The Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships aim to provide U.S. faculty, researchers, and professionals the opportunity to teach, conduct research, or carry out a combination of teaching and research at an Indian institution. Depending on the Indian host institution, it is likely that the grantee may contribute towards developing curriculum and conducting workshops and seminars.
Teaching in India will take place at different types of universities and colleges that vary in terms of academic/administrative arrangements. Most of the colleges and universities are emphasizing new methods of pedagogy, specifically interactive methods, group-work and project-based learning. Indian institutions would welcome visiting scholars who can contribute in these areas.
Indian institutions, with the exception of some of the highly reputed technical and management schools, have loosely structured teaching schedules that require adaptability and initiative on the part of American teachers. In general, undergraduate colleges tend to make optimum use of visiting teachers, so USIEF uses them widely for our teacher placements. U.S. community college faculty are eligible for affiliation with undergraduate colleges.
Because of year-end examinations and vacations, teaching is not possible in the majority of Indian institutions from March/April through June/July. Applicants should take this into consideration in proposing dates for the grant period to ensure that there is sufficient teaching time.
Applicants who plan to carry out a combination of teaching and research activities at the Indian host institution should specify the percentage of the grant for each activity and define this in your project statement. For instance, if you plan to spend 60% of your grant duration for research and 40% for teaching, your project statement should demonstrate this allocation.
USIEF will consider flex grants (research only), which allow the grant to be divided into shorter, in-country stays over two consecutive years. The total number of months cannot exceed six. A maximum of two round-trip airfares for the grantee only will be provided. The flex grant enables scholars to come to India and not have to request a full semester of sabbatical leave. Applicants should clearly indicate plans for the flex grant in the project statement, including project timeline.
During their grant period, Fulbright Scholars in the SCA region may apply for a regional travel grant to give lectures at institutions in other SCA countries. This grant will cover travel to and from the destination; lodging may be offered by the host university. Scholars may apply for this grant once in-country on their grant, however, they may identify a host institution in advance. As funds are limited, scholars are limited to one such grant.
With funding provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, USIEF invites eligible Fulbright scholars in the South and Central Asia region to attend the annual South and Central Asia Fulbright Mid-Year Conference in India (usually held in February or March). The conference is an opportunity for current U.S. Fulbright scholars who are on their Fulbright grants in the SCA region at the time of the conference to gather to discuss each other’s work and educational exchange issues and invite suggestions for the future development and enhancement of the Fulbright Program. Financial assistance to attend the conference is provided as an additional Fulbright grant benefit.
Duration: Four to nine months
Language: For research, basic knowledge of a local language in the location of research can be an advantage. For teaching, all instruction is in English.
Candidate profile: Awards are open to practicing professionals and faculty of any academic rank. Applications from all disciplines will be considered.
Deadline: September 15
Additional information:
Please visit https://fulbrightscholars.org/ for grant benefit details and application procedures.
