Preparing International Scholarship Students for Graduate Education: The Case of the Open Society Foundations' Pre-Academic Summer Program

Abstract:To support higher education, global philanthropies provide diverse funding to organizations, individuals, and networks. This case study focuses on a unique model in philanthropy in education: the Open Society Foundations' Pre-Academic Summer Program or "OSF Summer School." To prepare civil society leaders and activists for graduate level study, this month-long intensive program aims to mirror the academic environment and expectations of the grantees' host universities. Through this case study, findings show that the OSF Summer School teaches students academic skills and provides valuable lessons in interpreting academic culture. By funding and administering this initiative, OSF extends its commitment to educational access by providing programming designed for non-traditional profiles. This case study aims to inform other global foundations and higher education institutions working to prepare scholarship grantees, including individuals from marginalized communities, for international graduate education.