Each year, since 1988, the International Space University (ISU) organizes its acclaimed nine-week Space Studies Program (SSP), held in different countries of the world. SSP offers participants a unique and comprehensive professional development experience, covering all aspects of space programs, enterprises, and NewSpace. The SSP provides courses in all space disciplines and hands-on education through workshops and professional visits. Team projects allow participants to refine a space-related topic as a team, and produce professional-quality reports and final presentations, all in the span of a few weeks. The program can also be carried out in a hybrid format with a separate online component.
More information about ISU’s Space Studies Program can be found here.
ISU is seeking proposals from organizations interested to serve as host of the 36th SSP held in 2024 and 37th SSP in 2025.
Benefits for the Host Organization
The SSP provides the opportunity for the host to be identified with a highly visible, international event that focuses on space-related educational activities. ISU brings well over 300 people including an international cohort of about 120 participants from more than 30 countries – not counting families and accompanying partners, to the host institution’s region during the two-month period in which the SSP is conducted. The SSP routinely draws leading international specialists from all areas of the space sector including space agencies, industry, academia as well as entrepreneurs to the host site, thus creating opportunities for ample future collaboration. Hosting an SSP brings tangible and intangible opportunities, events, and direct economic remuneration. The SSP also provides a forum in which local experts can network, often meeting each other for the first time at one of the many SSP public events. The set-up of a national space agency in one of the SSP host countries, following a study performed during the SSP, is another example of a long-term benefit of hosting an SSP.
Please find here the updated version of the host selection applications. These updates ensure that the ISU remains in step with a rapidly changing space sector to deliver an SSP that is well-aligned with future hosts’ long-term development plans and legacies while maintaining the inherent magic of the SSP and providing the best possible experience for the participants.
Hear from a Host
Hugo André Costa, ISU alumnus and head of the Local Organizing Committee for SSP22 in Oeiras, Portugal states:
“With its strong commitment to flexibility, sustainability, legacies, academic excellence, and optimization of all aspects of the SSP, we knew that the application process would run smoothly and that ISU would provide the relevant support to Portugal Space and Instituto Superior Tecnico to ensure that SSP22 would be the best SSP ever!”
Schedule for the Selection
30th June 2022 – Publication of the request for proposal for 2024 and 2025
15 September 2022 – Letter of interest submitted to the SSP Director
18 November 2022 – Full proposals are submitted to ssp.director@isunet.edu
Spring 2023 – Assignment of the program location for 2024
About ISU
The International Space University, founded in 1987 in Massachusetts, US is the world’s premier international space education institution. ISU develops the future leaders of the world space community by providing interdisciplinary educational programs in an international and intercultural environment. ISU also provides targeted space education for the non-space audience and re-skilling and upskilling training for the space workforce. Today, ISU is made up of a unique network around the world with a Central Campus in Strasbourg, hubs in the USA and the Asia-Pacific region, and partnerships with leading space organizations worldwide
ISU is a 35-year success story with 5200 alumni shaping the international space ecosystem in 110 countries including astronauts and entrepreneurs along with current and former space industry and government leaders.