Bilateral Exchanges
___________________________________________________________________________

Political study tours through the American Council of Young Political Leaders are conducted on a bilateral basis with its country partners overseas.  Most exchanges occur once annually with each partner country, where one year a delegation is received in the United States by ACYPL and the next year ACYPL will send out a similar-sized, reciprocal delegation.  In some cases, however, there is conducted in one calendar year a full bilateral exchange with a partner; these occur with ACYPL’s three longest-standing partners: China, Japan, and Australia. 

Delegation sizes are typically between seven and nine delegates, including an escort; delegates must be between the ages of 25 and 40 years old and be recognized as leaders in politics and government in their home country.  United States delegates must be nominated in order to travel, while international delegates are selected by ACYPL’s country partners or the US Embassy in that country.  All international delegates are required to travel on a US J-1 visa received through the US Embassy or Consulate in their home country.  International participants do not need to speak English, as interpretation is provided through the US Department of State Language Service Office; it is not required, or encouraged, that delegates have any previous travel experience to the United States.

Funding for the annual bilateral political study tours is received from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State, its missions overseas, cost-sharing from its country partners, in-kind donations, foundation and corporation support, and from individuals.


Program Goals and Results

Download PDF 2008 Calendar