The Fulbright-RAF Scholar Award in Agricultural Extension Services

The Fulbright-RAF (Romanian-American Foundation) Scholar Award in the field of Agricultural Extension Services offers Romanian academics from faculties of agriculture, rural economic development, biology, food science and technology the opportunity to hold a semester-long fellowship in residence at the University of Georgia, Athens, for study and independent research, curriculum development, classroom observation and participation in community-based extension activities.

The program aims to support universities in the development of a research-based Romanian extension model, with a participatory approach, that provides farmers, entrepreneurs and citizens at large with access to objective and unbiased science-based solutions.

As part of the program, administrators from selected universities will be invited to visit the U.S. at the conclusion of the residency semester to learn about the grantees’ experience and observe an active extension ecosystem first hand.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• hold Romanian citizenship; green card holders and persons with dual (Romanian and U.S.) citizenship are ineligible;
• hold a PhD degree and carry out regular teaching responsibilities;
• demonstrate interest and ability to fully participate in the educational experience and to implement entrepreneurship education upon return;
• show willingness to advance educational innovation through development of a national extension education association;
• have the support* of their home university for achievement of high impact results for the targeted groups;
• show a proficiency in English corresponding to the activities required by this type of program; a language proficiency test is not required.

DURATION: 4 months (one semester)

* Home university administrators should submit a university letter of support to confirm their support for scholar’s participation in the program and also for implementation of extension education opportunities upon his/her return.

SELECTION STEPS

• applications are pre-screened for eligibility and completeness;
• applications are assessed by Romanian and U.S. specialists in the field;
• the applicants recommended by reviewers will be invited to an interview (either in-person or online) conducted in English by a bi-national panel;
• the nominated finalists are subject to final approval by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

The applications will be evaluated based on educational background and experience, current teaching duties, demonstrated interest to fully participate in the educational experience and to implement extension education upon return, as well as on applicant’s willingness to advance educational innovation through development of a national extension education association. Selection will be based on the combination of qualified professors with the support of their university for achievement of high impact results for Romanian students.

AFFILIATION TO U.S. UNIVERSITIES

Residencies will take place at the University of Georgia, Athens – the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, in the Fall Term, and will include graduate-level course work, professional training, train-the-trainer and educational tools for youth development and adult education for farmers, SMEs, entrepreneurs. Likewise, there will be a series of individual mentorship with home university administrators and/or faculty to understand the management of these new extension services.