Teach, lead, and connect: our Enhancement Seminar 2025 strengthens the impact of the ETA program across the country.

Between December 1 and 5, we held the Enhancement Seminar 2025 as part of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program.

The activities began on Monday, December 1, with a session for tutors who welcome Americans to their institutions as teaching assistants of English as a second language. Universities from departments such as Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Nariño, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, and Bogotá D.C. were present.

During the welcome remarks, Steward Tuttle, Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Bogotá and Chair of our Board of Directors, Alexandra Restrepo, Director of the Language Assistant Program at the Colombian Institute for Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad (ICETEX), and Daniela Sierra-Parra, Programs Director at Fulbright Colombia, were in attendance.

This workshop focused on strengthening their teaching, assessment, and leadership skills to improve support for ETAs and expand the impact of bilingualism, interculturalism, and internationalization programs in their host institutions.

On Tuesday, December 2, the agenda continued for the ETAs, with opening remarks by Adam Lenert, Acting Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, and Katrin DeWindt, Academic Exchange Specialist at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., offering a comprehensive space for personal, pedagogical, community, and professional development.

The sessions were designed to enrich their experience in Colombia, strengthen their performance within the host institutions, and support their transition to the next stages of their academic and personal trajectories.

We express our sincere gratitude to all the Fulbrighters who participated and shared their experiences, contributing to a meaningful and collaborative learning experience.