The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers a variety of special programs for Russia and the New Independent States
(NIS), including activities involving individual fellowships or
institutional linkages. For information on the Fulbright Program, please
visit the Fulbright homepage.

UNDERGRADUATE (NON-DEGREE) PROGRAMS

Freedom Support Act Undergraduate Program

This program offers competitive scholarships for one academic study year in the U.S. to undergraduate students from the NIS in the fields of agriculture, American studies, business, civic education, criminal justice studies, economics, communications/journalism, computer science, education, EFL/TEFL, environmental management, law, library and information science, political science, public health, and sociology. Recruitment, selection, and placement are administered through a grant to the American Councils for International Education (ACTR) and Youth for Understanding. Approximately 260 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Undergraduate Development Program

This program offers scholarships for one academic year of undergraduate study in the U.S. to students from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fields of agriculture, civic education, business, communications and journalism, criminal justice, economics, education, environmental management, political science, and public administration. Bosnian students are selected through an open, merit-based competition. Approximately 15 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

GRADUATE (DEGREE) PROGRAMS

Edmund S. Muskie Freedom Support Act/Graduate
Fellowship Program

This program provides Master's degree-level study in the U.S. in the fields of business administration, economics, education administration, law and law pedagogy, environmental management, library and information science, mass communication/journalism, public administration, public health, and public policy for students and professionals from the Baltics and NIS. Candidates are recruited through merit-based competition administered by ACTR and the Open Society Institute. U.S. host campuses are selected through a competitive process and generally provide tuition waivers of fifty or sixty percent. Approximately 350 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

Ron Brown Fellowship Program (formerly the Central and Eastern European Graduate Fellowship Program)

This program offers fellowships for graduate study at the Master's degree-level in the U.S. in the fields of business administration, economics, communications/journalism, education administration, environmental policy/resource management, law, and public administration/policy for students and professionals under 40 years of age from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia. Candidates are recruited by Fulbright Commissions and/or USIS Posts overseas. In the U.S., the program is administered by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). Approximately 47 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

GRADUATE (NON-DEGREE) PROGRAMS

Freedom Support Act Russian-U.S. Young Leadership
Fellows Program

This new academic exchange program was established in 1998 for outstanding Russian and American college graduates demonstrating leadership skills and an interest in public service. Program enriches the education and experience of young people with the potential to contribute to the betterment of their country and to the increased mutual understanding between Russia and the United States. The program will provide one year of intensive academic and professional training to young American and Russian leaders in each others' countries. Fields of study are limited to American and Russian area studies, conflict resolution, economics, government studies, history, international relations, and political science. IREX receives a grant to administer the program. Approximately 80 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

RESEARCH (NON-DEGREE) PROGRAMS

Regional Scholar Exchange Program (RSEP)

This program awards fellowships to scholars and university faculty in the social sciences and humanities from Russia and the NIS to undertake research at a U.S. university or institution, and to Ph.D. candidates and scholars from the United States to perform research at a university or institute in Russia and the NIS. Fellowships are four to six months in length. In consultation with their host advisers, RSEP scholars conduct research in the humanities and social sciences in order to make meaningful contributions to the advancement of higher education in their specific fields of study in their home countries. ACTR and the Kennan Institute receive grants to administer the program. Approximately 140 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

Freedom Support Act Fellowships in Contemporary Issues

This program awards fellowships to government officials, NGO leaders, and other professionals from the NIS engaged in the political, economic, social, and educational transformation of their countries. Fellows are placed at U.S. universities, think tanks, NGO's or U.S. Government offices. Fellows conduct research on topics related to the transition to democracy, free markets, and the building of a civil society in their countries. Fellowships are three, four, and six months. Fellows are matched with a U.S. host adviser to guide the research, writing, professional development, and advocacy skills. IREX receives a grant to administer the program. Approximately 75 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT (NON-DEGREE) PROGRAMS

Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP)

This program awards fellowships in the United states for university faculty in the early stages of their careers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine for one academic year to develop curricula, acquire new teaching skills, and upgrade their knowledge in the fields of American studies, architecture and urban planning, arts management, business administration, cultural anthropology, economics, education administration, environmental studies, history, journalism, law, library science, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, public policy, public administration, and sociology. Fellows participate in a two-month practical internship at the end of the academic program. ACTR receives a grant to administer the U.S. component of the program, while the open competition and selection of candidates is overseen by USIS posts in the fellows' home countries. Approximately 90 fellowships will be awarded in 1999.

FSA ALUMNI PROGRAMS

Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

Internet sites and training sites have been established by USIA at universities, libraries and information resource centers in Russia and the NIS in order to provide sustainable access to, training in, and effective use of e-mail and Internet resources to alumni of USIA's academic exchange and training programs and their colleagues. This program promotes greater communication with, and follow-on activities for USIA alumni. Internet programs are also administrated in regions of Russia designated by the Department of State as Regional Investment Initiative sites.

For further information, contact:
European Programs Branch (E/AEE)
U.S. Information Agency
301 4th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547
202/205-0525
email: exchange@usia.gov

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