On April 30, American Councils Ukraine team conducted Pre-departure orientation (PDO) for the BridgeUSA UPRR finalists in Kyiv, who are traveling to their U.S. host institutions in summer 2026. BridgeUSA UPRR Pre-departure orientation (PDO) intended to reinforce the goals, objectives, and terms & conditions of the program prior to participants’ departure to the United States. During the orientation, fellows learned more about their university placements, life and culture in the United States, and U.S. rules, regulations, and policies. The session also covered alumni engagement and follow-on activities planned upon the fellows’ return to Ukraine.
The participants will be traveling to the following U.S. host universities in summer 2026: Florida State University, University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Oregon State University. The finalists specialize in the program fields – Engineering, Environmental Policy and Management.
As part of the PDO, participants completed their J-1 visa interviews and attended an introductory meeting with representatives of the U.S. Embassy: Jonas Stewart, Public Affairs Officer, Erin Robertson, Public Diplomacy Officer, Viktoria Mikhailenko, Education Projects Coordinator and Vira Maximova, Public Diplomacy Specialist.
Pre-departure orientation (PDO) was preceded by Pre-program orientation (PPO), an online three-week component for all ten BridgeUSA UPRR finalists. During the PPO, participants explored the f
ollowing topics: U.S. Culture, U.S. Higher Education and Maintaining Partnerships. Participants joined three virtual events with the BridgeUSA UPRR team and alumni of 2024 and 2025.
American Councils and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv anticipate ten Ukrainian university faculty members will spend one month at their U.S. host universities where they will learn about teaching methodologies, professional development opportunities, research methods, classroom lecturing and pedagogy, university administrative processes and procedures, and will collaborate with a U.S. faculty mentor to excel at their teaching and research and thereafter will educate and train professionals critical to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The fellowships will take place in summer and fall 2026.
BridgeUSA UPRR Program is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv with additional funding provided by U.S. host institutions and administered by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS.