2021-22 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program (Deadline Extended to May 1, 2020)

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the competition for the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for the 2021-22 academic year. The Embassy encourages interested parties to submit proposals relating to public health, environmental science, computer science, cybersecurity, rural development, and other STEM related subjects. The deadline for submitting application materials online is Tuesday, April 14, 2020 (Deadline Extended to May 1, 2020) by 13:00 hrs.

Purpose and Institutional Focus: The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program facilitates research projects at U.S. universities or research facilities.

Grant categories offered:  a) Research grants; b) Program and Curriculum Development grants. In both categories, grants must begin between August 2021 and March 2022.  The length of the grant is determined by the research requirements indicated in the proposal and agreed with the host institution.

  1. Research Grants: Grants of three to nine months for research in any academic discipline.  Preference is given to applicants with a doctorate degree, at least three years of university teaching experience, a productive scholarly record, and whose projects relate directly to their ongoing teaching and/or research responsibilities.
  2. Program and Curriculum Development Grants: Grants of three to five months for research in any academic discipline.  Proposals should be linked to professional duties and should demonstrate the use of knowledge gained in the U.S. to develop new courses, curricula, or programs at the home institution.  These grants are designed for less experienced scholars who have not had access to current research or instructional developments in their disciplines. 

Note on HIV/AIDS:  The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program includes a special set of grants for proposals in HIV/AIDS-related research.  Proposals in all academic disciplines are eligible as long as they have an HIV/AIDS focus.  Candidates may apply for either research grants or program and curriculum development grants.

 Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Applicants must be citizens of Botswana and qualified to hold a valid passport.
  2. Applicants must be affiliated with a university, research institute, museum or other institution with educational and/or research objectives.
  3. Proposals should not involve doctoral dissertation research, postdoctoral research immediately following completion of a doctoral degree, or professional travel.
  4. Applicants cannot have received a Fulbright grant for study, teaching, or research in the U.S. within the last five years.
  5. The selection committee will give preference to individuals who have had no, or limited experience in the United States in the last five years.
  6. Candidates cannot be directly related to an employee of the U.S. Embassy.

Grant Benefits: Round-trip air travel for the grantee only; excess baggage allowance, health insurance for grantee only; monthly stipend; professional allowance for books, conferences, and seminar; laboratory fees are not part of the standard benefits package but are paid on a case-by-case basis if funding is available.

Application Conditions:  Applicants should submit the following items:

  1. Online applications must be completed at the following link https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2021/  Candidates must upload supporting documents online for their application to be considered complete.
  2. On the application, you must indicate the type of grant requested.
  3. Applicants must provide a detailed statement describing the research proposal and methodology to be used, a detailed curriculum vita, and three letters of reference.
  4. Letters of invitation or relevant correspondence with U.S. university faculty, if any, should be included in the application.
  5. Applicants unfamiliar with potential U.S. colleagues or institutions will be recommended suitable placements.
  6. Applicants are discouraged from requesting affiliation with a U.S. university where they have previously studied.

Questions and further information:  Specific questions about the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program and the application process can be e-mailed to FulbrightBotswana@state.gov or answered by telephone, at 395-7326.

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The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.  It is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”  With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 300,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.  The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then-Senator J. William

Fulbright of Arkansas.  Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 156 countries worldwide.