Slovak Fulbright Commission
The Slovak Fulbright Commission was created in 1994 by a treaty between the governments of the United States and Slovakia.[1] It is a non-profit organization based in Bratislava, Slovakia.[1] The Fulbright Commission aims to foster mutual cultural understanding through educational exchange between the United States and the Slovak Republic.[2] To do this, Fulbright helps students, scholars and professionals interested in studying abroad in the United States or Slovakia through its scholarship programs, fellowship programs, and its EducationUSA advising center.[1] Since the formation of the Commission, over 180 American students and scholars have studied in Slovakia while over 220 Slovak students and scholars have studied in the United States.[1]
Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities in the Slovak Republic
The Slovak Fulbright Commission offers many opportunities for study, research and English Teaching for U.S. students in Slovakia.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals, and artists to study abroad for one academic year.[3] As of the 2012-2013 academic year, only two grants per year are available under this program.[4] In order to receive full consideration for a fellowship, students must have knowledge of the Slovak language commensurate with their proposed project, a letter of affiliation from a Slovak host institution, and a completed application including three letters of recommendation.[4]
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Program (ETA)
The Fulbright ETA Program, an element of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, places U.S. students as English teaching assistants in schools or universities overseas, thus improving foreign students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the United States while increasing their own language skills and knowledge of the host country.[3] ETAs may also pursue individual study/research plans in addition to their teaching responsibilities.[3] For the 2012-2013 application cycle, 19 applications were received for 8 ETA positions.[5]
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends American scholars and professionals abroad to lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.[3]
Opportunities for Slovak Citizens in the U.S.
There are many opportunities available for Slovak students and scholars within the United States. For students, The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to research and study in the United States for one year or longer.[3] For scholars, available programs include the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (SIR) and the Fulbright European Union Scholar-in-Residence (EUSIR) Program.[3]
EducationUSA Advising Center
The Slovak Fulbright Commission also hosts an EducationUSA Advising Center at its location in central Bratislava. EducationUSA is a global network of more than 400 advising centers supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.[6] In Bratislava, the center provides individual admissions and test preparation consulting for students, including free library and computer access.[7] The advising center also organizes presentations and seminars on study opportunities in the U.S. for Slovak high school and university students as well as representatives of Slovak academia.[7]
References
- "Slovakia Country Profile". Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- "Slovak Republic". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- "Slovak Republic". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- "Slovak Republic". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- "ETA Grant Applications". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- "EducationUSA". Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- "EducationUSA Bratislava". Retrieved 10 August 2012.