Educational Exchange Programs

The Fulbright African Research Scholar Program

INFORMATION SHEET

Prepared by: American Cultural Center Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Last Revised: May 2, 2007

What is this program?

This is a program for faculty at Sub-Saharan African universities and for scholars at Sub-Saharan African research centers, museums or other cultural institutions to conduct three to nine months of research at an academic or research institution in the U.S. Funding is provided by the government of the United States of America through the U.S. Department of State.

What kinds of people are eligible to apply?

Scholars and researchers who are on the faculty at an institution of higher education or who work for research centers, museums, or other cultural institutions with educational and research objectives.

There are two types of ARSP grants: (1) Senior Research Scholar grants for persons who already have a doctoral degree and who wish to conduct post-doctoral research (these grants are for 3-9 months of research in the U.S.); and (2) Professional Development Scholar grants for persons with less experience than senior researchers who wish to conduct a program of reading and research (these grants are for 3-5 months of research in the U.S.). In addition, special grants are available under both of these programs for Aids and Aids-Related Research. The length of all ARSP grants is determined by the need demonstrated by the applicant in his or her proposal.

What are the minimum requirements?

Only persons who meet the following minimum requirements can apply through the American Cultural Center in Ouagadougou:

• Citizens of Burkina Faso;
• Persons who have the endorsement of their home institution;
• Persons who have a good command of both written and spoken English;
• For Senior Research Scholar grants, persons who already have a doctoral (PH.D) degree; and
• For Professional Development Scholar grants, persons who already have at least the equivalent of a U.S. Masters (MA) degree (e.g., at least five years of full-time university study).

Who are the most competitive applicants?

Anyone meeting the minimum requirements may apply. However, people who have the following characteristics are the most competitive applicants and therefore the ones most likely to be selected:

• Persons who have at least three years of university teaching experience and a productive scholarly record;
• For Professional Development Scholar grants, persons who already have doctoral degrees or, if they do not have a doctoral degree, who are experienced university lecturers or researchers who have strong letters of reference and compelling letters of invitation from potential host colleagues or institutions in the U.S.;
• For Professional Development Scholar grants, persons who wish to focus upon updating their scholarly knowledge to improve classroom instruction and to contribute to the development of programs or curricula at their home institutions.
• Persons whose proposals relate directly to their ongoing teaching and/or research experience and responsibilities or to professional duties such as classroom instruction, advising students, administration, or outreach projects for teachers or other professionals; and
• Persons who have no previous experience or only limited experience in the U.S.

What kinds of people are not eligible?

The following are examples of persons who are not eligible for this program:

• Persons who want to do doctoral dissertation research or postdoctoral research immediately following completion of a doctoral degree;
• Person who want to travel to and have consultations at multiple institutions in the U.S.; and
• Persons who want to do medical research involving clinical training, patient care, or patient contact.

How do I seek a special AIDS and AIDS-Related Research grant?

Persons can apply for these grants in under either the Senior Research Scholar or Professional Development Scholar programs. Proposals must be for research and/or professional development with an HIV/AIDS focus. Grants are available in a wide variety of disciplines, including the following: Sociology and social work; anthropology; education; economics; law; public administration; communications; art; theater; medical sciences; biological sciences; and psychology.

If I am eligible and meet the minimum requirements, how do I apply?

• You must complete a package of application materials.  Applications may be picked up at the American Embassy 602, avenue Raoul Follereau, at Koulouba, Ouagadougou, From May 7, 2007 to June 29, 2007: Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 12:00 and 12:45 to 17:00 and Friday from 7:30 to 12:30.  Application forms must be completed and returned to the American Embassy before 5:00 p.m. on July 2, 2007.

How does the competition work?

• In Mid-July, candidates selected by the American Cultural Center will be
  interviewed.  After the interviews those candidates selected to continue in the
  competition will be required to take the Test of English Language Proficiency (the
  TELP test)  in Ouagadougou toward end of July.

• After all the applicants have taken the TELP the American Cultural Center will select those candidates who will be allowed to continue in the competition, and these candidates will be the finalists from Burkina Faso. Finalists will be required to complete additional application materials, which must be returned to the American Cultural Center before 5:00 p.m. on September 10, 2007.

• The Finalists from Burkina Faso then compete against applicants from other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the winners are announced in early 2008.

What if I am not a citizen of Burkina Faso?

If you are not a citizen of Burkina Faso you cannot apply for this program through the U.S. Embassy or the American Cultural Center in Ouagadougou. You should contact the Public Affairs Section in the U.S. Embassy in your home country to find out whether your country participates in this program, and, if so, how to apply.

When will I go to the United States if I am selected?

The current competition is for research projects to be conducted in the U.S. during the 2008-09 academic year.  Winners can start their projects in the U.S. as early as August of 2008 or as late as March of 2009.

If I am selected can my spouse or children come with me to the U.S.?

Probably not. The cost of living is very high in the U.S. and there is generally inadequate funding to support anyone other than the person awarded the grant.

How do I get more information?

You can also pull out the application from on our web site:   http://ouagadougou.usembassy.gov

If you have questions, the American Center at 674, Avenue John F. Kennedy, Ouagadougou will host information sessions every Wednesday from 10:00 am to 11:00, beginning Wednesday  May 9, 2007 through June 27, 2007.