Educational Exchange

Partnership for Learning (P4L) Undergraduate Program 2005-2006

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Pending the availability of funding, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the Partnership for Learning (P4L) Undergraduate Program, which provides scholarships for one academic year of undergraduate, non-degree study in the United States in the humanities and social sciences. Finalists will attend a pre-departure orientation in one of the participating countries. Upon completion of the academic year, students will participate in an internship and attend an end-of-year workshop in Washington, DC.

Academic programs will begin in August 2005. Participants will be placed in groups of two to three students at colleges and universities throughout the United States that will be selected through a competitive process. Students will take courses in the areas of their specialization as well as classes outside their major fields. Students will live in university dormitories and will have the opportunity to participate in campus organizations and activities. They will be also required to take part in community service activities in order to gain a better understanding of U.S. society and values.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

The Partnership for Learning (P4L) Undergraduate Program is funded and managed by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy Office of Public Affairs in Skopje (OPA). For the 2005-2006 academic year a cooperative agreement will be awarded to a not-for-profit organization that will administer the program under the direction of ECA. The P4L provides international/domestic travel, tuition, room and board, accident/sickness insurance, a small monthly stipend, and funding for books.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

The P4L Undergraduate Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national and ethnic origin, or disability. Competition for the program is merit-based.

In order to be eligible for the Partnership for Learning Undergraduate Program, applicants must:

• be a citizen of either Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Serbia;
• be enrolled as an undergraduate in the second or third year of study at the time of application; 
• currently reside and study in his/her country of citizenship;
• be between the ages of 18 and 26;
• have a strong command of written and spoken English;
• be able to begin study in the United States in August 2005. Participants will not be allowed to defer until a later date; 
• be able to receive and maintain the U.S. student exchange visa (J-1) required for this program.
• receive a score of 550 or more on the TOEFL test (or TELP equivalent).

Individuals will not be eligible to participate in the program if they are:

• U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States;
• Individuals currently participating in academic, training or research programs in the United States;
• Individuals currently residing or working outside the three participating countries.
• Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government (e.g. U.S. Department of State, Public Affairs Sections at U.S. Embassies or other U.S. government agency) for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two- year home residency requirement by the time of application;
• Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years; 
• Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment; 
• Immediate families (i.e. spouses and dependent children) of U.S. Department of State employees for a period of one year following the termination of such employment. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents;
• Persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime (excluding minor traffic violations).

Under the terms of the grant and laws governing the J-1 visa required for participation in the Partnership for Learning Undergraduate Program, participants must return to their home country immediately upon completion of their scholarships for a period of at least two years. Students may not continue for M.A. degrees, or other studies, and are not eligible for extended practical training or employment in the United States.

SELECTION PROCESS

P4L Undergraduate Program (APPLICATION GUIDELINES) selects participants through an open, merit-based competition. Interested undergraduates are required to fill out an application from the Office of Public Affairs in Skopje, achieve a minimum of 550 score on the TOEFL, and be personally interviewed by a selection committee. Final selection is administered by ECA.

Finalists for participation in the P4L Undergraduate Program will be selected on the basis of academic excellence, leadership potential, knowledge of English and need and preparedness for study in the United States.

Application materials (APPLICATION FORM) are currently available at the Office of Public Affairs in Skopje (Bul. Ilindenska bb) and on-line at http://skopje.rpo.at/index.html.

Attention: might take long to load on a slow connection because some files are very large. When you download PDF Files you need to print the applications first and then fill them out.  You will need Adobe Reader to download the forms.

Completed applications are due on Friday, January 14, 2005.