Educational Exchange

Fulbright New Century Scholars Program

New Century Scholar theme for 2008-2009 is "The University as Innovation Driver and Knowledge Center."

The deadline for submission of applications is November 15, 2008

The Fulbright New Century Scholars Program (NCS) is a global program that annually brings together 25-30 research scholars and professionals from the U.S. and participating countries around the world. Through a series of three plenary seminar meetings and a Fulbright exchange visit, scholars engage in collaborative thinking and multi-disciplinary research on a theme of global significance. NCS Scholars engage in multidisciplinary collaboration under the leadership of a Distinguished Scholar Facilitator and work together to seek solutions to issues and concerns that affect all humankind and deserve the attention of researchers, policy makers and practitioners.

Background

The NCS Program will engage scholars involved in research and project initiatives that advance understanding of the university as innovation driver and knowledge center and contribute to advancing economic prosperity. Sub topics in which scholar applicants might have particular expertise and interest could include the examples listed below.  Other sub-topics may emerge based on specific interests and expertise.

• Opportunities for and barriers to university-based partnerships for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. 
  
• Partnerships in science and technology research and development that move ideas and solutions from the laboratory to the marketplace in fields with global reach such as energy security, food production, the environment, health, transportation, and nanotechnology.
  
• Partnerships (clusters) that contribute to economic development and improving quality of life in local communities and regions;
  
• Partnerships that apply multidisciplinary research and social entrepreneurship to community issues (historic preservation, crime and drugs, needs of children and the elderly)
  
• Partnerships that extend the innovation pipeline to K-12 and adult education and lifelong learning.

Program Participant Requirements

1. Conduct research both within and outside of their home countries including a two- to three-month international visit.
   
2. Participate in all NCS Program seminar meetings of approximately one-week's duration each. Throughout the program year, Scholars will be expected to maintain contact and interact with other participants in the program in order to expand their own research and to explore comparative approaches to the program topic.

Nomination & Selection Criteria

Review of candidates and selection of the New Century Scholar participants will be organized by the Department's primary cooperating agency for the Fulbright Scholar Program, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). Within the context of these general Program considerations, the panel will review individual scholar nominations based on the following criteria:

A. Formal qualifications of the applicant, including academic degrees, training, status, and position
B. National and international reputation in his/her field
C. Quality of nominee's professional accomplishments as demonstrated through publications, research grants, and other professional achievements
D. Merits of the research proposal and its relevance to the New Century Scholars research topic
E. Potential for the applicant's proposed research to contribute to a high-level interdisciplinary discussion of the research theme
F. Justification for the proposed international visit and its significance for advancing understanding of the subject
G. Ability of the applicant to carry out the project
H. Oral fluency in English

Application Procedures

Each candidate will be required to submit

- a New Century Scholars Program application cover page
- a project abstract
- a proposal, not to exceed four typed, single-spaced pages, and one-page bibliography of relevant sources
- a curriculum vitae and publications list
- two letters of support
- letter of invitation from the prospective host institution

Final review and selection of New Century Scholars will be conducted by CIES and successful candidates will be notified of their awards in January 2009. International research visits may begin at any time after the May 2009 orientation and must be concluded by April 2010.

New Century Scholar awards include individual travel/research funding in the amount of $30,000, which is intended to support travel to all program meetings, travel and maintenance for the exchange visit, research materials and assistance, and some partial salary. Accommodations and meals for program seminar meetings are covered separately.

Application Form & Guidelones

The Application form, guidelines and additional information can be found at: http://www.cies.org/.  

Please submit your completed application by November 15, 2008 to:

US Embassy, Public Affairs Office
Attn. Gazmend Ilazi
Bul. Ilinden bb,
1000 Skopje, Macedonia
e-mail: ilazig@state.gov 
Tel: 02 3116 180 ext. 2169