Fulbright Public Policy Fellowships The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State will inaugurate a new Fulbright award in academic year 2012-13. The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship will provide opportunities for U.S. citizens to build mutual understanding and contribute to the strengthening of the public sector abroad.
The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship will allow fellows to serve in professional placements in foreign government ministries or institutions and gain hands-on public sector experience in participating foreign countries while simultaneously carrying out an academic research/study project.
Fulbright Public Policy Fellowships will be offered in the following countries:
Embassies, Fulbright Commissions (where applicable), and host country governments will coordinate appropriate professional placements for candidates in public policy areas including, but not limited to, public health, education, agriculture, justice, energy, environment, public finance, economic development, information technology, and communications.
The goal of these assignments is to build the Fellows’ knowledge and skills, provide support to partner country institutions, and promote long-term ties between the U.S. and the partner country. The U.S. Embassy, with the Fulbright Commission (where applicable), will provide administrative support and oversight during the Fellow’s program.
Fulbright Public Policy Fellows will serve in a capacity similar to a “special assistant” for a senior level official. Successful applicants must have a strong service orientation, flexibility and resourcefulness, outstanding organizational skills, a wide range of competencies including strong writing, communication and IT skills, and an ability to work behind the scenes in a supportive role. Fellows may be responsible for activities such as policy and budget development and analysis; program monitoring and evaluation; drafting speeches, talking points, and correspondence; record keeping and note taking; and general project management. Fellows will have the opportunity to use their subject area expertise, language fluency, and other skills, such as IT proficiency, during the program to support the achievement of host institution goals. Responsibilities will be finalized after the placement is made. Participants will also be expected to carry out an academic component, such as an independent research project or related coursework. Fulbright Public Policy Fellows will spend approximately 32 hours per week in their professional assignment and 8 hours per week pursuing a related academic project.
Candidate Profile and Qualifications
Please refer to the Individual Country Summaries for specific country qualifications. In addition to specific instructions for the application essays and Language Self-Evaluation, this program has other qualifications and preferences as follows.
Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen by November 1, 2011
- Prior to the grant period, fall 2012, have a master’s with an area of focus that is applicable to public policy, or a J.D. degree
OR
be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program. Candidates who hold a doctoral degree at the time of application are not eligible. - Have at least two years of full-time, professional work experience in policy-related fields.
Applicants must select at least one country of preference in the Online Application, but may rank up to three countries of preference. Candidates who indicate a preference for more than one country should provide evidence of their qualifications for each country indicated. However, applicants will be considered for all participating countries based on individual country requirements and the applicant’s qualifications. Factors in selection of Fellows will include: - Academic and professional record
- Proficiency in the local working language of the host country
- Knowledge of the host country/region (history, culture, etc.)
- Personal and professional qualifications
- Preference factors as indicated below
Preference in selection will be given to candidates with: - Fluency in the local working language(s)
- Deep knowledge of the host country/region (history, culture, etc.)
- Advanced communication skills
- A strong service orientation and a high degree of versatility, resourcefulness, and creativity
Application Process The deadline for submission of the Fulbright U.S. Student Online Application is February 1, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
All supporting academic credentials, including academic transcripts and letters of reference must also be submitted in the Embark Online Application and Reference System by this date. HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. By the application deadline of February 1, 2012 applicants must: - Complete the Embark Fulbright U.S. Student Online Application.
- Essays: Click here for instructions on preparing essays for this fellowship.
- TRANSCIPTS: a) Obtain copies of all degree transcripts, including undergraduate and graduate, and academic transcripts for institutions where the applicant completed 12 or more degree credits; b) upload all transcripts into the Online Application.
- REFERENCES: In the Online Application, register three persons to complete letters of reference. References will be completed by the referees in the Embark Online Reference System and must be submitted by February 1, 2012.
- Click here for general instructions on References.
- FOREIGN LANGUAGE SELF-EVALUATION (FORM 7 in the Online Application): Adhere to the special instructions in the online application for completing this form. Click here for special instruction related to preparing FORM 7: Language Self Evaluation.
- FOREIGN LANGUAGE EVALUATION(S): In the Online Application, register the Language Evaluator(s). Foreign Language Evaluations (FLE) must be presented for languages relevant to the applicant’s country(ies) of preference. Up to two FLEs can be submitted online. If applicants have significant language skills in more than two relevant languages, these skills should be mentioned in Part A of the first essay, Statement of Policy Fellowship Goals. Foreign Language Evaluations must be completed by the evaluators in the Embark Online Reference System and must be submitted by February 1, 2012.
- Click here for further instructions on the FLE. Applicants with language skills in the host country working language are required to have an FLE prepared and submitted by a qualified language instructor or other qualified person.
The Embark Application is open.
FAQ
- Can I apply for the Fulbright Policy Fellowship if I have applied in the 2012-2013 traditional competition?
Yes, but only if you withdrew the application which you have submitted on October 17th. - Can I apply if I have already had a Fulbright Full Grant or a Department of Education-funded Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Grant?
No. However, if your Fulbright was an English Teaching Assistantship and two years have passed since the end of your ETA, you are eligible to apply. - Can internship experience count toward the 2-year work experience requirement?
Yes, professional internships should be counted towards the fulfillment of this requirement. Feel free to contact Theresa Granza tgranza@iie.org) if you have questions about specific types of experience or internships - How can I choose a placement if I don’t know what placements are available?
Applicants should design a placement that would make sense given their unique background. For example, someone with a deep knowledge of the Dominican Republic and proficiency in Spanish, who is completing an MA in public policy and focusing on literacy projects in Latin America may wish to suggest a placement at the Ministry of Education in the Dominican Republic. During the final phase of the selection process, placements will be negotiated with host country Ministries for short-listed candidates and final decisions will be made based on top ranked candidates and availability of positions in the host country government.
Candidates should NOT seek their own placements at this stage and should NOT submit any letters regarding placements/affiliations with their applications.
- How many grants will be available?
This will be determined by the qualifications of candidates, opportunity for matching placement, and funding availability. - Can you elaborate on language requirements?
Proficiency in the host country language of government is required. Public Policy Fellows will be required to effectively carry out a position in a foreign government ministry seamlessly. Proficiency will be determined by the application and also will be verified by the application process. - How do I balance deep country knowledge with the three country choices?
Focusing your application on one country to demonstrate deep country knowledge is preferable. It may not be possible to demonstrate deep country knowledge for multiple countries, given language and knowledge requirements. 2nd and 3rd choices should be seen as alternates and addressed with much less detail. Framing your application as that of a specialist would be the best use of the space allowed for defining your aims. - What is the balance between the work commitment with a government ministry and an academic/research project?
A maximum of 8 hours per week should be scheduled for an academic/research project. Approximately 32 hours per week will be spent in a professional placement at the Ministry. - Does prior experience in the proposed host country affect an applicant the same way it does in the standard U.S. Student Program? Does the six-month residence guideline apply for the Public Policy Fellowship?
No. Experience in the host country can be a plus, particularly if it promotes language acquisition. However, the five year rule still applies - anyone who has resided abroad for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application is ineligible to apply. - Is Medicine an acceptable field?
M.D. or medical students or the equivalent (e.g., D.D.S, O.D.) who are pursuing or hold a policy-related degree are eligible to apply. Their research project, however, cannot be for activity for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required - If I am currently enrolled at a university, should I indicate my home (U.S.) university on the application form (Page 1, Question #5)?
No. Whether you are enrolled or not, all candidates should indicate themselves as "At-Large" on the Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship application. - What does the requirement of “two years of work experience in public-policy related fields” mean?
Work experience may take many forms. From professional internships to positions in a number of fields that inform public policy can count toward the two year requirement. Applicants are not required to have prior experience in the field of public policy or have worked for an organization that is involved directly in public policy. Applicants should illustrate how their unique work experience, in an appropriate field, will benefit the host government in creating, analyzing, or carrying out policies of the host government.
Stages in Selection
- An academic committee will review candidate applications.
- The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board will approve the final slate of candidates.
- Host country governments and the U.S Embassy or Fulbright Commission will provide country-specific review and will consult on appropriate placements and the final selection of candidates.
During the selection process, finalists will be interviewed. Fulbright Public Policy Fellows will be selected by late spring 2012. They will be required to participate in a program orientation in Washington, DC in late Spring/Summer 2012, prior to departure for their assignments, which will begin in late summer/fall 2012. |
