Fulbright Faculty Development Program
The Fulbright Faculty Development Program is a non-degree, professional development program that provides promising junior university faculty with the opportunity to:
- develop new courses and implement curriculum reform at their home institutions;
- cultivate teaching skills and techniques based on personal observation of U.S. educational methods;
- expand the information base in their fields of study;
- become a vehicle for on-going contact and exchange between their home and host institutions.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the Fulbright Faculty Development Program, an applicant must:
- have citizenship of the Republic of Belarus and permanent residence in the country;
- be eligible for a U.S. J-1 visa (with two-year home-country residence requirement);
- hold a university degree;
- be currently teaching at an institution of higher education;
- have at least two years of teaching experience at an institution of higher education by the time of application;
- demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English (selected finalists will be required to take TOEFL test).
The program offers equal opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, native language, handicap or disability.
The Fulbright Faculty Development Program offers a four-month non-degree research program in the 2013-2014 academic year. Program activities will include developing curricula, gathering resource materials, collaborating with U.S. colleagues, giving presentations, and observing courses with the permission of the host institution. The Fulbright Faculty Development Program for 2013-2014 offers scholarships in any academic field.
One of the important components of the Fulbright Faculty Development Program is a formal affiliation at a U.S. university. When determining which institutions to contact, do not limit yourself to the most well-known U.S. universities.
Though many U.S. institutions may not have an international reputation, they often do have appropriate facilities for scholars to conduct research. Scholars placed in these smaller and lesser-known institutions often are given greater attention than their colleagues who are affiliated with larger and more well-known universities. If you have studied previously in the United States, you should avoid seeking affiliation at your U.S. alma mater. This is to ensure that you expand your contacts within the U.S. academic community. Note please that letters of invitation from the prospective host institution, while useful, are not required.
The Fulbright Faculty Development Program provides round-trip international and domestic transportation, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend. Since the Fulbright Faculty Development Program is a non-degree research program, Fellows are not permitted to receive transcripts, grades or credit.
How to apply for FFDP
The applicants for the Fulbright Faculty Development Program in Belarus will need to fill in the on-line application for Fulbright Foreign Student Program. It is designed for foreign students, but is applicable to junior researchers as well.
Applications for the Fulbright Faculty Development Program must be submitted by March 01, 2013. For the on-line applications and instructions please click on https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/international/20/
If you have any questions, please contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, 2-A Gertsen Street, telephone: 017 217 04 81, fax: 017 211 03 84. Email: ffdp@usembassy.minsk.by.