AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The John Adams Society is an umbrella organisation providing a coherent and focused forum for the alumni of professional and educational exchange programmes run by the US embassy in London for UK citizens.

Through its network the Association seeks to promote and support the US-UK cultural, scientific, educational, social, informational and economic initiatives. With quarterly panel discussions on key issues of importance, the Association will act as a platform and facilitate a forum to strengthen US-UK relations. Building on existing relationships the association will continue to advance cross cultural understanding through its quarterly panel discussions, organising an annual reception and contributing to the professional development of the alumni.

HISTORY

The John Adams Society was officially created on November 2, 2010. The Society acts as an umbrella organisation to the alumni of professional and educational exchange programmes run by the US embassy in London for UK citizens and legal permanent residents in order to promote and support cultural, scientific, educational, social, and economic ventures for the group and to act as a resource for the US Embassy in London on the issue of exchange programmes. The Society will organise meetings, symposia and conferences aimed at integrating members of the Society through social, cultural and recreational activities as well as establishing contact with the media for the promotion of the Society.

ALUMNI

Afghanistan: President Hamid Karzai, 1987
Australia: Prime Minister Julia Eileen Gillard, 2006
India: President Pratibha Patil, 1968
Japan: Prime Minister Naoto Kan, 1980
Taiwan: President Ma Ying-Jeou, 1971, 2003
Belgium: Premier Yves Leterme, 2002
France: President Nicolas Sarkozy, 1985
Georgia: President Mikheil Saakashvili, 1985
Germany: President Christian Wulff, 2000
Mexico: President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa, 1992
Poland: President Bronisław Komorowski, 2006
Turkey: President Abdullah Gul, 1995
Zimbabwe: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, 1989

PROGRAMMES

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship professional exchange program. More than 290 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government around the world, thousands of cabinet-level ministers, and many other distinguished leaders from the private and public sectors have participated since the program’s inception in 1940.

In the UK alone, over 2,500 citizens have traveled to the United States on this program. The IVLP is an exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. These visits reflect the visitors’ professional interests and support United States foreign policy in key fields such as politics, government, media, arts, business, and education. The IVLP consists of a variety of individual and group programs that last for up to three weeks. Exchanges typically include a visit to Washington, D.C. and three additional cities that together highlight the regional diversity of the United States. There is no application for this program. International Visitors are selected and nominated annually by American Foreign Service Officers at U.S. Embassies around the world.

Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program

Since the UK-U.S. Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program began in 1924, over 16,000 teachers from both countries have participated. Each year, UK and U.S. teachers are paired up to change classrooms and, often times, their homes.

This affords international teachers with the opportunity to participate in a direct exchange for either one semester or for the academic year. By living and working abroad, the teachers gain an understanding and appreciation of the similarities and differences between the U.S. and the UK. Fulbright teacher exchanges result in lasting relationships between schools, students, and teachers, as well as the communities surrounding the participating educational institutions. The British Council partners with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in London to implement this program. If you are a UK primary or secondary school teacher and want to participate in this program, please visit the British Council website for more information.

British-American Parliamentary Group

The British-American Parliamentary Group annual exchange program to the United States has sent over 250 UK Members of Parliament to the United States since 1977. Its purpose is to acquaint Members of Parliament with the U.S. political system at the federal, state, and local levels, with particular emphasis on the role and organization of the U.S. Congress.

Through this co-sponsored program, Members of Parliament are able to develop contacts with their Congressional counterparts and understand the differences between the U.S. and the UK forms of government. Participants learn about the U.S. political process, examine domestic and foreign policy issues that drive politics, and acquire first-hand experience of U.S. pluralism and regional diversity. The program starts in Washington, D.C. for an overview of the U.S. system of government, followed by a weekend visit to congressional districts, and finally two days in a state capital to look at state and local issues. Members of Parliament gain an understanding of policy development by examining the role of local and state legislatures, and how viewpoints articulated by state Congressional Members contribute to policy making at a federal Congressional level.

A full list of JAS members can be found in the JAS Community area on State Alumni.  Full details of how to create an account on the State Alumni site can be found here.