Senator of Arkansas J.William Fulbright introduced the Fulbright scholarship program in the year 1946. The Department of State of the U.S. government totally sponsors this program through Bureau Of Educational And Cultural Affairs, which also does the supervision worldwide.
After its inception, within 60 years, 279,000 students have participated in this program within the U.S and other countries. Approximately every year 6,000 new grants are awarded for Fulbright scholarship. At present the Fulbright scholarship program is operated worldwide in 150 countries. This program aims to enhance mutual understanding between students and academics of the U.S and other countries. This is provided to participants selected on the basis of academic merit and also leadership potential and gives an opportunity for them to study, research, and make contribution of solutions for international concerns and have exchange of ideas.
Fulbright scholarships are provided to graduate students, professionals, scholars, administrators and teachers from other countries and the U.S. The program funding is annual appropriation of the Department of State by the United States Congress. Participating countries and the U.S contribute finance by indirect support and cost-sharing like tuition waivers, salary supplements, university housing etc. Congressional appropriation for this program during 2006 fiscal year was $184.6 million and other contributions from foreign governments and foundations abroad added $50.4 million to the fund.
This Fulbright scholarship has a board that has twelve leaders in both education and public services who are appointed by the U.S president to frame procedures, policies and selection criteria for the program. The board plays the main role in selecting the grantees of Fulbright awards.
At present there are 50 binational commissions that are active out of which the United States and the participating country jointly fund 48 with equal number of leaders in each board.
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and others directly administer some Fulbright scholarship programs by assisting cooperating agencies. Applicants interested can make contact with Fulbright commission in their country.
Fulbright scholarship for studying or teaching in the U.S varies to each country and the board gets assistance from local institutions and educational authorities.
Fulbright grants are of three types. They are students, teachers & administrators, and scholars& professionals.
The U.S student Fulbright program offers scholarship to graduating seniors in an academic year. In the year 2006-2007 the program supported 1,200 students to study abroad in 140 countries worldwide.
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships (ETA) Program aids foreign students in improving language knowledge and abilities of the United States. They can pursue study or research along with ETA responsibilities. The Fulbright Islamic Civilization Initiative is part of the U.S Fulbright that helps in student program, research funds and study purpose for Muslim population in any nation. The selection for projects will depend on their potential for enhancing knowledge of American’s Islamic cultures and the religion of Islam.
The Fulbright U.S Scholar Program annually, on an average, sends 11,000 scholars for lecture and research in the professional and academic field to 130 countries or more.
The Fulbright Senior Specialists Program is a short-term Program for two-to-six weeks period.
The New Century Scholars Program is for a discussion of international and interdisciplinary collaboration with research scholars and professionals from all over the world.
Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program is a one to one exchange program that is operated between more than 30 countries and the United States.
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