Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship

The academic year consists of two semesters: August to December and January to May. English medium schools (otherwise referring to private schools), including Westwood International, Maru-a-Pula, Northside, Thornhill, Broadhurst Primary School, Rainbow International School, Al-Nur International School, Gaborone International School, Regent Hill School, and Hillcrest are available in Gaborone for dependent children in grades K-12 who accompany the Scholar. Other towns may have private schools as well.

All scholars in the country are expected to report prior and upon arrival, and keep regular contact with the U.S. Embassy and report on their activities. The Embassy may collaborate with the scholars and their hosts on specific project, as needed.

Cambodia is a country of contradictions. It has one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, but large portions of the country still depend on traditional fishing and agriculture. It has democratic processes, but the same party has been in power for decades. It still bears the scars of the Khmer Rouge regime, but a dynamic youth sector is charting its own course.

Of all of the changes that have taken place in the last decade, the rise of a large and distinct youth demographic is arguably the most important. Young Cambodians are more educated, more outward looking and more connected than any previous generation. Tapping into the energy and optimism of this youthful core is critical to Cambodia’s future success.

The Fulbright Program plays an important role in supporting bilateral relations by bringing U.S and Cambodian youth and educators together. Cambodia’s higher education system is still developing, giving U.S. Fulbrighters the opportunity to have an outsized impact on teaching, curriculum development and program evaluation. Cambodia presents endless opportunities for research, both as a stand-alone country and as part of the ASEAN region. Previous Fulbrighters have made significant contributions in fields including political science, agriculture, environmental studies, education, nursing, health and biochemistry.

The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh provides a full range of support services to U.S. Fulbright Scholars, including an in-country orientation, housing information, visa assistance, and help connect Fulbrighters with the Embassy's community and network when needed.

About Colombia

Located in the northwest corner of South America, Colombia has a rich and complex geography that is shaped by three exuberant branches of the Andes mountain range system and lined by both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. With more than 50 million citizens, Colombia has the second largest population in South America and is Latin America’s oldest and most stable democracy. Colombia is a free market economy with major commercial and investment ties to countries around the world, including the United States.

In the last five years, Colombia has established itself as one of the most rapidly growing and innovative economies in Latin America. The country’s natural diversity is comparable to its rich cultural heritage reflecting the indigenous, Spanish, and African origins of its people. This makes Colombian food, music, dance, and art greatly diverse and unique.

Colombia is a paradigmatic example of a middle-income economy, and although still highly dependent on fossil fuels for national income, it is poised to transition towards a carbon-neutral and circular economy which could become a replicable example for other developing countries. Colombia's diversity –ecosystemic, economic, social, and cultural– offers an engaging setting for research projects that seek to find solutions to the largest global challenges of our times.

A remarkable location for biodiversity, sustainable development, and peace studies

Colombia has always been a preferred destination for students and scholars from around the world interested in conducting research in biodiversity and sustainable development. As the second most biodiverse country in the world, Colombia opens numerous possibilities for academic visitors to engage and expand their knowledge. Colombia houses an unparalleled diversity of natural environments ranging from plains and deserts to high mountains, snowy peaks, Amazonian jungle, and Pacific and Caribbean coastlines— each with its own set of unique fauna and flora. Thus, providing the perfect context for adventurous scholars aiming to engage in research in distinct ecologies and establish networks with local communities.

As one of the largest economies in Latin America, Colombia has the potential to influence the region as a whole, and in particular, exemplify a pathway towards sustainable development despite challenging sociopolitical contexts. The country’s deep connection with the Pacific Alliance and its strategic geographic location, as well as its historic drive in international contexts, position Colombia to lead efforts that can be transformative at the regional and global levels.

Due to its location and geographical situation, Colombia has been identified as being among the most vulnerable countries in the face of climate change. Along these lines, education at all levels plays a key role in the adoption of change towards sustainability, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

It is also important to highlight the efforts made by the Colombian government to lead energy transition and strategies to tackle the climate crisis in Latin America. In this sense, the country has gained recognition for setting in place the first regional policy on circular economy and its progress making headway in the discussion of a Climate Action Law in Congress aiming at drawing together and enforcing UN Climate Change Conference (COP) commitments. In 2022, President Gustavo Petro stated during the United Nations General Assembly that the protection of the environment and biodiversity was a priority for the country.

In recent years, the country has also become a primary destination for those studying peace processes, rural development, and social transformation. In recent years, Colombia has undergone a remarkable transformation that has turned the tide on a long-running civil conflict. The signing of the peace agreement in 2016 between the 50-year-old FARC guerrilla group and the administration of former president Juan Manuel Santos opened up a historical opportunity for peacebuilding in Colombia and especially in regions heavily affected by decades of conflict. 

There has been considerable progress in the implementation of the peace agreement, particularly in terms of the demobilization of the former insurgency, and the recognition and reparation for victims; however, there are several key points of the agreement that are lagging, such as the comprehensive rural reform, FARC political participation, the cessation of violence in some regions, the solution to the problem of illicit drugs, and violence against demobilized ex-combatants. 

The Ivan Duque administration focused on and prioritized specific parts of the Agreement such as reincorporation, the formulation of national rural development plans, and issues related to the PDET (Programs of development with territorial approach, by its Spanish acronym). The main achievements in this field were the attention to the most abandoned municipalities of Colombia, the substitution of illicit crops, and the financing of productive projects led by ex-combatants. 

Under the “Total Peace” policy, the current government aims at involving other armed groups and criminal bands that have caused violence in peace negotiations and processes of submission to justice. This policy puts the communities at the center of negotiations and creates a fund for peace that seeks social investment for distant regions highly affected by the presence of irregular armed groups. The current government has publicly announced its commitment to work on the breached agreements through the discussion of rural reform and has also begun to conduct peace dialogues with the ELN guerrilla group in order to achieve more peace and stability. 

While there have been major improvements in Colombia in terms of security, significant challenges remain for the successful implementation of the peace agreements and the reintegration of the members of the former insurgency. 

Another recent challenge in Colombia is the increasing inflow of migrants from Venezuela in the past years. As of February 2022, approximately 2.5 million Venezuelans had arrived in Colombia, according to Colombian official statistics. Colombia has taken a leading role in adopting an open borders policy and implementing humanistic practices in the provision of services such as education, healthcare, employment services, and humanitarian aid to Venezuelan migrants and repatriated Colombians.

A diversified and connected system of higher education

In recent years, Colombia has made education a top priority in the country’s economic and social development and has invested more resources in this sector than in any other area. Colombia is a country that has made great efforts to offer inclusive and quality education for all by implementing policies that have increased the number of hours that children attend school, ensured access to education for children of younger ages, and strengthened the bridge into higher education settings. The country has also focused on increasing access to higher education for vulnerable and marginalized populations and investing in improving teacher training and development.

Colombia has a growing and diverse higher education system, composed of over 381 higher education institutions, offering 2,825 master’s programs and 449 doctoral programs. Colombian higher education institutions have been innovating their programs and procedures in order to attract more foreign scholars and students. The National Ministry of Education and its allies, MinCiencias and ICETEX, have invested heavily in advancing the installed capacities of Colombia's higher education system in order to improve the research and teaching on their campuses.

Furthermore, the nationwide initiative “Colombia Challenge your Knowledge” (CCYK), which is led by the top universities in the country, has been analyzing and implementing the best internationalization practices in order to attract more international visitors.

Colombia’s bet on Science, Technology, and Innovation

A number of new partnerships between Colombian and U.S. universities have been cemented in recent years; many of them funded by Colombia Científica. As the flagship Colombian governmental initiative to promote internationalization, science, and research in the country, Colombia Científica has coordinated efforts with the productive sector and world-class institutions. This inter-institutional initiative, supported by the World Bank, has gathered 148 stakeholders participating in eight Scientific Ecosystems in the following strategic focus areas: bio-economics, health, sustainable energy, food, and society. More than 1100 products will be developed by 2023 in the framework of this alliance, including patents, prototypes, bioprocessing facilities, industrial design registrations, and spin-offs, among others. 

The Territorial Ecosystems of Science, Technology, and Innovation (CT&I), established by MinCiencias, also provide a framework for development in the different regions of Colombia. By integrating the regions' specific needs into strategic investment projects, competitive production areas, and development initiatives, the Department Councils of CT&I have played a key role in the alignment of regional initiatives and the goals and policies of science, technology, and innovation in the country.

Finally, during the last decade, Colombia has experienced impressive progress in terms of digital government and policy-making for the strengthening of Information and Communication Technologies. As part of this achievement, the Colombian government has created Excellence and Appropriation Centers, aiming to position Colombia in the field of big data analytics.

Finally, it is worth noting that in 2019 the Colombian government launched the Misión Internacional de Sabios for the advancement of science, technology, and innovation, which is comprised of 47 national and international experts whose objective is to contribute to the construction and implementation of public policy on Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as long term strategies that Colombia must implement in order to respond to productive and social challenges in a scalable, replicable and sustainable way. The Mission delivered documents with feasible recommendations and relevant questions that will need to be addressed for the country to take a leap forward around eight key topics: Social Sciences and Human Development; Life Sciences and Health, Biotechnology and Environment; Ocean and Hydrobiological Resources; Basic and Space Sciences; Sustainable Energy; Converging (Nano, Info and Cogno) Technologies and Industries 4.0; and Creative and Cultural Industries.  

For further information on the findings and recommendations of the Misión International de Sabios please visit https://minciencias.gov.co/mision-sabios/que-es. 

Fulbright U.S. Scholars in Colombia 

Since 1958, more than 190 U.S. faculty, researchers, and experts have conducted academic activities in different cities of Colombia, as part of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Based on their feedback and comments, the following recommendations can facilitate future U.S. scholars’ adaptation process and overall experience in the country:

• Grantees traveling with dependents are advised to opt for placement in large or medium-sized cities in order to have access to a more diversified set of options for housing, schooling, and health-provision services, according to their needs and preferences.
• The host institution and local partners can be of great help to U.S. grantees to better prepare for their experience and cultural adaptation.  Selected grantees are encouraged to discuss issues related to the local context, lifestyle, and culture with their host institutions in the months prior to their arrival in order to better manage their expectations and gain a deeper understanding of everyday life in their city of placement. Along these lines, scholars are also encouraged to reach out to the International Office of their host institution, which can provide insightful specific orientation and additional resources.
• Maintaining close communication with the assigned Program Officer and alumni mentor will allow the Fulbright Commission to provide assistance and orientation in a timely manner, and identify specific issues or situations in which the grantees may require specific additional accompaniment and help.
• Plan any in-country trips in advance. Please note that all domestic and international travel during the grant period in Colombia, including fieldwork trips, must be approved by the Fulbright Commission.
• Potential candidates can find additional information and recommendations about safety and security, health, housing, and how to prepare for living in Colombia in the Orientation Handbook for U.S. grantees available at: https://fulbright.edu.co/comunidad-estadounidense-alumni/.

Fulbright in Colombia 

The Fulbright Commission in Colombia has made determined efforts aimed to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, decentralization, and access to its portfolio of opportunities for graduate studies, research, teaching, professional development, and English teaching. Broadening the geographical presence of U.S. grantees in the country has been critical to achieving these objectives. 

The extended coverage of Fulbright Programs for U.S. participants in the country has been possible thanks to the significant contributions from Colombian partners such as ICETEX, the National Ministry of Education, MinCiencias, SENA, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad del Valle, Universidad de los Andes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad del Norte, Universidad del Rosario, among others. 

With the purpose of promoting the internationalization of higher education, and positioning Colombia as a quality academic and scientific destination, the National Government developed the Go Colombia platform in 2020, as a result of the joint work of the Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN), the Ministry of Education, Procolombia, ICETEX and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. This initiative is built and articulated with the entire educational sector and Higher Education Institutions, allowing students, teachers, and researchers of any nationality to obtain relevant information on the country's educational offer. To access these resources, please click on the following link: https://www.gocolombia.edu.co/. To learn more about Colombia as a travel destination, visit http://www.colombia.co/. 

For questions related to the U.S. Scholar Program in Colombia or if you need assistance in finding a suitable host institution for your application, please email our Educational Advisor, Ana María Carvajal. 

To learn more about the history and impact of the Fulbright Program in Colombia, we invite you to watch the 65-year Anniversary miniseries of Fulbright Colombia, which was an arduous work of historical memory that brings together interviews and anecdotes from members of the Fulbright Community (grantees and alumni), members of the Fulbright Colombia team, partners, members of our Board of Directors and winners of the Fulbright Excellence Award. Through 7 chapters of less than 7 minutes each, you will learn about the milestones of our Commission in parallel with historical and cultural moments in Colombia and the United States through six decades of history: click here to watch.  

Previous Fulbright Recipients

If you are interested in the experience of previous U.S. Scholars in the country, please visit the Fulbright Commission website, and follow the Fulbright Commission’s official accounts on social networks. 

Ghana has many educational and cultural sites throughout the country and Fulbrighters are encouraged to travel throughout the country during their stay. 

Some Fulbrighters decide to buy or lease a car for ease of transportation, but transportation apps like Uber, Bolt and Yango are often utilized in major cities. There are also car rental or travel companies that can provide a driver with the vehicle, which is great for local trips or hosting visiting guests. 

If bringing school-aged children to Ghana, there are several international-standard K-12 schools in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. Since space is limited with international schools, scholars should make arrangements for placement well in advance.  

Getting involved in community, departmental activities and mentorship are great ways to give back and remain connected while in-country. Fulbright U.S. Scholars are encouraged by the U.S. Embassy to give talks to students seeking to study in the United States working with EducationUSA Centers and share about American culture and history with the American Spaces team. These are great opportunities to share your professional expertise and American culture in Ghana. 

The former capital of the Spanish Empire in Latin America, one of the ten most biodiverse countries in the world accounting for 84 of the 117 life zones of the planet and 28 of the 32 climates of the world, home of the second-largest Amazon forest on earth, and seat of the Inca culture, Peru is THE destination to choose when applying for a grant. If you are ready for an exciting academic experience, you can now apply for a Fulbright Scholar grant to Peru!

Academic training at the higher education level in Peru started with the first university of the Americas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, established in 1551. Since then, this institution has provided education for renowned scholars such as Ruth Shady, Mario Vargas Llosa, Julio C. Tello, and Elmer Huerta, among others. Other distinguished universities in Peru include Universidad Nacional de San Cristobal de Huamanga in Ayacucho, the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano in Puno, and the Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana in Loreto.    

Peru’s higher education system consists of a variety of private and public institutions based across the country, including technical and pedagogical institutes.  Suitable institutions are available to host virtually all fields of study.  For example, applicants seeking artistic programs can reach out to the Universidad Nacional de Musica, the Escuela de Bellas Artes, and the Escuela Nacional Superior de Arte Dramatico. The Commission in Peru invites you to visit https://www.sunedu.gob.pe/lista-universidades/ and https://www.sunedu.gob.pe/instituciones-con-rango-universitario/ for lists of licensed higher education institutions.  Please reach out to the Fulbright Commission in Peru at USprograms@fulbright.pe with any questions about securing a host institution.

During your visit, the Fulbright Commission in Peru will support your grant and invite you to participate in other activities such as attending the annual Enhancement Seminar and Thanksgiving Lunch in November hosted at the Commission in Lima, where U.S. grantees can connect and share their experiences.  Fulbright Commission staff look forward to your arrival and to being of assistance.

Rwanda is a small land-locked country located in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Rwanda is about the size of Massachusetts. Often called the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda is dominated by mountain ranges and highland plateaus.

The Rwandan Government has invested extensively in education as part of its strategic plan, known as Vision 20/20, which aimed to see Rwanda become a middle-income nation by the year 2020. To this end, compulsory education has increased to 12 years. In 2009, the government changed the medium of instruction from French to English for all students above the third year of primary school. The abrupt shift has created formidable challenges for both students and teachers. TEFL needs are still great. Since 2013, the Government of Rwanda has consolidated its several public universities to form one single university: The University of Rwanda (UR). Because the reorganization of the UR college system is still incomplete, each college manages all programs that would fall under that college, even if a program is still physically located at a different college.

Rwanda also has several private higher learning institutions, the number of which has significantly increased in the past decade. The academic year spans 9 months in Rwanda, beginning in September/October and ending in June/July. It is normally divided into two semesters separated by a three-week break. In April, classes stop for two weeks to observe the mourning period and genocide commemoration.

The U.S. Embassy Kigali arranges for an in-country orientation for Fulbright and other exchange visitors upon arrival. All U.S. citizens, including Fulbright and other exchange program grantees visiting Rwanda, must obtain a visa upon entry. To stay in Rwanda for more than 30 days, grantees will be required to visit the office of immigration to request a long term visa within 15 days of arrival.

It is important to note that Rwandan immigration authorities strictly adhere to visa requirements.  No exceptions will be made. The U.S. Embassy Kigali provides an updated checklist and advises approved Fulbright applicants on any changes in required documents.

All Fulbright Scholars and students planning on conducting research as part of their grant must obtain research clearance prior to conducting any field work.  The U.S. Embassy Kigali advises Fubrighters to work with their chosen host institutions for guidelines on the process and preferably initiate the clearance process well prior to arrival in-country to ensure adequate time for processing and, ultimately, research on the ground. The government of Rwanda has indicated that all research students/scholars must be affiliated with approved Rwandan institutions (ministries, universities, other Rwandan agencies, etc). Please visit the Rwandan National Council for Science and Technology website for a detailed list of approved affiliation institutions.

For Fulbright researchers in health fields, the Rwandan law changed in late 2012 to require researchers in those fields to present their research permit applications to the Rwandan National Ethics Committee and pay an 850,000 RWF fee (about $1,100). Further details on the Rwandan National Ethics Committee are available on their website at Rwandan National Ethics Committee

Thailand connects mainland and maritime Southeast Asia through key transport corridors supported by modern facilities and infrastructure, making it an ideal hub of communication. Such strategic positioning also blesses Thailand with diversity resembling various religions, ethnicities, languages, foods, and cultures of Southeast Asia.

Allied with the Fulbright vision, the Thailand-U.S. Educational Foundation (TUSEF) seeks applications based on mutual benefits to Thailand and the United States of America with meaningful impacts on Thailand's development.

The Thai academic year runs from August to May. The first semester is August to December; the second semester is January to May.

Timor-Leste is a vibrant, young democracy at the heart of Southeast Asia.  It is still developing many institutions, including universities, but the country's development is generally moving in a positive direction.  A Fulbright exchange in Timor-Leste presents the opportunity to make a real, impactful difference in advancing education for Timorese students to be able to expand economic prosperity and opportunity for the country.  Timorese students rarely have the opportunity to engage with foreign students or professors, so they generally appreciate the presence of U.S. Fulbrighters and host institutions provide significant opportunities for Fulbrighters to make an impact at their university.  The exchange also provides the opportunity to work closely with the U.S. Embassy in Dili and other U.S. State Department program participants, to create force multiplier impacts in advancing education outcomes.  Fulbrighters generally enjoy life in Dili, a small sized city located right on the beach.  There are many diverse restaurants, a popular shopping center, and several grocery stores with many international products and tropical local produce, and boasts world-renowned coffee.  It is possible to travel across the country to the lush highlands, join snorkeling or diving excursions at Atauro island, and experience the warmth of the Timorese people and culture.  

In Vietnam, education plays a very important role in society. The promotion of learning and respect for teachers are amongst the traditional values of the Vietnamese people. In the recent years, the education system has continued to expand, but enormous educational needs persist for young Vietnamese citizens.

The national education system consists of formal education and continuing education. Schools in the national educational system are organized according to whether they are public or private. According to the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), as of AY 2016 – 2017, there are 235 universities and colleges, of which 170 are public and 65 are private. (Source)

The administration of education in Vietnam is centralized. MOET has responsibility for all education and training at the national level. However, there are several higher education institutions in Vietnam that are under other national ministries, government agencies or provincial people’s committees. Examples of this are the Hanoi School of Public Health, which falls under the Ministry of Health, and Hanoi University of Industry, which falls under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Additionally, the two National Universities, although nominally under MOET, operate independently as separate entities and report directly to the Office of the Government of Vietnam.

The three regional universities, Thai Nguyen University in the north, Hue University and the University of Danang in the central, are under MOET and subject to management by the provincial People’s Committee.

The Vietnamese educational system is currently undergoing reforms, including of textbooks, curriculum and teaching methods, and its institutions are not always up to international standards, especially in the case of higher education. Out-of-date teaching methods are a key issue. Teachers focus more on discipline with limited discussion and interaction, while students are passively attentive and studious. Vietnamese see the U.S. higher education system as the global standard.

To support the ongoing development of Vietnamese higher education, in 2014 the U.S. Congress allocated funding to assist with the creation of a Western-style, independent university in Vietnam. Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) was established in 2016 as the first private non-profit university in the country, inspired by the Western liberal education tradition.

To facilitate educational reform, the Vietnamese government has established policies to allow educational institutions to set up direct relations with foreign institutions to improve teaching and learning quality in Vietnam.

Because of the dynamic state of Vietnam’s educational system, Fulbright Scholars will have a unique opportunity to help Vietnam build its institutions. While this can be challenging and may require flexibility, many Fulbrighters in Vietnam find it enormously rewarding and build long-lasting relationships with Vietnamese institutions that lead to future cooperation.

Fulbright Scholars in Vietnam are able to teach or teach and conduct research in all disciplines.  For teaching grants, time will also be spent consulting and advising host institutions on curriculum and program development as well as providing staff training.