Romania and United States expand educational and diplomatic exchange programs

Romania and the United States are expanding educational and diplomatic cooperation through new initiatives and scholarship agreements.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research and the American Councils for International Education to continue the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Global and FLEX Abroad Global programs. For the 2027-2028 academic year, the agreement will provide scholarships for up to 70 Romanian high school students to study in the United States for one year, while up to 20 American students will be able to study in Romania. The program is co-funded by the Romanian government and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Selection for the 2027-2028 cycle is expected to begin in November 2026.

In a separate diplomatic effort, the inaugural Romania-United States Exchange Program is underway, involving a delegation of U.S. Congressional advisors and representatives from think tanks such as RAND and the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Romanian officials highlighted the importance of these exchanges in strengthening the transatlantic relationship, specifically regarding security, economic cooperation, and defense industry partnerships.