The Fulbright New Century Scholars Program (NCS)

Higher Education in the 21st Century: Access and Equity
 
The Fulbright New Century Scholars Program (NCS) brings together annually 30 outstanding research scholars and professionals from the United States and around the world. NCS Scholars engage in multidisciplinary collaboration under the leadership of a Distinguished Scholar Leader and work together to seek solutions to issues and concerns that affect all humankind.
 
In its 5th year, NCS will continue to address critical issues in higher education around the globe, and will focus on “Higher Education in the 21st Century: Access and Equity.”  Dr. Bruce Johnstone, Director, Center for Comparative and Global Studies in Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, will serve as the Distinguished Scholar Leader.
 
Overview
 
Higher education faces significant challenges throughout the world. Among the most universal and complex are those related to ensuring equitable access for the rapidly growing number of individuals seeking education at the postsecondary level. Meeting the burgeoning demand for higher education and developing policies and resources that provide the benefit of higher education to diverse populations of students will require national commitment and international cooperation.  In today’s global, knowledge-based economy, the economic growth and social well being of nations around the world are increasingly dependent on a well-educated workforce and individual access to quality education. Understanding the principal components of this challenge and the relationship between cultural norms, social and political policies and the development of higher education will require deeper understanding in order to realize the goals to expand access and equity. 
 
The Fulbright New Century Scholars Program provides an ideal vehicle for the kind of cross cultural and transnational examination that will contribute to a significant comparative analysis of access and equity issues.  By bringing together a diverse group of scholars and educational leaders to examine the topic in national and international settings, NCS will seek constructive ways for contemporary institutions to develop policies responding to the challenge of ensuring equitable access within the framework of higher education in the 21st century.  
 
Three themes related to the central topic of access and equity in higher education will be examined:
 
1.  Cultural and societal norms that affect access and equity
2.  Role of K-16 in limiting or advancing access to higher education
3.  Resources and polices that provide greater access to higher education
 
Program Activities
 
To create a platform for collaborative thinking and pursuit of tangible solutions to the challenges posed by the NCS theme, NCS provides participants with specific opportunities to come together during the program year: 
 • Orientation and goal setting session 
 • Mid-term meeting 
 • Final plenary seminar 
 • International exchange opportunity of two/three months
 • Ongoing discussion and interaction among NCS fellows throughout program year
NCS Scholars are expected to participate in all activities of the program and to contribute to the collaborative goals of the program throughout the program year. 
 
  
Eligibility Requirements
 
Outstanding scholars, academic administrators, and professionals of any rank and in any field related to the NCS theme are invited to apply. Applicants with strong interdisciplinary and comparative interests are especially welcome.  
 • Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field.  
 • U.S. applicants must have U.S. citizenship and be permanently residing in the United States at the time of  application.  
 • Non-U.S. applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of and residing in the country from which they are
applying 
 • Non-U.S. applicants must submit their applications through a participating Fulbright Commission or Public Affairs
  Section of the U.S. Embassy in their home countries *  
 • Fluency in English
 
Approximately one-third of the participants will be U.S. scholars, and the remaining two thirds will be visiting scholars from outside the United States.
 
Awards/Benefits
 
 • Individual travel/research awards in the amount of $37,000
 • Accommodations and meals for program seminars
 
NCS awards are intended to provide support for travel to all program meetings, travel and maintenance for the exchange visit, research materials and assistance, and some salary replacement.
 
Tentative Timeline
 
February 2006   NCS Program announced and application materials available
July 17, 2006    Deadline for submission of application materials for U.S. applicants
                      Non-U.S. applicants should consult with their local Fulbright office for the  relevant application deadline                  
Oct/Nov 2006   Fulbright New Century Scholars announced
February 2007   NCS orientation
February 2007   Exchange visits may begin
July 2007  Mid-term seminar 
March 2008   Final plenary seminar
 
Contact Information:  Complete details, application materials and instructions are available on the CIES Web site at www.cies.org/ncs.   Questions may be addressed to NCS staff at ncs@iie.org
* In-Country Deadline for submission of applications is May 31, 2006.  Please deliver applications to the Cultural Section, U.S. Embassy Kampala, Plot 1577 Ggaba Road, Nsambya or P.O. Box 7007 Kampala.

- 2007-08 Visiting Scholar Application Form (.pdf)