In an effort to support the professional development of Fulbright Foreign Student Program alumni from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, AMIDEAST and the United States Department of State are sponsoring the Fulbright Alumni Development Grant program. This program provides Fulbright Foreign Student Program alumni with the opportunity to attend a professional conference or seminar, complete a short-term training program, conduct a collaborative research project, or participate in a professional visit with colleagues in their field.

Some examples of previous Alumni Development Grant activities include:

Embarking on a study tour of micro-credit projects in Egypt
Attending a short-term training course in the field of clinical drug development in North Carolina
Conducting a workshop on "Using the Internet as an Instructional Tool to Increase Effectiveness of an Educational Delivery System" at the EFL Skills Conference in Cairo, Egypt
Visits to an American research institute or company to identify possible collaborative research on electrical industry restructuring

Fulbright Foreign Student Program alumni, who meet the eligibility requirements, as outlined below, are encouraged to submit an application for the Alumni Development Grant.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be alumni of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program from one of the following areas: Egypt, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank, Yemen, Oman or Bahrain.
Applicants must have fulfilled their J-1 visa, two-year home residence requirement.
This competition is limited to applicants who are citizens or residents of areas listed above. Future competitions may include citizens of other countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.
AMIDEAST staff members, independent contractors, and/or their immediate family members are not eligible to apply for this grant.

Grant Guidelines

Applications must be received no later than the close of business on February 6, 2009.
The professional development activity for which the grant is received must take place between March 1, 2009 and September 14, 2009.
The grant activity must take place in either the United States or the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. For purposes of the grant, the MENA region is limited to Algeria, Egypt, Gaza, Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank and Yemen.
The duration of the Alumni Development Grant activity must not exceed one month.
Applicants are responsible for researching and identifying an appropriate opportunity for professional development, and for providing requested information to AMIDEAST.
Applicants must provide cost-sharing through personal funds or funds from a sponsor or employer which constitute at least 25% of the total cost of the activity. For example, if the total cost of the activity is $1,000, then the applicant must demonstrate matching funds totaling at least $250. The Alumni Development Grant, if awarded, would cover the remaining 75%, or $750.
Requested funds may not exceed US $2,500.
If awarded an Alumni Development Grant to participate in a professional development activity in the United States, grantees will be responsible for securing a B1 visitors visa to enter the U.S.
Fulbright Alumni Development Grant recipients are required to provide a final report of their activities and costs upon completion of the professional development activity.

Application and Review Process

Applications received on or before February 6, 2009 will be reviewed by representatives of the United States Department of State and AMIDEAST. Preference will be given to those applicants who will actively participate in their chosen program of professional development (presenting at a conference, participating in a collaborative research project, etc.). Once the selection process has been completed, applicants will be notified of the status of their application via mail and/or e-mail.

To apply, please submit your application electronically via our on-line application at:

http://www.amideast.org/forms/fulbrightalumni/fulbmain.aspx

Questions

If you have any questions, or would like to request a paper application, please contact AMIDEAST at:

AMIDEAST
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20036-4505
E-mail: eokeefe@amideast.org