ECA’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Innovation Unit is partnering with research firm The District Communications Group to evaluate the CBYX program and understand its effects on American alumni and American host communities.

This study is a unique opportunity for program participants from the past forty years to share their stories and insights with the Department of State, the U.S. Congress and other stakeholders such as implementing partners, the CBYX American Alumni Association, and host schools and organizations.

ECA welcomes all CBYX alumni as well as members of the communities where the program took place, including host families or host school members, community service or internship organization colleagues, mentors, close friends, family of alumni or anyone else who feel that there were personally impacted by the CBYX exchange experience to participate in the evaluation.

The input of CBYX alumni and host community members is critical. 

ECA will use the insights obtained in this evaluation to:

• Ascertain if CBYX is achieving its goals;
• Understand how the program contributes to alumni’s academic, personal and professional lives;
• Explore how the program may impact the communities that host German participants in the United States; and
• Strengthen future activities and outreach.

In addition to an online survey, the evaluation team will conduct virtual qualitative research including several interviews and focus groups with participants of the program from the last forty years. These sessions are likely to take place starting in early 2022.

For any questions about the evaluation or to participate in a discussion, please contact Elizabeth Botkin and Aylin Talgar Pietz.