1. Education and Portuguese
Language Fair
Feira da Educação e Língua Portuguesa
East Side High School, Newark
March 31st, 2012
Otília Macedo Reis, Executive Director, Fulbright Portugal

2. The Fulbright Program
• Bem vindos a • Welcome to Portugal
J. William Fulbright (1905-1995)
Portugal!
• Who’s who at the
• Quem é quem na Fulbright Commission
Comissão Fulbright

3. The Fulbright Program
J. William Fulbright
Graduate University of Arkansas (Political Science)
Rhodes Scholar, Oxford (History, 1924-1928)
• Bem vindos a • Welcome to Portugal
U.S. House of Representatives (1942-1944) and U.S.
Portugal! Senate (1945-1975)
• Who’s Committee (1959-1974)
Chair of Senate Foreign Relations who at the
• Quem é quem na Fulbright Commission
Comissão Fulbright
Internationalist, Multirateralist

4. The Fulbright Program
U.S. President Harry
• Bem vindos aTruman signs the initial
• Welcome to Portugal
Portugal! Fulbright Act, 1946
• Who’s who at the
• Quem é quem na Fulbright Commission
Comissão Fulbright

5. The Fulbright Program
U.S. President John F. Kennedy signs the
Fulbright-Hays Act, 1961 (JWF - far left)
• Bem vindos a • Welcome to Portugal
Portugal!
• Who’s who at the
• Quem é quem na Fulbright Commission
Comissão Fulbright

6. The Fulbright Program
Objective:
Public Law 87-256, 1961
“increase mutual understanding between the people of the
United States and the people of other countries by means
of educational and cultural exchange; to strengthen the
ties which unite us with other nations,……”
“Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing
as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of
international relations. “
J. William Fulbright

7. The Fulbright Program
Key Players
• J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (appointed
by the U.S. President = policy making and approval of
candidates)
• Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State
• Institute of International Education (IIE = students)
•Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES =
scholars)
• Binational commissions (50) or U.S. Embassies

8. The Fulbright Program
Characteristics of the Fulbright Program:
• Oldest and largest international exchange program
(310,000 grantees since 1946; 8,000 grants annually)
• Binationalism: “two-way exchange”
• Open, annual, national, merit-based competition
• Diverse and representative group of grantees
• Achievement, excellence, potential, “leadership” = civic
commitment
• Public (people’s) diplomacy: citizens as diplomats
• Public benefit: “giving something back”

9. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Luso American Educational Commission
Fulbright Commission
• Created in 1960 by an agreement between the U.S. and
Portugal
• Binational funding (U.S. Government and Portuguese
Government
• Binational Board of Directors (4 American, 4 Portuguese)
• U.S. Ambassador to Portugal – Honorary Chair of the
Board
• Over 2000 grants awarded since 1960

10. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Portuguese Partners:
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Education and Science
• Universities and Research Centers all over Portugal
• Other public and private institutions (grants
awarded in partnership)

11. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants
• provide Portuguese students and scholars with
opportunities to study, lecture or do research in the U.S.
• provide U.S. students and scholars with opportunities to
develop such activities in Portugal

12. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for Portuguese Students
Fulbright Grant for Graduate Studies
(Masters and Ph.D.)
All fields of study
funding of up to $25,000 for the 1st year of studies
Possible additional funding for the 2nd and 3rd years
(up to $6,000 a year)
Placement at the U.S. universities
Health and accidents insurance

13. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for Portuguese Students
Fulbright Research Grant
Supports grantees’ research projects in the U.S. Universities
and research centers
All fields of study
6-12 months
Funding of up to $10,000
Self-placement
Preference to Master and Ph.D. Students enrolled at
Portuguese universities

14. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for Portuguese Scholars and Researchers
Fulbright Grant for Scholars and Researchers
Lecturing and/or conducting research in the U.S.
All fields of study
3-12 months
Funding of up to $12,000
Self-placement

15. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for Portuguese Scholars and Researchers
Fulbright / Instituto Camões Grant for
Scholars and Researchers
Lecturing and/or conducting research in the U.S.
Linguistics • Communication • Language Teaching Pedagogy and
Didactics • History • Contemporary History • Sociology • Literature
• Political Science • International Relations • Distance Education •
Fine Arts • Performing Arts
Subjects related to Portuguese language and culture and relevant
to the Portuguese-American cultural relations
3-12 months
Funding of up to $12,000
Self-placement

16. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for American Students
Fulbright/Luso-American Foundation Student
Research Abroad Program
Graduate students, young professionals or researchers
All fields of study
8 months (October through May)
Funding of € 10,000 + roundtrip ticket

17. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for American Students
Fulbright/Instituto Camões Student Research
Abroad Program
Graduate students, young professionals or researchers
Linguistics • Communication • Language Teaching Pedagogy and
Didactics • History • Contemporary History • Sociology • Literature •
Political Science • International Relations • Distance Education •
Fine Arts • Performing Arts
Subjects related to Portuguese language and culture and relevant
to the Portuguese-American cultural relations
8 months (October through May)
Funding of € 10,000 + roundtrip ticket

18. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for American Students
Fulbright ETA – English Teaching Assistantships
Strengthen English language instruction and knowledge of the
U.S. in Portugal through the presence of highly motivated native
English speakers
Holders of at least a bachelor’s degree
9 months (October through June)
Funding of up to €11,250 + round trip ticket
Placement at Portuguese universities

19. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for U.S. Scholars and Researchers
Core Fulbright Scholar Program
Lecture and/or conduct research at Portuguese universities
All fields of study
3 months
Funding of €8,400 + travel allowance + dependents allowance
Self-placement

20. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Grants for U.S. Scholars and Researchers
Core Fulbright Scholar Program
Fulbright Award in the Humanities / Universidade de Lisboa
Fulbright / UCP Chairs in Law in the Global Economy

21. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Special Programs
• Educational Seminars for School Administrators
• Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary School
Educators
• Fulbright / Schuman Program
• Summer School in Portugal for Teachers of Portuguese in
the U.S.

22. The Fulbright Program in Portugal
Special Programs
Educational Seminars for School Administrators
-supported by Fulbright and the Luso-American Foundation-
3-week seminars for professional development of Portuguese
elementary and secondary school administrators
Visits to diverse U.S. Schools
No minimum English language required
U.S. schools interested in hosting participants should contact the
American Councils for International Education
www.americancouncils.org

23. Fulbright Information Center
Mission:
Provide accurate, comprehensive, current and
unbiased information on education in the U.S.
Affiliated to the Department of State

24. Fulbright Information Center
Information and advising on:
U.S. system of education / Study in the United States
Portuguese system of education / Study in Portugal
Exchange of Scholars and Students
Fulbright Program
Standardized Admission Tests
Portuguese and American educational credentials

25. Fulbright Information Center
Network of Fulbright Regional
Information Centers
Make information on U.S. studies
more easily available for students
and scholars
Provide professional development
opportunities to Portuguese
Universities’ international
relations officers

26. Contacts:
www.fulbright.pt
Find us on
Facebook
www.facebook.com/fulbright.pt
Twitter
http://twitter.com/Fulbright_PT
YouTube
www.youtube.com/user/FULBRIGHTPT
Thank You!
Otília Macedo Reis
omreis@fulbright.pt