UK Fulbright Commission

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US-UK Fulbright Commission
Formation22 September 1948;75 years ago (1948-09-22)
Type Non-profit organisation
PurposePromote cultural understanding between the US and UK
Headquarters89 Albert Embankment, London, England
ServicesEducational advice and scholarships
Executive Director
 Maria Balinska [1]
Affiliations Fulbright Program
EducationUSA
Website www.fulbright.org.uk
Foreign Office Under-Secretary of State Alistair Burt (right) with US Embassy charge d'affaires Barbara J. Stephenson at a Commission reception in London, 2013 Fulbright Commission (9247693947).jpg
Foreign Office Under-Secretary of State Alistair Burt (right) with US Embassy chargé d'affaires Barbara J. Stephenson at a Commission reception in London, 2013

The US-UK Fulbright Commission was created by a treaty signed by the United Kingdom and the United States on 22 September, 1948. [2] It is a non-profit organisation based in London and UK.

Contents

Global Fulbright Programme

The US-UK Fulbright Commission is part of the worldwide Fulbright Program. The global programme was conceived by Senator J. William Fulbright after the Second World War to promote leadership, learning, and empathy between nations through educational exchange. [3] The global programme operates in over 155 countries and has supported 300,000 alumni in exchanges to and from the US. [4] Within the global Fulbright programme, 28 alumni have served as heads of state or government, 11 Fulbright alumni have been elected to US Congress, 1 Fulbright alumnus has served as Secretary-General of the UN, [5] 43 Fulbright alumni from 11 countries have received the Nobel Prize (including 2 in 2010), [6] and 78 alumni have received Pulitzer Prizes. [7]

UK Fulbright Awards

Several scholarship programmes are in operation between the US and the UK. However, the US-UK Fulbright Commission is the only organisation offering scholarships on a bi-national basis in any field and at any university. [8] According to its website, Fulbright offers a wide range of programs, including Distinguished Chairs for senior academics, postgraduate study scholarships, professional awards, and Summer Institutes for younger students. [9] Since 1948, the UK Commission has supported approximately 15,000 British nationals on exchanges to the US and nearly 12,000 Americans to the UK. [10] In recent years, around 50 citizens have received grants annually in both countries. [11]

EducationUSA Advisory Service

In addition to its scholarships, Fulbright provides information on and promotes US-UK exchange. In 2009/10, 8,861 British students studied in the US, [12] and with the rise of tuition fees at UK universities, there has been increased interest in US study. [13] That same year, another 45,000+ Americans studied in the UK. [14] Fulbright's advisory service is part of the Education USA network of over 450 advising centres worldwide. The advisors are the UK's official source of information on educational exchange opportunities to the US. [15] Advisors can provide accurate, unbiased information about all accredited US higher education institutions. Fulbright's website provides information on how to apply to US universities. They also offer events on US study, such as their College Day undergraduate university fair each autumn, a Grad School Day workshop in the spring, student and parent seminars throughout the year, webinars and advisor training. Students can also receive additional advice by phone, email and in person at their office in Battersea.

Funding and administration

The US-UK Commission is partially funded by the US State Department and the UK government through BIS. Additional support is provided by individual and institutional partners. [16] Fulbright is governed by a Board of Commissioners made up of representatives nominated by the US and UK governments. Work is carried out by ten full-time staff and participants in their internship programme. The Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961 states that the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) administers the global Fulbright Program under policy guidelines set by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB). ECA does this with the assistance of bi-national commissions and foundations, U.S. embassies, and cooperating agencies in the United States, [17] such as the Institute of International Education (IIE) and Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

Alumni

The British Fulbright Scholars Association (BFSA) is the alumni association for British Fulbright Scholars. The BFSA is a private, non-profit organisation that promotes transatlantic relationships and international understanding through its network of Fulbright scholars. [18] US-UK Fulbright alumni are also invited to join the State Alumni [19] and Fulbright Association networks. [20]

According to the Fulbright website, the following individuals are notable alumni of the scholarship program:

Legacy

The UK Fulbright Commission Archive is housed at the British Library. The papers can be accessed through the British Library catalogue. [21] The Fulbright Association has a long-standing collaboration with the US-UK Educational Commission (The Fulbright Commission) to support an annual lecture series held in the UK called the Fulbright Legacy Lectures. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhodes Scholarship</span> International postgraduate award

The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom.

The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. Via the program, competitively-selected American citizens including students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists, and artists may receive scholarships or grants to study, conduct research, teach, or exercise their talents abroad; and citizens of other countries may qualify to do the same in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall Scholarship</span> Postgraduate scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship is a postgraduate scholarship for "intellectually distinguished young Americans [and] their country's future leaders" to study at any university in the United Kingdom. It is widely considered one of the most prestigious scholarships for U.S. citizens, and along with the Fulbright Scholarship, it is the only broadly available scholarship available to Americans to study at any university in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevening Scholarship</span> UK university scholarship for select foreign students

The Chevening Scholarship is an international scholarship, funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner organizations, that lets foreign students with leadership qualities study at universities in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Churchill Scholarship</span> Anglo-American post-graduate scholarship program

The Churchill Scholarship is awarded by the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States to graduates of the more than one hundred colleges and universities invited to participate in the Churchill Scholarship Program, for the pursuit of research and study in the physical and natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, for one year at Churchill College at the University of Cambridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulbright Association</span> Nonprofit organization

The Fulbright Association is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose members are Fulbright Program alumni and friends of international education. Established on February 27, 1977, the association supports and promotes international educational and cultural exchange and the ideal most associated with the Fulbright name—mutual understanding among the peoples of the world.

The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international educational membership organisation. Founded by the journalist Sir Evelyn Wrench in 1918, it aims to bring together and empower people of different languages and cultures, by building skills and confidence in communication, such that individuals realise their potential. With 35 branches in the United Kingdom and over 50 international ESUs in countries around the world, the ESU carries out a variety of activities such as debating, public speaking and student exchange programmes, runs conferences and seminars, and offers scholarships, to encourage the effective use of the English language around the globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs</span> U.S. State Department division

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. It is responsible for the United States' cultural exchange programs.

The Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) is an educational charity. It supports the exchange of university students, scientists and scholars between the United States and Belgium. The foundation fosters the higher education of deserving Belgians and Americans through its exchange-fellowship program. Since 1977, Dr. Emile Boulpaep is the president of the BAEF.

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is a non-profit organization promoting international education and exchange. It was founded in 1947 and is based in the United States. The organization is headquartered in Portland, Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EducationUSA</span>

EducationUSA is a US Department of State network of international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. Officially a branch of the Office of Global Educational Programs, a part of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), the ECA fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture to overseas audiences.

Caroline Casagrande is an attorney and former American government official and political appointee in the administration of President Donald J. Trump who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs at the U.S. Department of State overseeing global public diplomacy programs. Earlier, Casagrande served as a Deputy Republican leader in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 11th Legislative District, from 2012 to 2016 and the 12th legislative district from 2008 to 2012. Casagrande is the youngest woman assembly member ever elected in New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961</span> U.S. law establishing the Fulbright Program, seeking to improve foreign relations and cultural ties

The Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961 is officially known as the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. It was marshalled by United States Senator J. William Fulbright (D-AR) and passed by the 87th United States Congress on September 16, 1961, the same month the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and Peace Corps Act of 1961 were enacted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Security Language Initiative</span>

The National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) is a program introduced by United States President George W. Bush on January 5, 2006 at the U.S. University President's Summit to develop the foreign language skills of American high school students, especially in "critical-need" foreign languages such as Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Hindi, and Persian. The initiative was given $114 million in fiscal year 2007 and $26.6 million in 2008 to expand programs from kindergarten level to universities. Schools were additionally awarded $750 million for critical language education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board</span>

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board was established by the United States Congress for the purpose of supervising the Fulbright Program and certain programs authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act and for the purpose of selecting students, scholars, teachers, trainees, and other persons to participate in the educational exchange programs.

United States cultural exchange programs, particularly those programs with ties to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State, seek to develop cultural understanding between United States citizens and citizens of other countries. Exchange programs do not necessarily exchange one individual for another individual of another country; rather, "exchange" refers to the exchange of cultural understanding created when an individual goes to another country. These programs can be regarded as a form of cultural diplomacy within the spectrum of public diplomacy.

The Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States of America, Belgium, and Luxembourg is located in Brussels, Belgium, with the office situated at the Royal Library Albert I. It is a not-for profit organization that is responsible for administering Fulbright grants for citizens of Belgium and Luxembourg. It also serves as the EducationUSA Advising Center in Belgium.

The Austrian-American Educational Commission/ Fulbright Austria (AAEC) is one of the 50 bi-national commissions under the Fulbright Program, which exists in order to promote “mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the peoples of other countries.”

The Fulbright Commission in Iceland is an inter-governmental organization that administers the Fulbright Program in Iceland by offering Fulbright grants to students and scholars. It is located in the center of Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. The Commission also administers nominations for the Frank Boas Scholarship for International Legal Studies at the Harvard Law School and the Cobb Family Fellowship for Icelandic citizens. The Commission also serves as the only Education USA advising center in Iceland, providing impartial advice on U.S. education opportunities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BUNAC</span>

BUNAC is an organisation that enables people to explore the world through work abroad and travel programmes. After starting as a not-for-profit members Club, it was taken over by Bunac Travel Services Ltd which was acquired by STA Travel in 2011. The 'BUNAC' brand and all associated work and volunteer abroad programme brand names are now owned by STA Travel. Previously, the company was owned by the non-profit British Universities North America Club in order to provide work and volunteer programmes for their members. Due to this, the term 'BUNAC' now refers exclusively to STA Travel owned products, and not the non-profit Club.

References

  1. ↑ "US-UK Fulbright Commission: Appointment of new Executive Director". US-UK Fulbright Commission. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Fact Sheet for Fulbright Scholars, Partners and Press
  3. ↑ "Senator J. William Fulbright | Fulbright Scholar Program". Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "Fulbright | Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Fulbright Scholars | la Paz, Bolivia - Embassy of the United States". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Nobel Laureates | Institute of International Education". Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "Pulitzer Prize Winners | Institute of International Education". Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Fulbright | Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs".
  9. ↑ "Homepage | Fulbright". fulbright.org.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Fact Sheet for Fulbright Scholars, Partners and Press
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Open Doors".
  13. ↑ "Does it pay to be a student in the US?". BBC News. 25 November 2010.
  14. ↑ "Open Doors".
  15. ↑ "EducationUSA - About Us". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  16. ↑ "Fulbright | Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "About Fulbright | Fulbright Scholar Program". Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  18. ↑ "Home". bfsa.org.
  19. ↑ "U.S. Department of State - Home". Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  20. ↑ "Home". fulbright.org.
  21. ↑ The US-UK Fulbright Commission Archive, archives and manuscripts catalogue, the British Library. Retrieved 15 May 2020
  22. ↑ "Legacy Lecture Series". Fulbright.org. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2022.

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