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History on the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program, which is an international educational exchange program, was established in 1946 at the end of World War II to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of people, their knowledge, and skills. And the Fulbright Program is named after Senator J. William Fulbright who pushed for this endeavor through legislation in Congress. He saw this program as a step toward building an alternative to armed conflict. “His vision was approved by Congress and the program signed into law by President Truman in 1946” (http://www.cies.org/about_fulb.htm) The program is administered by the U.S. government in cooperation with 140 countries around the world. Fulbright grants are made to U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries for a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Since the program began: the Fulbright Program has provided more than 255,000 participants—chosen for their leadership potential—with the opportunity to observe each others’ [the] political, economic and cultural institutions [of other nations], exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants” (http://www.iie.org/FulbrightTemplate.cfm?Section=Fulbright_Program_Overview). On an annual basis, the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars recruits and sends nearly 800 U.S. faculty and professionals to 140 countries on its traditional year long program and brings 800 foreign faculty and professionals to the U.S. There are many more people who participate through this program for a shorter period of time. “Both U.S. and Visiting Fulbright Scholars lecture or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields ranging from journalism and urban planning to music, philosophy, business administration and zoology” (http://www.cies.org/about_fulb.htm). The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Under a cooperative agreement with the Bureau, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) assists in the administration of the Fulbright Scholar Program for faculty and professionals. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the United States Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions in foreign countries and in the U.S. also contribute financially through cost-sharing and indirect support, such as salary supplements, tuition waivers and university housing. The Congressional appropriation for the Fulbright Program in fiscal year 2001 was $118.7 million. Foreign governments, through their binational commissions or foundations, contributed an additional $28 million directly to the Fulbright Program. (http://www.cies.org/about_fulb.htm) The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, also sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides opportunities for recent graduates, postgraduate candidates, and developing professionals and artists to conduct career-launching study and research abroad (http://www.iie.org/FulbrightTemplate.cfm?Section=U_S__Student_Program). The U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,000 grants annually. As the number of individuals who receive Fulbright Grants continues to grow, likewise the number and variety of programs have continued to grow. Programs extend from just a few weeks to an entire year.

Posted in Multiculturalism and Institutional Responsibility on Jan 10, 2020