Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for Iraq

Overview

The U. S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has announced a competition to identify potential host institutions for the 2012 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for Iraq. The 10-week summer program will sponsor 35 junior Iraqi scholars to be placed in five discipline-based cohorts of seven scholars each at selected U.S. institutions for faculty development, mentoring, and cultural exchange activities.

The program is designed to equip grantees with the knowledge and tools needed to build the capacity of universities in Iraq and to advance the education of future generations of Iraqis. In addition, it lays the foundation for Iraqi scholars and their U.S. hosts to develop long-term institutional relationships and to identify areas of cooperation that can be sustained beyond the grant period.

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) administers the program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is pleased to offer this opportunity for U.S. institutions to apply to host a discipline-based cohort of seven Iraqi scholars in the summer of 2012.

OBJECTIVES

Build higher education capacity in Iraq through faculty development and mentoring for junior scholars.
Foster long-term collaboration and institutional linkages between Iraqi scholars and U.S. academics.
Promote mutual understanding between Iraqis and Americans by facilitating the scholars’ engagement with the broader host campus community.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Scholars will spend 10 weeks on an American campus where they will observe classes, attend seminars, visit labs, learn new teaching and research methods, and develop linkages with American faculty through weekly mentoring sessions. They are also expected to pursue their own self-directed projects. (e.g. research course material for classes, explore American history, learn how to use new lab instruments, etc.)

Specifically, host institutions will coordinate substantive academic and cultural activities for the Iraqi scholars which will include the following:

Pairing of grantees with faculty mentors who will meet with them weekly throughout the course of the program
An overview of U.S. higher education and educational administration
Introduction to university administrators and leadership, as well as local industrial or governmental partners, as appropriate.
Visits and on-going access to campus laboratory facilities and libraries
Training on new research methods
Instruction on functional research infrastructure
Observation of courses
Introduction to theoretical and practical topics such as teaching methodology, pedagogy, technology in the classroom, curriculum development, assessment strategies, educational leadership, and academic support structures through regularly scheduled seminars
Identify and coordinate Iraqis’ engagement with host-families or other volunteers who will plan cultural visits, family dinners, and recreational activities
Invite grantees to offer presentations on Iraqi history, culture, or appropriate academic topics for students, faculty, and/or the broader community

Prior to the scholars’ arrival on campus, host institutions will be expected to administer a survey to assess the scholars’ academic competencies. An analysis of the survey results should inform planning for their core program in the summer. Universities will be asked to report on the survey results and subsequent preparations to address the scholars’ needs and interests. Institutions are also asked to assign a mentor for each scholar. Mentors should reach out to scholars via email approximately one month before their arrival to address questions about the campus, program content, and more.

HOST INSTITUTION COMPONENT

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for Iraq invites U.S. institutions to submit proposals to host one discipline-based cohort of Iraqi scholars from July 7 through September 15, 2012. Participating institutions will enjoy a unique opportunity to establish lasting relationships with faculty members at universities in Iraq and to build upon current efforts to internationalize their campuses and surrounding
communities.

Approved host institutions may include research universities, liberal arts colleges and comprehensive universities and will demonstrate particular strengths in one of the five areas of focus: science & technology, environmental science, engineering, TEFL/linguistics, and agricultural science. Each Institution will be permitted to host only one cohort.

Institutions should prepare a statement explaining their interest in and suitability for being selected as a host site for a specific discipline-based cohort. Faculty mentors who will have direct relationships with the visiting scholars should be clearly identified via an attachment containing one paragraph bios.

Specifically, proposals should address the following criteria:

Relevant expertise in: innovative teaching methods; service learning; collaborative undergraduate research; use of technology; in-service professional development; management of libraries, schools or higher education institutions; research methods; instruction and student engagement relevant to the Iraqi context.
Familiarity and experience with higher education institutions in the Middle East.
Faculty mentors and support personnel sensitive to the adjustment issues the visiting scholars are likely to experience. Mentors will plan to meet with scholars a minimum of once per week.
Hosts will address specific components to achieve cultural exchange through host families, campus and/or community volunteers. Plans for cultural and community programming on and off campus should be cited.
A notional program calendar with substantive and community activities should be submitted as an attachment.
Proposed activities such as workplace visits, observation or shadowing, working one-on-one with faculty or professionals, faculty development seminars, attending or participating in professional meetings, opportunities to address academic or community groups on Iraqi higher education, or participation in courses, as deemed appropriate.
Plans for continued engagement with the Iraqi scholars beyond the grant period.

INSTITUTIONAL LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

Host institutions are asked to provide:

Suitable individual furnished housing for every scholar. Accommodations should include air conditioning, private kitchen and bathroom facilities, and be either walking distance from campus or accessible via a campus shuttle or public/local transportation. Institutions will be reimbursed up to $4,500 per scholar for housing expenses.
A designated principal faculty or administrative staff member who will be responsible for implementing the program and making the logistical arrangements for the Fulbright Visiting Scholars while they are on campus.
Assigned faculty mentors who are available and committed to meeting weekly with the grantees.
Access to institutional resources such as library, computer, laboratory and office/ work space where possible.
Assistance in accommodating any religious dietary practices for Fulbright Visiting Scholars, such as appropriate vegetarian or Halal fare, as well as accommodations during Ramadan.
Transportation to and from the airport upon the scholars’ arrival and departure.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

Cohorts of visiting scholars will be comprised of junior Iraqi faculty. The junior faculty will be, at a minimum, full-time instructors or lecturers with M.A./M.S. degrees. Some may have Ph.D. degrees. All scholars will also have several years of university-level teaching experience in one of the five academic fields. They will be highly motivated to engage with colleagues and others within their communities and campuses in the United States.

Selected visiting scholar participants will meet the following criteria:

A permanent or tenured position with an institution of higher education in Iraq.
A commitment to advancing their own academic/professional development and to contributing to the development of Iraqi educational institutions.
Specific plans to undertake a project or activity that will provide opportunity to share knowledge and tools obtained during the program with colleagues and others in Iraqi higher educational institutions. Specific activities may include the development of curriculum, the creation of teaching materials, the promotion of collaboration within and among institutions, or the establishment of substantive and workable relationships with U.S. institutions.
The ability to communicate fluently in English, both orally and in writing.

VISA ARRANGEMENTS

Visiting scholars will enter the United States on J-1 Exchange Visitor Visas issued under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program G-1-00005.

Institutions interested in participating in the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for Iraq and hosting a cohort of scholars, please contact IraqFulbright@iie.org or hmcgann@iie.org.

http://www.cies.org/Fulbright/Iraq/

http://www.cies.org/Fulbright/Iraq/Flyer.pdf

Please quote Scholarization.blogspot.com on your application when applying for this scholarship