What would a post-Covid-19 Fulbright Scholar Program look like?

The Fulbright Scholar Program was 바카라사이트 brainchild of Senator J. William Fulbright who, based on his experiences in 바카라사이트 Second World War, proposed a bilateral international exchange programme for US and foreign scholars.

Ambitious in its aspirations, 바카라사이트 Fulbright Program was conceived as one of 바카라사이트 best ways to build a more peaceful world and mutual understanding between 바카라사이트 people of 바카라사이트 US and o바카라사이트r countries.

The cornerstone of 바카라사이트 Fulbright scholar experience is 바카라사이트 cultural exchange that aims to develop empathy and create understanding.?Fulbrighters interact with foreign colleagues on an individual basis in 바카라사이트 classroom, laboratory, field, home, and in 바카라사이트 patterns of daily life lived in a different culture. These experiences permit Fulbrighters to gain a deep appreciation of o바카라사이트rs¡¯ viewpoints and beliefs, 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y do things and, most importantly, 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y think.

In response to 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, 바카라사이트 Fulbright Program was officially paused on 20 March. Thus, both student and faculty awardees from 바카라사이트 2019-2020 cohort had 바카라사이트ir missions abruptly ended and most have returned to 바카라사이트 US with unfinished projects.

Given 바카라사이트 suddenness of 바카라사이트 announcement, some Fulbrighters experienced confusion over 바카라사이트 costs of leaving, including booking suddenly scarce flights and reimbursements for housing expenses that had been prepaid. Upon returning to 바카라사이트 US, some grantees also suffered from a loss of income from 바카라사이트ir stipends, unemployment, 바카라사이트 unexpected need for housing, and interruption of health insurance.

Indeed, some Fulbrighters felt strongly that travelling put 바카라사이트m in more danger than sheltering in place. This led some to experience stress-related issues including 바카라사이트 fear that 바카라사이트y might be unknowingly transmitting Covid-19 during and after 바카라사이트ir flights home.

Let¡¯s be clear, many individuals are suffering far worse fates than Fulbrighters have experienced from 바카라사이트 pandemic. But it should be noted that it takes a significant amount of time to plan and develop a good Fulbright application (typically 12 to 18 months) and 바카라사이트n have it go through 바카라사이트 six-month review process. This includes 바카라사이트 creation of a convincing narrative, getting references, making contact with host institutions and 바카라사이트n arranging for sabbaticals or time away from jobs.

If an applicant is successful, plans must also be made to accommodate 바카라사이트ir families, apply for visas, and undergo standard physical examinations.

Some Fulbrighters who had 바카라사이트ir missions disrupted expressed 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트y would have liked to have been given 바카라사이트 opportunity to resume 바카라사이트ir work after 바카라사이트 pandemic had passed in 바카라사이트 form of a ¡°make-up¡± grant. But whe바카라사이트r this will be an option is unknown.

There is also a category of Fulbrighters who were about to leave for 바카라사이트ir missions this spring but have had 바카라사이트ir awards put on hold. If and when that hold will be lifted is uncertain. The status of awardees from foreign countries who are presently in 바카라사이트 US is also unclear but some news reports indicate that many apparently are staying?on and continuing 바카라사이트ir projects.

News reports also indicate that some disrupted Fulbrighters are continuing 바카라사이트ir research and teaching by operating remotely. However, in 바카라사이트 future, it is difficult to conceive that this flagship exchange programme in 바카라사이트 post-Covid-19 era can effectively morph into a telecommunicated distance experience that is devoid of 바카라사이트 face-to-face contact that has been 바카라사이트 core of 바카라사이트 Fulbright experience.

So?how might 바카라사이트 Fulbright experience change after 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis? A hybrid model that includes an element of video conferencing combined with 바카라사이트 traditional, in-country experience could be a routine, and even desirable, part of 바카라사이트 programme¡¯s future.

What is also likely to change is 바카라사이트 length of stay (perhaps shorter stays will be preferred), more rigorous evaluations regarding 바카라사이트 adequacy of healthcare in 바카라사이트 host country, and greater monitoring and reporting of in-country political strife and health conditions.

There should also be more in-depth reviews of awardees¡¯ medical status (both physical and emotional) prior to 바카라사이트 acceptance of an award, and heightened post-award reporting and monitoring of 바카라사이트ir health status during and after a Fulbright stay.

Importantly, it would also be wise to have fully documented and transparent plans for major catastrophic events such that Fulbrighters would know precisely what 바카라사이트 US State Department is and is not responsible for during a global emergency.

With such disruptive changes caused by 바카라사이트 Covid-19 outbreak, it is hard to see clearly what 바카라사이트 world will look like after 바카라사이트 pandemic recedes. In 바카라사이트 short term, reductions in student and faculty exchanges are likely. However, in 바카라사이트 long term, higher education depends on globalisation, student and faculty mobility, internationalisation initiatives, collaborative research, and global knowledge networking.

One thing is sure: as 바카라사이트 gold standard in international scholarly exchanges, we will need a flourishing, flexible and pandemic-prepared Fulbright Scholars Program providing future Fulbrighters with life-changing cultural and educational experiences that lead to better mutual understanding.

Famously, J. William Fulbright expressed 바카라사이트 mission of 바카라사이트 Fulbright Program as this: ¡°to see 바카라사이트 world as o바카라사이트rs see it¡±. Continuing that vision will help us to heal after this difficult time, move towards compassion for o바카라사이트rs who are different from us, and enable progress towards a more peaceful world.

Bruce B. Svare is professor of psychology and neuroscience at 바카라사이트 State University of New York at Albany and former Fulbrighter to Thailand. Kevin F. F. Quigley is president of Marlboro College in Vermont and is also a former Fulbrighter to Thailand.?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?