for a roundtable discussion. The group shared their thoughts on the current state of the Swiss game developing scene and told the Ambassador about the challenges and possibilities they face in Switzerland. The SGDA …
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Friday, June 13, alumni, applicants and selected students for the Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute had the unique opportunity to have a cooking class at the Ambassador’s residence. Ambassador Suzan LeVine joined the students during dinner and engaged in a lively discussion.
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