The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange, enhances leadership among international professionals who collaborate to address local and global challenges and foster change for our collective good.  Through academic study and professional development with U.S. counterparts, this growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in fields of critical importance to advance societal and institutional capacity, promote human rights and freedoms, ensure sustainable lands, and develop thriving communities. By providing future leaders and policy makers with experience in U.S. higher education, society, culture, and professional organizations, the program provides a basis for lasting, productive ties between Americans and their professional counterparts overseas.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was established in 1978 as a Fulbright exchange that advances U.S. foreign policy goals through the exchange of mid-career professionals representing approximately 140 eligible countries from all world regions.  Humphrey Fellows work in critical fields for collaboration, such as law and human rights, public health, including infectious diseases, climate change, and public policy.  A recent evaluation found that 61 percent of Humphrey alumni return home and work in government in some capacity.  Others are leaders in their fields driving policy, introducing new best practices and implementing innovative management methods into their organizations.  Additionally, 46 percent of alumni report having developed national policies, created national programs, served as national trainers, and/or advised government officials on legislation in their home countries. During their fellowship, Humphrey Fellows participate in non-degree study at approximately 13 host campuses across the United States and complete at least six weeks of a professional affiliation at a U.S.-based governmental, non-governmental, private sector, or international organization.

Through their academic and professional experiences, they gain knowledge about the United States, deepen their professional expertise and experience in their field, and expand their networks to include U.S. and international counterparts. Fellowship alumni are well positioned to serve as key interlocutors for posts around the world, helping advance bilateral relationships between the U.S. and other nations. Alumni have lasting impacts on their communities, applying knowledge and skills acquired through their Fellowships to effect broad change across their organizations and fields of expertise.

 

Program Components:  

Non-Degree Academic Study: Humphrey Fellows pursue tailored study programs at participating host institutions, where freedom from the requirements of a degree program gives each Fellow the flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program at a host campus.  Approximately 13 U.S. campuses have been selected through a competitive process based on their ability to offer institutional and professional resources to host cohorts of Fellows in designated fields of study.  Humphrey Fellows may not request placement at any particular university.  Each campus has at least one designated faculty coordinator for academic and administrative support.  In addition, faculty advisors assist Fellows in pursuing balanced academic and professional programs.

Leadership and Professional Development: Professional enrichment activities include professional visits, enhancement skills workshops, conferences, training programs, and a professional affiliation (placement).  The professional affiliation provides firsthand exposure to a U.S. work environment on a full-time basis for a minimum period of six weeks. Early in the academic year, each Fellow develops, with assistance from the local campus coordinator and faculty advisors, a detailed plan of practical professional activities geared to the Fellow’s program objectives.

Fields of Study:

Human and Institutional Capacity:

• Economic Development
• Finance & Banking
• Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
• Technology Policy and Management
• Human Resource Management

Rights and Freedoms: 

• Communications and Journalism
• International Religious Freedom
• Law and Human Rights
• Trafficking in Persons Policy & Prevention

Sustainable Lands:

• Agricultural and Rural Development
• Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change
• Urban and Regional Planning

Thriving Communities:

• Contagious and Infectious Diseases
• Public Health Policy and Management
• HIV&AIDS, Policy and Prevention
• Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention (see 4b)
• Educational Administration, Planning, and Policy
• Higher Education Administration
• Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Prospective Fellows should have a minimum of five years full-time professional experience (prior to August 2022) in the relevant field and should be interested in the policy aspects of their field of specialization. Please note that candidates must have completed a university degree program requiring at least four years of full-time study to qualify for participation in U.S. graduate study programs.

Candidates should generally be proficient in both written and spoken English as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 525 (paper based) or 71 (internet-based), although exceptionally promising candidates with lower scores may be nominated and will be considered for one of the two English training programs.

All nominees should take their language tests between May and September 2021 so that posts and commissions may include their scores with other nomination materials by the October 1 nomination deadline.  Later testing may disadvantage your candidate and will reduce the feasibility of placement.

Ineligible candidates include:  

• Recent university graduates (even if they have significant positions);
• University teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities (except in the fields of Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment and Teaching of English as a Foreign Language);
• Individuals who have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more during the seven years prior to August 2022;
• Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2022; and
• Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status may not apply to the program; they are ineligible for a J visa.

Applicants are asked to respond to questions related to leadership, goals and program plan, public service, and a challenge they have faced.  Responses should provide detailed information specific to each question.  During the review process in Washington, D.C., independent review panelists rely heavily on the short answer questions when evaluating the candidate’s communication skills, their understanding of the Humphrey Fellowship Program, professional goals, country context, and the candidate’s need for the program.  Responses should provide detailed insight into the candidate’s proposed program plans for academic programming and professional development and how they relate to the candidate’s goals and the country’s needs.  Whether the candidate works in the public, private, or NGO sector, the panelists look for evidence of a strong commitment to public service, broadly defined, leadership ability and potential for growth, and short and long term goals.

The bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will report selection results in February 2022. 

How to apply?

Visit  https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey to find out the requirements and submit your application.

Please reach out with any other questions or concerns to Santodomingoexchange@state.gov