TSCI fosters Global Connections by promoting cultural understanding, educational exchanges, and international cooperation.
Narashino & Schorndorf Student Exchanges
For more than 30 years, Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International (TSCI) has fostered global understanding and cultural exchange through its educational programs with Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS). Each year, TSCI facilitates the selection of 20 TCS high school students to participate in an immersive exchange program with Tuscaloosa's sister cities: Narashino, Japan, and Schorndorf, Germany. The exchange alternates between the two cities each summer, with one year focusing on Germany and the following year on Japan.
The process to participate in this prestigious program is highly competitive, with students undergoing a thorough application process to secure a spot. Once selected, the students embark on an enriching journey that includes language development, sightseeing, cultural excursions, and hands-on educational activities, all while being hosted by local students in either Narashino or Schorndorf. This unique opportunity allows Tuscaloosa students to experience life in another country, gaining a deeper appreciation for the language, customs, and traditions of their host families.
The exchange program is reciprocal, with students from Narashino and Schorndorf visiting Tuscaloosa just a few months later. During this time, the Tuscaloosa students host their German or Japanese counterparts, creating lasting international friendships and fostering a deeper connection between the two communities. This dynamic cultural exchange enriches the lives of all participants, broadening their global perspectives and promoting lifelong understanding between Tuscaloosa and its sister cities.
TSCI Educational Exchanges connect high school students from the Tuscaloosa City Schools System and our sister cities to develop opportunities for students to travel, gain interpersonal skills, and learn about other cultures and themselves. Since 1986, TSCI has partnered with the Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS) System to coordinate and facilitate exchanges and additional programs between our sister cities. Students and chaperones from TCS are selected annually to represent Tuscaloosa in international exchange programs and ongoing educational programs. The goal of this partnership is to establish a cooperative education program to facilitate student exchanges, promote new pedagogical practices, and expand the international benefits of education and professional development.
