Global Teaching Labs

For three to four weeks each January, GTL participants travel abroad to teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses—and sometimes other topics including entrepreneurship and debate—to high school and university students. This high-impact program attracts several hundred highly accomplished candidates from across the Institute. Selected participants are trained about teaching materials, platforms and communication techniques, and introduced to the education system and culture of their host country.

Program requirements

• Good academic standing (4.0 GPA minimum)
• Submit a MISTI application and complete an interview
• Participating students will be required to attend 5–6 training sessions in the fall.
• First year applicants are ONLY eligible for the following programs/subjects: 
  • Africa:
    • Cape Verde: Any subject
    • Ivory Coast: For Competition mathematics
    • Ghana: For Competition mathematics
    • Rwanda: For Competition mathematics
  • Europe:
    • Italy: For Debate 
    • Armenia: Any subject 
  • Asia:
    • India: Any subject
    • Bhutan: For Competition Mathematics
    • Nepal: Any subject
    • Kazakhstan: Any subject
• Language Requirements:
  • Africa:
    • Ivory Coast: French is highly recommended
    • Cape Verde: Portuguese is highly recommended
  • Asia:
    • Korea: No language requirement, but seeking Korean and Mandarin speakers for select placements
  • Europe:
    • Germany: No language requirement, but preference to students who have taken German
    • Spain: Spanish Required – conversational/intermediate level is a minimum
    • Andorra: Spanish Required – conversational/intermediate level is a minimum. One placement for a French speaker.
  • Latin America:
    • Mexico: No language requirement, but seeking Spanish speakers for some placements.
    • Chile: No language requirement, but preference to students who speak Spanish
    • Peru: No language requirement, but preference to students who speak Spanish
    • Uruguay: No language requirement, but preference to students who speak Spanish
• Seeking Graduate Students (All programs accept graduate students, but select programs are actively seeking graduate students.):
  • Africa:
    • South Africa & Botswana: Graduate students seeking leadership role encouraged to apply
    • Ivory Coast: Graduate students encouraged, even if they are not domain experts but know French very well.
  • Europe:
    • Armenia: Graduate students seeking to work with university-level students are encouraged to apply. 
    • Georgia: This opportunity is for seniors and graduate students only
    • Scotland: Seeking MBA students with a  background and interest in Entrepreneurship education.
  • Middle East:
    • Bahrain: Seeking MBA and Mechanical Engineering graduate students
  • Latin America:
    • Peru: This opportunity is for seniors and graduate students only
    • Uruguay: This opportunity is for seniors and graduate students only

Selection criteria

• Knowledge of subject matter
• Adaptability to different cultural norms and work and living arrangements
• Ability to communicate and inspire about STEM concepts both in front of classroom and one-on-one
• Ability to lead and manage a class as well as guide and mentor individuals
• Passion and talent for hands-on teaching and learning
• Interest in the host country
• Fit with team/program
• Language ability (necessary at some host schools)
• Readiness to commit full time to host school and project during IAP

MISTI programs are designed to be cost-neutral, meaning your experience is funded by generous MISTI donors, your host school, or a combination of both. All essential expenses are covered, including airfare and housing, and you’ll receive a small stipend for meals and transportation.

View the 2025 GTL info session here.

You can access more information about each Global Teaching Lab by clicking on the "Global Teaching Labs" tab available on each of the country program pages (links below). This includes information about the teaching format, program dates, school locations, and housing. 

*Please note programs denoted with an asterisk (*) have limited spots (less than 10 placements).

Africa

• MIT-Africa Global Teaching Labs*:
  • South Africa & Botswana*: "Quantum Mechanics: Theory and Application" - all related fields inclusive of Course 15 and 24
  • Cape Verde*:  "Problem Solving with App Inventor", All Majors welcome, students with app development and consulting experience particularly encouraged
  • Ivory Coast*: Competition Math
  • Ghana*: Competition Math
  • Rwanda*: Competition Math

Asia

• MIT-Korea Global Teaching Labs:  All STEM-related subjects
• MIT-South Asia Global Teaching Labs*:  
  • Bhutan*: Competition Math, specifically IMO
  • India*: Robotics, Math, Design thinking and Interactive Learning Models for children with special learning disability (SLD) , STEM+Art developing hands-on educational models and teaching
  • Nepal*: Robotics, Coding, Math & English

Europe

• MIT-Eurasia Global Teaching Labs:
  • Armenia: All STEM-related subjects, Design, Business/Entrepreneurship, Climate and Sustainability, AI/ML, Art and Technology (filmmaking, photography, new media)
  • Kazakhstan*: All STEM-related subjects, Leadership/Communication, Climate and Sustainability, Robotics Competitions
  • Georgia* (For Seniors and Graduate students only): BioTechnologies, Biomedical Engineering, AgriTech, Embedded Systems Development, IoT, MicroPython for Embedded Systems, Microcontroller/Microcomputer Programming and Firmware Development, Human-Machine Interface Design, Renewable Energy Systems, Advanced VR/AR/MR Platforms
• MIT-Germany Global Teaching Labs: All STEM related subjects, with a focus on Physics, Bio, Math, CS, Chem 
• MIT-Italy Global Teaching Labs: Physics, Math, Bio, Coding, Robotics, DEBATE
• MIT-Spain Global Teaching Labs:
  • Spain: All STEM-related subjects, Maker Space experience, Edgerton classes are a plus 
  • Andorra*: Bio, Physics, Programming, Chemistry, Coding
• MIT-UK Global Teaching Labs:
  • England*: All STEM related subjects, with a focus on Physics, Bio, Math, CS, Chem, Rocket Team, MechE
  • Scotland *: All STEM related subjects, with a focus on Green Tech, Sustainable Design, Creative Design & Product Development, AI & Data Science, Entrepreneurship, Robotics
  • Wales: All STEM related subjects, with a focus on Physics, Bio, Math, CS, Chem, Geography, Sustainability, Robotics, Design, Music

Middle East and North Africa

• MIT-Arab World Global Teaching Labs: 
  • Bahrain: Robotics, Business and entrepreneurship, Python, Electrical Engineering
  • United Arab Emirates*: Climate and sustainability, Healthcare subjects 
  • Morocco*: Climate and sustainability, Healthcare subjects
  • Jordan*: Robotics, Fabrication Skills, Electronics Skills, Python, Computer Science

Latin America

• MIT-Chile Global Teaching Labs: 
  • Chile: Scratch, Python, Coding, Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship
  • Peru (For Seniors and Graduate students only): Scratch, Python, Coding, Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship
  • Uruguay (For Seniors and Graduate students only): Scratch, Python, Coding, Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship
• MIT-Mexico Global Teaching Labs​​​​​​: ALL STEM-related subjects (Five spots for female-identified students to teach STEM and coding to middle and high school girls​; Three spots to prepare a workshop on cybersecurity; workshop on engineering for undergrads by graduate students or seniors.​)

Program timeline

• Application opens: August 30th 
• Info Session: Sept 10th, 2024 at 5:00 PM in TBD
• Application deadline: September 18th at 11:59 PM
• Sep-Oct: Applications reviewed and select students contacted for interview.
• Nov–Dec: Students selected to participate will attend pre-departure trainings.
• Jan: Most GTL programs held during the last three weeks.
• Feb: Students attend a mandatory reentry session upon return.

Application Instructions - How to Apply

In the GTL application, you can select a first and second choice country. You will also be able to indicate your interest in any of the other countries after selecting your top two.

Every MISTI country runs their GTL program differently, so it's important to consider the following. All of this information will be covered in the GTL Info Session - we highly recommend you attend.:

• Language and program requirements
• Subjects taught
• Teaching formats (Will you work with other MIT students or solo?) 
• Work schedule (Will you be assisting several classes or just one? Are these classes or workshops?) 
• Housing options (homestay, hotel, apartment with other students)
• Cultural expectations 

It's important to review MISTI program websites for detailed information on GTL in your countries of interest. Click on the Global Teaching Labs Tab under Program Opportunities.

Once you are ready to start the application:

• Complete the MIT GTL Application on the MISTI Portal. You do not need to submit the passport section if you do not have a passport yet (but you should apply for one as soon as possible). 
• If your application has been completed, you will receive an email message from MISTI confirming receipt on September 19th. 
• MISTI will contact you if you’re selected for an interview.

Before your GTL, you’ll attend MISTI Prep and Training sessions designed to help you make the most of your experience abroad. Program-wide sessions will cover teaching and communications strategies. Country-specific sessions will include health and safety, logistics and the culture of the host country.

Contact misti [at] mit.edu (misti[at]mit[dot]edu) with any questions.