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Fulbright Specialist Program

Katherine Matles

U.S. Program Officer

U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission

Hosting a U.S. Specialist at Your Institution

Fiscal Year 2022

Unclassified

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Fulbright Specialist Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and is administered by World Learning.

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About the Fulbright Program

Founded in 1946
Sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Mission: To foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world through educational and cultural exchanges
Since its founding, the Fulbright Program has provided international exchange opportunities to more than 390,000 participants in more than 160 countries

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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The Fulbright Specialist Program

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Allows host institutions to design a short-term project (2-6 weeks) that addresses a key priority or need
The program then matches the project with a leading U.S. professional or academic to carry out the project activities
A diverse range of institutions are eligible to submit a proposal to host a Specialist including:

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

The Fulbright Specialist Program was established in 2001 and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Through the program, host institutions design a short-term project of two- to six-weeks in length that addresses a key priority or need at that institution. The program then matches the project with a leading U.S. professional or academic in that field of study to carry out the project activities.

Unlike other exchange programs, the Fulbright Specialist Program is designed to accommodate rapid-response projects on a flexible timeline, and exchanges take place year-round. Eligible institutions include institutions of higher education, government institutions, cultural institutions, NGOs, and medical institutions.

The Fulbright Specialist Program is implemented by World Learning, an American NGO specializing in global development and exchange programs.

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Benefits for Participating Host Institutions

Design and implement projects that tackle a key problem, challenge, or knowledge gap at your institution on a year-round basis
Gain global perspectives from experienced U.S. academics and professionals
Build sustained relationships with individuals and institutions in the United States

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Eligible Project Fields

For information about the English Language Specialist Program, please visit https://elprograms.org/specialist/

Agriculture American (U.S.) Studies Includes topics in the arts and humanities Anthropology Archaeology Biology Education Business Administration Chemistry Education Communications & Journalism Computer Science & Information Technology Economics Education	Engineering Education Environmental Science Law Library Science Math Education Peace & Conflict Resolution Studies Physics Education Political Science Public Administration Public/Global Health Social Work Sociology Urban Planning

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Sample Project Activities

Delivering a seminar or workshop
Consulting on faculty or workforce development
Developing academic or training curricula and materials
Providing lectures at the graduate or undergraduate level
Conducting needs assessments or evaluations for a program or institution
Engaging in strategic or institutional planning

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Project Parameters

All project activities must take place within the host country
A host institution may only host one Specialist per project
Project visits must be a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 42 days in length

Includes travel time from the U.S. to the host country as well as weekends and holidays

The majority of approved projects include one visit. However, hosts can request a multi-visit project whereby the Specialist completes up to three visits

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

There are a few general guidelines that each project must adhere to:

All project activities must take place within the host country.
Host institutions may only host one Specialist per project.
All projects must be a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 42 days in length, which includes travel time from the United States to the host country, as well as weekends and holidays.

Although the majority of approved projects include only one visit by the Specialist, a project can be proposed to bring the same Specialist to an institution up to three times within a one-year period. Multi-visit projects may be appropriate for some projects that have sequenced activities.

For example, a Specialist may conduct a needs assessment in visit one, conduct a workshop in visit two, and then complete an assessment in visit three.

For multi-visit projects, each visit must be a minimum of 14 days in length, and the combined total days of all visits cannot exceed 42 days. All project visits must take place within a one-year period. Please note that although host institutions can request multi-visit projects, projects might only be approved as a single visit.

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Funding for Projects

The U.S. Department of State provides funding for round-trip, economy class international airfare, $100 transit allowance for U.S. airport transfers, daily honorarium, and a limited health benefits plan for the Specialist
Host institutions provide cost share in the form of lodging, meals, and in-country transportation, including airport transfers, for the Specialist
Host institutions must provide details regarding in-country arrangements and cost share for the Specialist in their project proposal

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides funding for the Specialist’s round-trip international airfare, a $100 transit allowance for U.S. airport transfers, a daily honorarium, and a limited health benefits plan for the duration of the exchange.

Host institutions provide cost share in the form of lodging, meals, and in-country transportation for the Specialist for the duration of the grant period. These expenses can be provided in-kind or through a stipend. In-country transportation arrangements should allow the Specialist to go to and from their lodging to the location of the project as well as the ability to conduct personal errands and attend or participate in local cultural activities. If a project will take place in multiple locations within the country, the host must provide all necessary transportation between the multiple project sites.

Please note that host institutions must cover all costs upfront and cannot require Specialists to be reimbursed for in-country expenses at the end of the project.

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Who are Fulbright Specialists?

Fulbright Specialists are U.S. citizens that have:

Demonstrated expertise in their field
Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to adapt to different global contexts
Strong potential to positively impact overseas host institutions and U.S. communities/institutions

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Fulbright Specialist Roster

The Fulbright Specialist Roster is a pre-vetted group of individuals who are eligible to be matched to Fulbright Specialist projects

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Identifying a Specialist

Open Projects

Host institutions are encouraged to submit a project proposal without naming a Specialist
World Learning will then search the Roster and share a list of up to five qualified candidates with the host institution to review and select from

Named Projects

Host institutions may list an individual they would like to serve as the Specialist in their project proposal
Host institutions must provide a justification for why they would like that individual to serve as the Fulbright Specialist

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

Host institutions have two options for identifying a Specialist to work with on their project. The first option is that host institutions may submit a project proposal without naming a Specialist. After the project is approved, World Learning will search the Fulbright Specialist Roster and identify potential candidates based on:

Candidate discipline and specializations

Previous professional experience

Interest in participating in the project

Availability during the host institution’s preferred project dates

A list of up to five qualified candidates will then be sent to the host institution to choose from. World Learning strongly encourages the host institution and their top-ranked candidate to have a phone discussion before the match is finalized to ensure that the individual is ultimately a good fit for the project.

In addition, host Institutions may request access to be able to view individuals on the Roster directly. If this is of interest, host institutions should first contact Katherine Matles at the U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission.

The second option is that host institutions can include the name of an individual that they would like to serve as the Specialist on their project proposal. A host institution might pursue this option if an individual has been recommended to them or has been identified through the U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission.

This individual does not have to be on the Fulbright Specialist Roster at the time the proposal is submitted, but will need to be approved to join the Roster before the project takes place.

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Host Institution Application Process

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Host Institution Application Sections

Contact Information

Project Information

What is the issue or challenge that you are trying to address?
What are the primary objectives of the project?
Brief description of proposed project activities

Timeline and Logistical Information

Proposed project dates
Lodging, meals, and in-country transit plans

Specialist

Unnamed (Open) or Named

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Accessing the Host Institution Application

https://worldlearning-community.force.com/FSPHost/

Register for an account by selecting “New User”

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Host Institution Application

Each tab represents a different section of the application that must be completed

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Project Approval Process

To submit your project proposal visit

https://worldlearning-community.force.com/FSPHost/

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Questions? Please contact:

Katherine Matles

U.S. Program Officer

Email: Katherine.matles@fulbright.es

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Unclassified

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Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

eca.state.gov/fulbright

#fulbright

Unclassified