Fulbright Program facts for kids
The Fulbright Program is a special program that helps people from the United States and other countries learn from each other. It's like an exchange program for students, teachers, and experts. The main goal is to build better friendships and understanding between different cultures.
This program is one of the most famous and respected scholarship programs in the world. It can be quite hard to get a grant. American citizens, like students, teachers, and artists, can get money (called a grant) to study, do research, or teach in other countries. People from other countries can also come to the U.S. for the same reasons.
United States Senator J. William Fulbright started the program in 1946. Each year, about 8,000 grants are given out. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State helps run the program. It gets money from the United States Congress. Many other countries and groups also help fund it. More than 370,000 people have been part of the program. Many of them have won big awards like Nobel Prizes and Pulitzer Prizes.
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History of the Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program started after World War II. In 1945, Senator J. William Fulbright had an idea. He wanted to use money from selling leftover U.S. government war items. This money would help fund exchange programs between the U.S. and other countries.
The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.
—Senator J. William Fulbright
The senator believed that learning from each other could help prevent future wars. He thought it would promote peace and understanding around the world.
If we do not want to die together in war, we must learn to live together in peace.
—President Harry S. Truman
On August 1, 1946, President Harry S. Truman signed the bill into law. This created the Fulbright Program. It became the largest education exchange program ever.
From the start, the program has worked with two countries at a time. Each country has an agreement with the U.S. government. China was the first country to sign an agreement in 1947. Burma, the Philippines, and Greece followed in 1948.
How the Fulbright Program Works
The Fulbright Program works in two main ways. People from the U.S. can get money to go to another country. Also, people from other countries can come to the U.S.
Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations.
—Senator J. William Fulbright
To get a Fulbright grant, people usually need good grades and a strong plan. They also need to show they can be leaders. Being flexible and able to work well with people in a new country is also important.
Fulbright grants are offered in almost all school subjects. However, they do not cover medical research that involves direct contact with patients.
Grants for Students
- The Fulbright U.S. Student Program helps U.S. college graduates and young artists. They can research, study, or teach English in another country for one school year.
- The Fulbright Foreign Student Program allows students and young artists from other countries to study in the United States.
- The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program helps young English teachers from overseas. They can improve their teaching skills and learn about American culture. At the same time, they help teach foreign languages at U.S. colleges.
- The Fulbright-mtvU Fellowships let U.S. students study how music affects culture in other countries. They share their experiences through videos and blogs.
- The Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship lets U.S. students work in government offices in other countries. This gives them real-world experience in public service.
Grants for Scholars and Teachers
- The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends American professors and experts abroad. They can teach or do research for up to a year.
- The Fulbright Specialist Program sends U.S. experts to other countries for a few weeks. They help schools with things like lesson plans or teacher training.
- The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program brings experts from other countries to the U.S. They teach or do research at U.S. colleges.
- The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program helps teachers from kindergarten through high school trade places with teachers in other countries.
- The Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program sends teachers abroad for a semester. They work on projects, do research, or lead classes.
Grants for Professionals
- The Hubert H. Humphrey Program brings experienced professionals from developing countries to the U.S. for one year. They study and gain work experience.
- The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program also sends American professionals abroad to teach or do research.
- The Fulbright Specialist Program sends U.S. professionals to work as consultants at schools overseas.
Fulbright–Hays Program
- The Fulbright–Hays Program is part of the larger Fulbright Program. It is managed by the United States Department of Education.
- These grants help U.S. teachers, students, and professors. They can research or train overseas. This training often focuses on foreign languages and cultures from non-Western parts of the world.
Famous People from Fulbright
Many people who have been part of the Fulbright Program have become very successful. They have held important jobs in government, schools, and businesses.
- 84 have won the Pulitzer Prize
- 59 have won a Nobel Prize
- 37 have become a head of state or government
- 10 have been elected to U.S. Congress
- 1 has served as the secretary general of the United Nations
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Programa Fulbright para niños
