The China-U.S. Scholars Fellowship Program (CUSP) was a critical one-time fellowship program to advance the exchange of scholars and students between the United States and China from 2021 – 2023. At a time when educational and cultural collaboration between U.S. and Chinese scholars and students was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events, CUSP furthered opportunities for educational and cultural exchange. The program was funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Luce Foundation, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
In the Final Report, CUSP scholars and students reported achieving the goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the program. The program provided an opportunity for all of the participants to broaden their network (100%), solidify their future research (98%), and learn about international partnerships (98%). These findings were evident across participants from the U.S. and China/Hong Kong.
CUSP participants valued the opportunity of the exchange, and the advantages they were able to gain in working on joint activities with their host institutions. For many, the knowledge gained in their host country and their host institution, as well as additional knowledge and intercultural exchange, are long-lasting.