International Professional Exchange Program Oct. 23, 2009

Group Study Exchange (GSE) is a cultural and vocational exchange opportunity open to the public for nonRotary businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries where participants experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas. Millbrook Rotarian and GSE Chair of Rotary District 7210, Heather Malcom is a former GSE Professional—a biologist–who visited New Zealand for a month as part of the GSE program prior to becoming a Rotarian. Ms. Malcom describes her experiences as she exchanged ideas with other scientists. Many of the exchange professionals return from their visit and join Rotary shortly thereafter. In some Rotary districts Group Study Exchange is being replaced by a similar program called Vocational Exchange.