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Communications professionals currently employed in the public or private sector of a developing country, who are proficient in English, are encouraged to apply for USTTI training. A post-secondary education is required, and a university degree in engineering, electronics, telecommunications, broadcasting or management is desirable. Appropriate practical experience in telecommunications and/or broadcasting may be substituted for formal academic credentials.
A USTTI application form is located on this site. Faxes and Photocopies of the application are also acceptable for processing by the USTTI staff. Applicants are reminded that the USTTI application form must be completed fully and typed, including functional fax, e-mail, and/or telex numbers. In addition, it should be noted that applications will not be processed without a supervisor's signature. In the case of new businesses with the entrepreneur-owner applying for training, the applicant should explain the irrelevance of the supervisor's signature. Individuals are strongly encouraged to carefully review the course descriptions provided and apply selectively for those courses from which they would most benefit. Applicants should take special notice of course sequences which offer an opportunity for maximizing their training experience without interruption. Typically, applicants are limited to attending three sequential courses in one training year. Compatible courses are arranged in sequences, as described in Suggested Sequences.
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USTTI 1150 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 702 Washington, DC 20036 |
| By Fax: | 202-785-1930 |
The acceptance procedure is a collaborative effort between the USTTI and the course sponsor. In evaluating applications, the USTTI places special emphasis on the applicant training goals section of the application in order to identify those applicants who display the commitment and potential to provide enlightened leadership in their in their countries' communications infrastructure. Applications are then reviewed by the course sponsors, who consider criteria such as an applicant's professional qualifications, suitability for the course, timeliness, thoroughness, and goals for participating in USTTI training. The applicants' expressed ability to impart new knowledge to their colleagues is also a factor. Final acceptance decisions are made by the corporate or government course sponsor.
Individuals are encouraged to submit applications at least twelve weeks before the course begins, as applications far exceed the number of training slots, which fill rapidly. It should be noted, however, that applicants are not accepted on a first come, first serve basis. USTTI course sponsors necessarily accept a larger pool of applicants than can participate in the course, as there are often unforeseeable problems that prevent an applicant who has been accepted from actually attending training. Therefore, once accepted, applicants must confirm their attendance and provide their arrival date immediately in order to reserve their space in the course and at the hotel. All acceptances are necessarily tentative and dependent on the availability of course slots and the prompt confirmation of the applicant. Priority for training slots is given to those applicants who confirm their participation immediately upon receiving their acceptance.
Typically, applicants will be notified that they have been accepted by an official USTTI fax or telex approximately four to six weeks prior to the beginning of training. The fact that applicants are sometimes accepted on short notice, however, is unavoidable. If there is a cancellation in a course, the USTTI tries to fill it, even at the last minute, rather than allow a valuable training slot to remain vacant. Applicants may be accepted to one or all of the courses to which they apply, depending upon the number of training slots available, applicant qualifications, and course focus.
To avoid confusion and disruption in the USTTI admission process where over 6,000 applications are processed each year, applicants should not contact the corporate or government course sponsor directly regarding acceptance or funding decisions. Applicants who do so will be disqualified from training.
Applicants should seek funding from their own organizations or governments for their international and domestic U. S. travel and for their living expenses during USTTI training. If funding is unavailable, applicants should seek funding from international organizations that recognize the importance of USTTI training, such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Organization of American States (OAS-CITEL). The USTTI will attempt to help needy applicants when no funding sources for travel and subsistence are available. However, USTTI funds for these purposes are very limited, thus making it highly advisable for applicants to secure their own funding support. Applicants who are accepted for USTTI training are much more likely to be able to attend training if their organizations can provide some or all of their travel and living expenses.
The recommended subsistence rate for participants in USTTI training is approximately (US$110.00 per day.) This rate covers only the cost of a shared hotel room in the USTTI-designated hotel and meals and may vary depending upon training location. Staying in a single room will cost more than the suggested per diem rate. The USTTI per diem does not cover luxuries or items such as gifts, souvenirs or tours.
A mandatory US$150.00 insurance and administrative fee must be paid during orientation prior to the start of training. Participants attending more than one course will be charged US$75.00 for the necessary administrative cost attendant to each subsequent course. These fees cover insurance costs required for each USTTI trainee, as well as numerous unavoidable administrative costs. All participants in USTTI training programs are covered by medical insurance during their training in the U.S. This insurance does not cover dental care, eye care, or pre-existing conditions (such as malaria, diabetes or pregnancy). Participants are covered as passengers in automobiles, but they are not insured to drive automobiles.
Participants who do not pay the insurance and administrative fee will not be allowed to participate in training.
U.S. consulates have been requested to grant visas to participants upon official proof of acceptance to USTTI training. Participants are urged to apply for visas immediately upon acceptance because visa applications can frequently take several weeks to process. At the port of entry, participants are often asked by U.S. Immigration officials to present their USTTI acceptance. Typically, training visas do not allow participants to stay in the United States unless they are actively involved in training.
In order to avoid confusion and disruption during the USTTI orientation and during training, participants should make every effort to arrange their international and U.S. domestic airline reservations through the travel agency designated in the USTTI acceptance information. Participants should arrive in the U.S. with confirmed airline tickets for all required U.S. travel and for their return home. Upon acceptance, participants will be notified of the domestic airline flight necessary to attend training. Consistent with federal grant guidelines, USTTI funded participants are prohibited from making any changes to their tickets.
To ensure the maximum learning experience for USTTI trainees, all participants must stay in the hotels designated by the USTTI. There are no exceptions to this policy. The USTTI guarantees hotel reservations for participants and should be notified immediately of any changes in arrival date. Room payment is due upon check-in to the hotel. USTTI policy prohibits spouse and/or family members from accompanying participants during training.
Applicants are reminded of the following USTTI training policies:
To avoid confusion and disruption in the USTTI admission process, where
over 7,000 applications were processed each year, applicants should not
contact the corporate or government course sponsor directly regarding
acceptance or funding decisions. Applicants who do so will be disqualified from
training.
The policies enumerated above are strictly adhered to in order to facilitate
the fullest participation between USTTI applicants and volunteer trainers, so
that everyone involved receives the maximum benefit from this unique training
initiative. Therefore, your full cooperation with these policies would be
appreciated.
USTTI Policies for Participants
