About the Fulbright African Research Scholar Program (ARSP)

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government.  Administered by the Department of State and the Institute of International Education (IIE), the program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. U.S. Embassy Lilongwe’s Public Affairs Section manages the Fulbright Program in Malawi and nominates candidates to the Fulbright Scholarship Board in Washington DC.

The ARSP program is an opportunity for a Malawian University Faculty or Research Institute Professionals to conduct research in their field of expertise at a U.S. Academic or Research Institution for a period of 3 to 9 months. A research grant enables the scholar to perform high-level research at a U.S. educational institution, aimed at strengthening academic programs or curricula at his/her home institution.  Applicants need to have a proven track record of productive scholarly research, and publications.

More information can be found of the program's official webpage

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Two categories of grants are offered in the ARSP:  research grants and program and curriculum development grants.

Research Grants: 

Awards of 3 to 9 months are offered for African university faculty or research institute professionals to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution beginning no earlier than August 2022 and no later than March 2023.  Applicants must hold a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in their fields at the time of application. Preference will be given to individuals who have at least three years of university teaching experience and a productive scholarly record.

Program and Curriculum Development Grants:

Awards of 3 to 5 months are offered for African university faculty or administrators to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution beginning no earlier than August 2022 and no later than March 2023.  Proposals should be linked to professional duties and demonstrate how the scholar will use the knowledge gained to develop new courses, curricula, or other academic programs at the home institution.  These grants are designed for university faculty or administrators with less experience and who may not have had recent access to research or instructional developments in their disciplines.  A doctorate degree is not required, but applicants must hold a minimum of a master’s or equivalent graduate degree at the time of application.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ELIGIBILITY:  

1. The ARSP is open to scholars in all disciplines and without regard to gender or age; however, proposals for clinical medical research involving patient contact cannot be approved under the Fulbright Program.
2. Applicants must be citizens of the country from which they apply, or permanent residents qualified to hold a valid passport issued by that country.
3. Applicants for research grants must hold a doctorate degree or equivalent terminal degree in their fields at the time of application. Preference is given to individuals who have at least three years of university teaching experience and a productive scholarly record.
4. Applicants without doctorate degrees but who hold a master’s or equivalent graduate degree are eligible in the program and curriculum development category.
5. Applications for doctoral dissertation research, postdoctoral research immediately following the completion of a doctorate degree, or general professional travel, are ineligible.
6. Preference will be given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright scholar grant.
7.  Preference will be given to candidates who have had no experience or limited experience in the United States.
8. Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in English to carry out their research projects and collaborate effectively with colleagues.
9. Applicants must be in good health.  Successful candidates will be asked to submit a Medical History and Examination Report.
10. Scholars who were unsuccessful in previous competitions may re-apply.  Repeat applicants should revise their proposals, update curriculum vitae, and obtain current letters of reference.

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program seeks applicants whose writing achieves highest academic standards of original research, writing, and citation.  The program application includes the opportunity to describe your academic work and research.  Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instance of plagiarism.  Plagiarism in any part of your application will result in your disqualification from participation in the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program.  ECA and IIE will follow the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of plagiarism:  Plagiarism is the wrongful appropriation or purloining and publication as one’s own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas, of another.  It is expected that your project proposal will be your own work and writing, clearly citing secondary sources when describing the academic work and writing of others (including one’s own previously published work).  Any sources used in the construction of your responses must be clearly cited in your project statement and bibliography.

Read the official announcement here for more details.