The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Private Sector Exchange, and American Councils for International Education are pleased to announce that the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program (BridgeUSA UAFP) is now accepting applications.
BridgeUSA UAFP builds links between Ukrainian and U.S. scholars for long-term collaboration in joint research, shared pedagogy, course development, and publication. The program’s long-term goal is to help Ukrainian universities educate and train professionals critical to the country’s recovery and reconstruction through lasting, productive collaboration with U.S. institutions of higher education.
Fellows are matched with faculty mentors at a U.S. institution of higher education with whom they develop individualized, collaborative programs to meet their specific needs as researchers and educators seeking to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to rebuild. The program includes a month-long visit to a U.S. university where scholars may engage in research, observe classes in their field of study, develop new courses or course materials, deliver presentations and lectures, explore U.S. higher education administrative policies and culture, and attend conferences in their academic fields. Most scholars will visit their U.S. host institutions during the fall 2024 semester (in exceptional cases, some fellows may be able to travel in late spring or summer of 2024). Fellows are expected to return to Ukraine empowered to help address the significant challenges facing Ukraine’s higher education institutions and strengthen Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts through teaching and research.
BridgeUSA UAFP seeks to foster mutual understanding, educational ties, and professional networks between the United States and Ukraine as part of its efforts to support Ukraine's revitalization.
Scholars will be selected from the following academic fields: agricultural technology, conflict resolution/peace studies, engineering, information technology, mental health, pedagogy, and urban planning.
Eligible applicants must be citizens and current residents of Ukraine who:
- Are employed as full-time instructors and/or researchers at an institution of higher education in Ukraine and who possess at least two years of university-level experience;
- Are proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application;
- Are committed to returning to Ukraine after their month-long visit to the U.S; and,
- Are eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 Exchange Visitor nonimmigrant category visa.
Preferred candidates will demonstrate the following:
- Outstanding leadership or potential leadership within their university community;
- A strong commitment to teaching and/or research, and the development of new materials, courses, and programs to benefit Ukraine’s capacity to educate specialists in critically important fields;
- Strong potential to develop lasting collaborative relationships with U.S. academics.
The application deadline is December 29, 2023.
Apply today at https://ais.americancouncils.org/BridgeUSAUAFP
