Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program Competition 2023-2024

The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications from citizens of Serbia for participation in the prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program for the 2023-24 academic year. This is a competitive, worldwide competition. If you are interested in broadening your perspectives, becoming a global leader, and giving back to Serbian society upon your return, the Humphrey Fellowship is for you.

The Humphrey Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. Over 6,000 Fellows representing 162 countries have participated in the program since its inception in 1978. That has included 20 Serbians in the past decade.

Successful candidates are accomplished, young, mid-career professionals in leadership positions who have a demonstrated commitment to public service and have the potential for further advancement in their fields. Candidates should be interested in strengthening their leadership skills through a mutual exchange of knowledge and views with the Americans and with Fellows from other countries they meet during this program about issues of common concern. Practical experience in the U.S. gained through this program, plus greater familiarity with American society and culture, will provide Humphrey Fellows with the basis for lasting, productive ties with their American counterparts in the years to come.

PROFESSIONAL FIELDS

The Humphrey Fellowship is granted competitively to public and private sector candidates from Serbia with strong leadership potential and a commitment to service who are focused on the following fields:

• Economic Development.

  1. Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration.

  2. Technology Policy and Management.

  3. Law and Human Rights.

  4. Trafficking in Persons Policy & Prevention.

  5. Agricultural and Rural Development.

  6. Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change.

  7. Urban and Regional Planning

  8. Public Health Policy and Management

  9. Higher Education Administration

THE HUMPHREY PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

The yearlong Fellowship offers valuable opportunities for non-degree graduate level university study, leadership development, networking, and substantive professional collaboration with U.S. counterparts through practical work experience.

The freedom from the requirements necessary to obtain a degree gives each Fellow greater flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program. Though Humphrey Fellows are hosted at American universities, we would like to stress that this is a professional, non-academic exchange program. Certain universities will host Fellows in the same field of interest, so candidates are unable to request placement at particular academic institutions. Humphrey Fellows may not transfer from non-degree to degree status at their host university under any circumstances.

Beyond the graduate level courses, professional enrichment activities include participation in conferences, training programs, site visits, and a “professional affiliation,” i.e., practical job experience on a full-time basis in an American work environment for a minimum of six weeks. Early in the academic year, with assistance from the Humphrey coordinator and faculty advisors at the university, each Fellow will develop a detailed plan of practical professional activities geared toward his/her Humphrey Program objectives.

During the year, Fellows both pursue their individual program goals and work closely with their Humphrey colleagues in workshops and seminars. The Program also encourages Fellows to travel away from their host campus to learn more about American culture and to network with their American peers.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Appropriate candidates are young, mid-career professionals in leadership positions in either the public and private sector who have demonstrated a commitment to public service and the potential for further advancement.

• We strongly encourage both men and women to apply, as well as persons with disabilities and individuals from other underserved groups.

• The technical eligibility requirements are:

• Serbian citizenship and eligibility to obtain a U.S. visa.

• An undergraduate university degree.

• A minimum of five years of full-time, professional experience in the relevant field by June 2023.

• Limited or no prior experience in the United States.

• Demonstrated leadership qualities.

• A record of public service in the community.

• Proficiency* in written and spoken English. Candidates will normally have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 525 (paper-based) or 71 (internet-based). If you have taken a TOEFL exams in the past, scores are valid for two years. The TOEFL exam is not a requirement at the time of application. Candidates who pass the interview will receive the instructions how to register for the TOEFL exam.

* Note: In addition to the pre-academic language training traditionally available to all selected candidates, the Humphrey Program offers Long-Term English (LTE) language training opportunities to facilitate participation of individuals who might lack sufficiently advanced English language skills at the time of application. Candidates for LTE typically have TOEFL scores in the 440-500 range (paper-based test) or 42-61 (internet-based test). LTE participants will travel to the U.S early for intensive language training lasting 20-25 weeks to improve their English skills before transitioning to their host university campuses at the start of the 2020-21 academic year.

Please be aware that the following individuals are ineligible to apply for the Humphrey Program:

• Recent university graduates (even if they now hold significant positions in their organizations);

• University teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities;

• Individuals who have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more during the seven years prior to August 2023;

• Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2023;

• 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;

• Local employees of U.S. Missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State and members of their families as well as individuals who work for or are otherwise associated with an organization that is responsible for nominating or selecting individuals for participation in any Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) exchange program are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment.

• Priority will be given to candidates with no recent experiences in a third country, especially in a developed country.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Beyond demonstrating the required experience, skills, and a commitment to public service, candidates will also need to explain through the application process how they might benefit from the unique opportunities offered in the Humphrey Program. The key questions to answer are: Why exactly do you need this experience at this point in your career? How exactly will you and how will Serbia benefit from your participation in this program?

Applications are due June 30, 2022. Information on how to apply is below.
Within 30 days, we will contact short-listed applicants to attend an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade in the first half of September, 2022.

Candidates who pass the interview will be registered for the TOEFL exam. We will then forward the application packets with TOEFL results to Washington.

The final selection of candidates will be announced in Washington, DC in February 2023.

Finalists will then need to apply for a visa. The Embassy will assist the candidate with that process and other paperwork requirements, including the medical exam.

DEPENDENTS (FAMILY MEMBERS)

The Humphrey Fellowship covers air travel, a stipend, and other costs, but all expenses are budgeted only for the Fellow himself/herself. The award does not include additional allowances or funds of any sort for dependents, i.e., family members. Candidates who are planning to have dependents join them during all or part of the fellowship year in the U.S. should bear in mind the high cost of living. They must furthermore receive prior approval from the Humphrey Program that they have adequate personal funds to cover living expenses and dependents’ health insurance and (if applicable) child care. Dependents absolutely may not come during the ELT period when the Fellow is engaged in intensive study of English in preparation for the Fellowship year.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 30, 2022

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should apply online at https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey

You will need to gather additional documents:

• Copy of passport (bio data page);

• Evidence of your employment in Serbia (letter from employer confirming employment, and certified translation if the letter is in Serbian);

• Copy of university diploma(s);

• Certified university transcript(s), including course listings and grades received;

• Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé;

• TOEFL scores (if available).

These additional documents must be mailed by June 30, 2022 to:

U.S. Embassy Belgrade
Public Diplomacy Section
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica 92
11000 Belgrade

For additional information about the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship:

The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship program is administered by the Institute of International Education (www.iie.org).

For more information on the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship program, you can visit:

• the Humphrey Program website:: humphreyfellowship.org

• the Humphrey Program’s social media platforms:

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumphreyFellowship

  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumphreyProgram,

  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humphreyfellowship/

• Humphrey Program’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hubert-h-humphrey-fellowship-program/

• ECA’s International Exchange website: https://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/hubert-h-humphrey-fellowship-program

If you have further questions, please contact U.S. Embassy Belgrade’s Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) via email at belgradehumphrey@state.gov

BOLD Academic Fellowships Program 2022

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the BOLD Academic Fellowship Program.

The BOLD (Balkanski omladinski lideri, Young Balkan Leaders in English) network is a project of PDS that seeks to develop the leadership capacity of young Serbians by empowering them to implement projects for positive change in their communities in two thematic areas: civic engagement and economic development.  Anyone age 18-35 in Serbia can join the BOLD network where members have access to three main types of competitive opportunities:

1. BOLD Academic Fellowships: Two in-depth leadership training experiences in the United States for 5-6 weeks, one on each BOLD theme.

2. BOLD Workshops: Two workshops, one week to 10 days long, on leadership and project management, each on one of the BOLD themes.

3. BOLD Small Grant Competition: An annual competition, open to all BOLD members, for funds up to $15,000 to implement projects in the areas of the BOLD themes over the course of a year.

Program Objectives:

The BOLD Academic Fellowship Program consists of two fellowships to take place in the United States for 5-6 weeks each, one on the theme of civic engagement and one on the theme of economic development. Applicants may propose implementation of either one of the fellowships, OR implementation of two fellowships.  If the proposal is for one fellowship, please indicate in box “c” of the application form if the theme will be civic engagement or economic development.  Each fellowship should be both academic and practical in nature, approximately 5-6 weeks in length, and ideally include a residency at a U.S. academic institution with a significant component of experiential learning, including community service, in the community or in another location.  Ideally, each institute should also incorporate a homestay experience as part of the program.

The primary outcome desired by PDS is for fellows, either individually or in groups, upon their return to Serbia, to design a civic or economic project to be implemented in their communities over the course of the year.  By the end of the fellowship, they should have a complete draft of a project proposal or business plan, which will be competitive for funding from the Embassy or other donors. The academic component in the United States should include group discussions, experiential learning activities, and exercises that focus on the best practices, leading research, and most influential ideas and models pertaining to the theme of the fellowship. The experiential learning component should include substantive and participatory community activities related to the theme of the fellowship. Where possible, a particular focus on the impact of not-for-profit organizations and/or social enterprises should be integrated into the program.

Both components of each fellowship should teach leadership skills and provide the necessary knowledge and experience for students to implement their follow-on projects in Serbia, including, but not limited to teambuilding, collective problem-solving, effective communication, appreciation of diversity, and management skills. In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, proposals should demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. The proposal should also demonstrate how the program will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the program’s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants.

In light of social distancing measures, and to limit the spread of COVID-19, we welcome proposals that utilize video conferencing, distance learning tools, etc.  If your proposal includes in-person activities, please consider the inclusion of contingency plans, just in case the health situation requires that social distancing measures be implemented during the grant period.  How might you switch your project from an in-person to a virtual format? If you are successful in securing PDS funding to launch your project, you will be expected to publicize your activities, including through social media and/or traditional press outlets; and highlight U.S. Embassy support for your activity, with our logo included on project-related materials.

Program Themes:

• CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. This fellowship should introduce participants to the concept of civic engagement in the United States as a means of improving communities and the institutions and services of government and provide them with the skills to implement projects as civic leaders themselves. An understanding of civic engagement and the civil society sector and its development in the United States should be accompanied by the opportunity to apply the U.S. experience to the Serbian context. The academic program should define civic engagement, examine its development in the United States, and explore topics such as citizenship in democracy, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism in the modern age.Proposals should demonstrate an ability to provide content on a variety of sub-themes in which fellows may already have a specific interest or to which they may be directed as a project area. Some sub-themes may include, but are not limited to civil rights and protections, public health, education, environmental conservation, ethics, leadership, or free media. Academic sessions should be complemented with a community-based experiential learning component that serves two purposes. Hands-on sessions or workshops designed to build skills in the topics mentioned above should assist participants in developing innovative and practical plans for projects they will implement upon their return to Serbia. In addition, to promote the idea of leadership rooted in community service, participants should also be required to engage in service learning.

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. This fellowship should provide participants with an overview of entrepreneurial approaches by introducing challenges and successes of U.S. entrepreneurial models, including social enterprises, the leadership role of businesses in democratic societies, and women’s economic empowerment. An understanding of the U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystem should be accompanied by a strong focus on how to apply lessons learned in the Serbian context. Topics may include, but are not limited to, organizational development and management, the basics of starting and running a small business, market research and risk analysis, innovation, strategic business planning, and corporate social responsibility. Academic sessions should be complemented with a community-based experiential learning component that serves two purposes: to build skills and expose participants to the American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Hands-on sessions or workshops designed to build skills in the topics mentioned above should assist participants in developing entrepreneurial ideas in the form of a business plan and a pitch, and a concrete action plan to implement toward starting a business. In addition, to promote the idea of leadership rooted in community service, participants should also be required to engage in service learning.

Participants and Audiences:

Participants or primary audiences for BOLD Academic Fellowships should be Serbian undergraduate students, age 18-25, from across Serbia.  Each fellowship should consist of at least 10 participants traveling to the United States.

Information Session

PDS will hold a virtual information session on February 23, 2022, at 16:00 (4 pm) CET to discuss this funding opportunity and to answer questions from potential applicants.  Please contact PDS at BOLDSerbia@state.gov for details.

For all the information and detailed instructions on how to apply, please download and read BOLD Academic Fellowships Notice of Funding Opportunity 2022. Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

 https://rs.usembassy.gov/bold-academic-fellowships-program-2022/