Fulbright Program Opportunities for Staff

Tue, 11/07/23

KU Staff Senate D&I Committee

Interested in adding an international dimension to your professional development? Consider opportunities available through the Fulbright Program! The Fulbright Program, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, is the flagship international and cultural exchange program of the U.S. federal government, with a mission of building cultural bridges between the people of the United States and people from countries around the world. There are a few different types of Fulbright awards that are relevant for staff, depending on the type of work you do on campus.

The Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award offers participants an opportunity to participate in a two-week seminar in one of several host countries. Locations change annually, but recent host countries include Taiwan, South Korea, France, Germany, Japan, and India. The deadlines and preferred applicant profiles will also vary each year. The Institute for International Education (IIE), which operates the Fulbright IEA program on behalf of the State Department, regularly updates their online award catalogue with details about the opportunities that are available. Eligibility requirements will also vary by country; in some cases, the host country is specifically looking for people in university leadership positions, or whose workload includes a significant amount of face-to-face student engagement.

Upcoming deadlines for the Fulbright IEA:

France, Germany: February 1, 2024

The Fulbright Specialist Program offers year-round opportunities of 2-6 weeks in length, and would be particularly appropriate for staff in research roles, leadership positions, and/or who have a terminal degree. Specialists share their expertise at an institution in their host country, and may be asked to deliver trainings, assist with strategic planning, conduct evaluations, or other activities based on the needs of the host university. The program encourages applications from highly experienced non-academics, including legal experts, business professionals, artists, scientists, and journalists.

Applications for the Fulbright Specialist Program are accepted eight times per year, with the next deadline being January 5, 2024.

For questions or more information on how to apply for either of these Fulbright opportunities, please contact Rachel Sherman Johnson in KU International Affairs at rachelsj@ku.edu.