Rotary District 6200

May, 2012

What is Group Study Exchange all about?

Depending on your point of view, life experiences, philosophy, etc., the answer to this question could be rather obvious, or it could seem more vague. To be sure, it is many things to many people. Its purpose can be more or less clearly stated, but its effect on, or its value to, an individual is determined by the participant. For most of those who take part, however, the experience is a life-altering one.

Over the past 50 years, knowledge of other cultures has increased at a rapid pace, and perhaps we are more knowledgeable and open-minded than previous generations. But no nation or culture is immune to misconceptions and prejudices, nor to the debilitating and sometimes tragic consequences that often result. And maybe now more than before, as the world grows ever smaller, do we need to increase our knowledge about people from other countries. Likewise, obviously, we need to share our own cultures. But a Group Study Exchange is much more than simply comparing notes on religion, politics, vocations, recreation, philosophy, etc. It is a tool to help us raise ourselves and the world community to a higher level of international understanding, goodwill, and friendly relations.

From its beginning in 1965, this unique program has been a success. It has provided inspiring vocational, educational, and cultural experiences for professional men and women. With good planning, goal-driven design, and active participation of dedicated Rotarians, a GSE can be an exceptional educational experience for both the visiting GSE team and the local Rotarians. Moreover, a GSE can serve as an excellent tool for fulfilling a district's International Service goals by integrating it with other Foundation programs.

What is Group Study Exchange?

The Group Study Exchange Program of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 in the initial years of their professional life. The program provides travel grants for teams of young participants to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members study the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

Why should You participate?

Individuals who participate in this valuable, once-in-a-lifetime experience will return home, not only with new perspectives and an enlarged vision, but with fresh ideas and an understanding of a nation's culture, commerce and government that can be invaluable to a country's, and a company's, future. A Group Study Exchange offers the most unique and rewarding skills-building opportunity and personal growth experience available to young professionals as humanity steps forward to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Conditions For Team Members

Candidates for team membership must be currently employed in any recognized business or profession on a full-time basis and be 25 to 40 years of age in order to have the maximum longterm impact on his or her career development. Failure to comply with Trustee age guidelines can lead to misunderstandings and cancellations between sending and host districts. To fulfill the rigorous and/or extensive demands of international travel and active participation in multi-week activities, candidates must also be:

citizens of the country in which they reside; in good health;
neat in appearance and able to express themselves clearly and logically;
of a sound, general educational background and well-qualified;
interested in and clearly enthusiastic about their chosen vocations, and possess outstanding vocational skills;
open-minded, tolerant and flexible; and
proficient (preferably fluent) in the major language(s) of the host district.

NOTE: Qualified Rotaract members should be encouraged to apply for team membership. Relatives of a deceased Rotarian may also be eligible for GSE team membership, if they meet the above qualifications.

Ineligibility Rules

The following are ineligible for any award or grant, including GSE team membership, from The Rotary Foundation:

a Rotarian or honorary Rotarian;

a member of a provisional Rotary club, an employee of a Rotary club, district, or other Rotary entity or of Rotary International;

any Rotarian's (or honorary Rotarian's) or Rotary employee's spouse, ancestor (parent or grandparent by blood), lineal descendant (child or grandchild by blood and any legally adopted child), or spouse of a lineal descendant; the spouse of another team member; or

a former Rotarian (or honorary Rotarian) or Rotarian's spouse, ancestor (parent or grandparent by blood), lineal descendant, or spouse of lineal descendant who resigned for the express purpose of becoming a team member. A former Rotarian must have been resigned from Rotary at least three years at the time of application for him or her or any of the above-mentioned persons to be eligible for team membership.

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