WASHINGTON, Dec 15: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has passed legislation to establish a professional exchange programme between the United States and Muslim-majority countries.

The International Professional Exchange Act will help build professional capacity, strengthen civil society, and improve ties between the United States and Muslim-majority countries at a pivotal moment, said the committee’s chairman, Senator John Kerry, who wrote the bill.

Through the programme, participants will develop valuable work skills while learning what life in their host country is all about.

Senator Kerry, who introduced the bill in August 2010, hoped that “these experiences will help energise a new generation of leaders and lay the groundwork for improved relations between the United States and Muslim-majority countries”.

Under the International Professional Exchange Act, S.3688, the US Secretary of State is authorised to establish a three-year pilot programme to help build professional capacity and contribute professional skills to local communities through a reciprocal exchange of fellows between the United States and selected Muslim-majority countries.

The programme does not exclude non-Muslims from participating in the exchange.

Fellowships will last between three and six months, including time for relevant orientation, training, community service, and cultural and professional immersion.

The majority of a fellow’s time will be spent in a position that complements the fellow’s professional background and builds relevant professional skills.

To the extent possible, Americans going abroad as fellows should be placed with local companies, local governments and civil society organisations. Each fellow will receive a certificate upon completion of the programme.

Fellows will be between 21 and 40 years of age. Americans will be selected to go overseas, and participants from Muslim-majority countries will be selected to come to the United States.