Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program is a program of educational grants (Fulbright Fellowships) sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State and by governments in other countries. The program was established to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.
The program was created through the efforts of Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright, who promulgated its passage through the US Senate in 1946. It is considered one of the more prestigious award programs and it operates in 144 countries. More Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes than those of any other academic programme, including two in 2002.
The Fulbright Program provides funds for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools abroad. The initial reach of this program had been primarily European countries, and now the program operates worldwide.
The program is administered by 51 binational Fulbright commissions, US Embassies, and cooperating organizations.
Its first participants went overseas in 1948, funded by war reparations and foreign loan repayments to the United States. Today, it is funded by Congressional appropriations and funding provided by partner governments. The program also receives important in-kind and financial support from academic institutions, foundations, and the private sector.
In the 60 years since it was created, over 250,000 individuals have received Fulbright grants - over 100,000 Americans and over 150,000 citizens of other countries. These individuals have established into over 150 national or sub-national alumni organizations.
Fulbright Commission
A Fulbright Commission provides scholarships to citizens of countries participating in the Fulbright Program who wish to study in the US, and to US citizens who wish to study in those countries.
Fulbright Prize
The J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding established in 1993 is awarded by the Fulbright Association to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions toward bringing peoples, cultures, or nations to greater understanding of others. Fulbright Prize laureates are:
- Colin Powell (2004)
- Fernando Cardoso (2003)
- Sadako Ogata (2002)
- Kofi Annan (2001)
- Martti Ahtisaari (2000)
- Mary Robinson (1999)
- Patricio Aylwin Azócar (1998)
- Václav Havel (1997)
- Corazon Aquino (1996)
- Franz Vranitzky (1995)
- Jimmy Carter (1994)
- Nelson Mandela (1993)
- Heather Tafel (1997)
External links
- Fulbright Program homepage
- Fulbright Academy of Science & Technology An international network established by alumni of the Fulbright Program.
- Institute of International Education: Fulbright Program
- The Atlantic Review A newsletter on transatlantic affairs edited by three German Fulbright alumni with the goal of increasing mutual understanding
- US Department of State Fulbright webpage