President Nicusor Dan announced that 2,883 Romanian high school students signed up for the 20 places available in the FLEX Program for the 2026-2027 school year, being interested in studying and living for a year in the United States of America.
“The strategic partnership between Romania and the United States of America is permanently strengthened, not only through important economic and security projects, but also through impactful educational programs for our young people. From this perspective, the resumption of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program in the 2026-2027 academic year is very good news for Romanian education and for the strategic relationship between Romania and the United States”, President Nicusor Dan sent in a Facebook post.
According to him, FLEX “is one of the most competitive merit-based exchange programs for high school students in the world.”
“Many of the participants later managed to pursue successful careers in public administration, but also in the private sector. 20 Romanian high school students will thus have the opportunity to study in an American high school and live with an American family, which means authentically experiencing everyday life in the USA”. appreciates the head of state.
According to him, the FLEX Program could be resumed thanks to the co-financing agreement signed between the Ministry of Education and Research and the American Councils for International Education.
Nicusor Dan talks about “the exceptional interest of Romanian high school students”, being 2,883 candidates for 20 places.
“It demonstrates how strong the desire of our young people is to be formed through quality education, international openness and democratic values. These days, the selection procedures that will take place over several months begin. I wish them all the best of luck and congratulate them for their courage, ambition and desire to overcome their limits. Regardless of the result, each application is proof of confidence that education offers the best prospects to build your future”. the head of state also stated.
He believes that “Romania needs well-prepared citizens, open and connected to the world, and programs like FLEX represent an essential tool for bringing societies together, but also a unique opportunity for young people to mature”.
On September 25, 2025, the then Minister of Education, Daniel David, signed, during a visit to the United States, the new agreement for the FLEX/FLEX Abroad programs, supported by the US State Department.
“This program brings significant benefits to Romania, representing an investment in young people, education and the democratic future of the country, and, at the same time, serves the interests of the United States as part of its international commitment, the program contributing to the consolidation of Euro-Atlantic democracy. We have now committed to resume the program for the 2026-2027 school year, and based on the analysis of the operation of the new mechanism, we will evaluate the continuation methods for the following years”, said Daniel David then.
For the 2026-2027 school year, the program was addressed to Romanian high school students born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. They could apply until December 18.
FLEX is one of the most competitive merit-based exchange programs for high school students in the world and takes place in 22 countries.
Since 2015, according to the US Embassy in Bucharest, more than 18,000 Romanians have applied for the FLEX program, reflecting the country’s constant interest in study opportunities in the United States. Each Romanian participant spends a year in the USA, living with an American family and studying in an American high school.
The FLEX Abroad reciprocal program was launched in Romania in 2024 and offers American high school students the opportunity to live and study in Romania.
