Language:

Candidates for research projects must have either an intermediate level of proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) or the same in Moroccan Arabic (Darija, which differs considerably from MSA), or a good understanding of French. In some cases, Amazigh (Berber) may be needed. For grantees not participating in the Critical Language Enhancement Award program (see below), the Commission recommends that those lacking a command of Moroccan Arabic begin their grant periods with at least six weeks of intensive study of the dialect. The Fulbright Commission in Morocco (the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange [MACECE] ) assists in making the arrangements for language study. Grantees already highly proficient in MSA may be able to adapt to Moroccan Arabic on their own or through the assistance of a tutor; MACECE discourages the use of translators.

Awards for student and ETA grantees include $2500 for the study of a relevant field language.  For those participating in the Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA), this money can only be used following completion of the CLEA grant. In order to utilize these funds grantees must submit a plan for formal language study to the Commission for approval; programs of study for Arabic (both MSA and colloquial), Amazigh (all dialects), French, Spanish, and Hebrew have been approved in the past.

Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA):

Authorized languages are Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Moroccan colloquial Arabic (Darija) only.

Prior Language Study: Grantees must have completed a minimum of two academic semesters of MSA prior to beginning their program in Morocco.

Dates and Timing: All grantees to Morocco must begin their programs in September, generally the week following the in-country orientation; any exception must be approved by the Fulbright Commission Director. CLEA duration is a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 6 months.

Approved Institutions:
•Arabic Language Institute in Fez (ALIF)
•Center for Cross Cultural Learning (Rabat)
• Al Akhawayn University (Ifrane)
•Qalam wa Lawh Center for Arabic Studies (Rabat)
•DMG Arabophon (Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, Casablanca)
•Subul Assalam Centre for the Arabic Language (SACAL Fez)
•Qalam wa Lawh Center for Arabic Studies (Rabat)
•DMG Arabophon (Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, Casablanca)
•Subul Assalam Centre for the Arabic Language (SACAL Fez)
•Arab-American Language Institute in Morocco (Meknes)
•The English Highway (Meknes)

All grantees may take advantage of a six-week course designed for Fulbrighters at ALIF beginning each September. CLEA participants may also take part in the six-week course and count it toward their overall CLEA period of study.

Critical Language Enhancement Award Manager: Ashley Prather, aprather@iie.org

Academic year:

Early October to early July; there is no summer semester.  The autumn semester ends with final exams in January and the spring semester begins 2-3 weeks afterward.  The semester start dates at Moroccan public universities often vary and are imprecise.

Grant period:

9 months. Grantees are expected to arrive in Morocco to attend a group orientation in early September. MACECE arranges the grantees' air travel to Morocco and their return to the United States.  Students proposing field or library research are not bound by the dates of the academic year. Grantees accepted for and using the full extent of the Critical Language Enhancement Award may spend up to 6 months studying language before beginning their research under the Fulbright grant, bringing the total period in residence to as long as 15 months. In addition, all grantees are required to attend a Pre-departure Orientation in Washington DC in June/July  2014 as a condition of their awards.

Candidate profile:

Applicants at all degree levels will be considered; ideal applicants should propose a distinctive research project relevant to Morocco that can be reasonably accomplished in 9 months. Applicants possessing appropriate language facility and previous cross-cultural experience will find their research more effectively accomplished and their Fulbright experience enhanced; applicants whose research projects illustrate a specific knowledge of Morocco, the Maghreb, the Arab-African world, and Islam, for example, will have a better grasp of research possibilities.  The Commission looks with favor on applicants who intend to sustain their experience in Morocco through further study and work experience that builds on the Fulbright grant.

Ineligibility:

Those currently residing in Morocco are not eligible.

Field of study restrictions:

Restrictions on the study of certain topics vary in Morocco, so questions concerning the sensitivity of the research project should be discussed with the Commission well in advance of completing the application.  Questions of this nature asked of the Commission late in the application process may not receive adequate attention.

Affiliation:

The Commission encourages grantee affiliation with universities, NGOs, or other appropriate institutions or individuals. For more detailed information on Moroccan institutions of higher education, please consult www.dfc.gov.ma/dfc/

To demonstrate the applicant's level of preparation and seriousness, MACECE strongly encourages applicants to present at least one letter of invitation, affiliation, or support from a Moroccan institution, university professor, or relevant Moroccan individual to be included as part of the application. 

Research clearance:

As soon as the candidates' applications are complete, the Commission forwards a data sheet to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) that outlines each candidate's research topic, timeline, and location(s) in order for the grantee to receive research clearance; prospective grantees should specify locations for their research (provinces, cities, villages) in their application. MACECE provides all grantees with an all-purpose and widely accepted “lettre d’attestation” (letter of certification). 

Candidates do not need to apply for a visa to come to Morocco.  The initial 3-month "tourist visa" is the entry stamp made in your passport upon entry.

Once settled in Morocco, grantees are encouraged to apply for Moroccan residency before their 3-month tourist visa expires. The tourist visa can be easily renewed by a day-trip out of the country.

Specific considerations:

Applicants must include a summary (not to exceed one page in length) of their Statement of Grant Purpose in Arabic and/or French as part of their Fulbright application package.  The summary goes forward in the application for research clearance.

Special opportunities:

Morocco’s broad geographic, environmental, and social diversity presents significant potential for research topics. Grantees' research topics may focus on contemporary Moroccan society, history, health issues, language, and literature, as well as on the life sciences, agriculture, environmental studies, and other scientific areas.

Dependents:

For one or more dependents, the grant is increased by up to $2000.

Contact:

To discuss project feasibility, applicants should contact  Dr. James Miller, Executive Director of MACECE, at j.miller@macece.ma

Website:

http://www.macece.org

Language:

Applicants must be articulate and accurate speakers of English who can serve as native-speaker resources. Intermediate-level proficiency in Arabic or French is recommended,  but not required. Following the general orientation for all Fulbrighters, ETAs attend a two-week orientation in Rabat in September, which includes daily classes in Moroccan Arabic and lectures focusing on the Moroccan educational system.

ETAs in Morocco are not eligible for CLEA or the six-week ALIF course, but receive 30+ hours of instruction in Moroccan Arabic during the two-week orientation in Rabat prior to departing for their host sites. ETAs also receive up to $2500 for language study; to receive these funds,  the grantee must submit a formal plan of study to the Commission for authorization.

Grant period:

10 months, including the general MACECE Fulbright orientation and the ETA orientation following it in September. Grant dates must correspond to the MACECE orientation and the academic year in Morocco: early September 2014 through early July 2015. In addition, all grantees are required to attend a Pre-departure Orientation in Washington DC in June/July 2014 as a condition of their awards.

Candidate profile:

Candidates at all degree levels may apply,  but preference is given to those enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program who are interested in gaining experience in international education and teaching; some teaching experience is required. This has often been tutoring as an undergraduate.  In addition to applications from candidates studying English, linguistics, and related areas, applications from those studying in the humanities, the social sciences, and American studies are especially welcome.  Many previous ETAs have had strong undergraduate backgrounds in Middle East Studies and want to see what life in North Africa is like. ETAs should be strong self-starters who can deal with the unexpected, are flexible and culturally sensitive, and can be self-sufficient in sometimes difficult circumstances.

Nature of assignment:

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program aims at strengthening English language instruction at Moroccan universities by providing part-time assistance to permanent Moroccan teaching staff. At the same time, U.S. participants benefit from cross-cultural interactions, research possibilities, and volunteering opportunities.

The Fulbright Commission, in cooperation with host universities, places ETAs at institutions based on the grantee profile and the host institution's needs. ETA program plans are developed and implemented within the context of the goals and needs of the Ministry of Higher Education and the pressing need for English teachers in Moroccan universities in all faculties.ETAs are placed in Moroccan public universities throughout the country.

ETAs are placed in the public university system as English language teaching assistants and are engaged in classroom teaching for no more than 10 hours per week. Responsibilities may also extend to giving presentations on topics related to the United States and the English language, preparing classroom activities, or participating in university cultural events. Most ETAs also contribute time to volunteer work in their communities. Independent study and research are also encouraged but should not conflict with teaching duties.

General comments:

Moroccan government clearance is required for all foreign teachers and researchers. The Moroccan Fulbright Commission supplies all necessary clearances for candidates who are offered awards.  

Website:

http://www.macece.org