The Fulbright Program in Ukraine 

Since 1992 nearly 700 Ukrainian scholars, students, and young professionals have traveled to the United States for study or research as participants of the Fulbright Program.  At the same time more than 400 U.S. scholars and students have visited Ukraine to teach, consult with universities, and conduct research. 
 

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the oldest and most prestigious international program for exchange of scholars and students funded by the United States government. Today it supports academic exchanges with 155 countries of the world.  However, it was not always so, especially within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).  Initially, the USSR did not participate in the Fulbright Program or any other exchange programs with the U.S.  Only in 1958 President Dwight Eisenhower and Premier Nikita Khrushchev signed the General Exchanges Agreement, establishing U.S. – USSR exchanges.  In 1968 the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) was created to administer these academic exchanges. 

However, it was not until the 1973-74 academic year that the Fulbright Program was finally established in the USSR.  During the ensuing two decades only a small number of American scholars were able to visit Ukraine under these programs, and very few scholars from Ukraine became Fulbright and IREX scholars and studied in the U.S.

Following Ukraine’s attainment of independence in 1991, the country became much more open to international educational exchange programs. The Fulbright Program was opened in Ukraine at the beginning of 1992. Its goal was and remains to increase the mutual understanding between people of the United States and Ukraine through scholarly and research exchanges. Originally, the Fulbright Program was managed by the United States Information Agency (USIA) through the United States Embassy.   A Fulbright office separate from the embassy was established in Kyiv in 1998.   An independent IREX office was also opened in Kyiv in 1992 and continues to administer exchanges of students and scholars and a wide range of scholarly and civic programs in Ukraine. 

Since 1992 nearly 700 Ukrainian students, young faculty, and senior scholars have completed academic research or study in the United States, and more than 400 Americans were involved in scholarly work and teaching in Ukraine. Fulbright alumni in the United States are active citizens and make up a significant lobby which doesn't let the U.S. Congress forget about supporting educational programs. Funding for the Fulbright Program is designated every year by the U.S. Congress as part of the annual budget.

Alumni of Ukrainian Fulbright programs established an alumni association in 1999.  The Ukrainian Fulbright Association and its members play an active role in Ukraine’s intellectual and civic communities, developing and sustaining academic and educational programs at institutions of higher education throughout Ukraine.  Through a Small Grants Program, Ukrainian Fulbright alumni are able to receive support for conferences, seminars, roundtable discussions, and other programs which they organize; for participation in academic events in Ukraine and around the world; and for publishing individual research as articles or monographs.

Expanding the Fulbright Program in Ukraine is another important step towards integrating Ukraine into the international community of Fulbrighters.

Fulbright Programs for Ukrainian citizens:

• Fulbright Scholar Program provides research opportunities at American universities for periods from 4 to 9 months.

Up to four Ukrainian scholars per year are accepted as fellows at The Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars for research in humanities and social studies to be carried out at the WWIC for Scholars in Washington, DC. 

• Fulbright Graduate Student Program provides study grants for students to complete 1- or 2-year academic programs for a Master of Arts or Sciences degree (or non-degree) programs at American universities.

• Fulbright Faculty Development Program provides opportunities for your scholars and professionals to conduct research, engage in course and curriculum development

• International Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Award provides funding for students from around the world to study in leading U.S. universities to achieve a Ph.D.

• Fulbright Scholar in Residence Program brings visiting scholars and professionals from abroad to lecture at U.S. colleges and universities for one semester or one academic year. In addition to teaching courses, scholars give campus-wide and community lectures, help initiate international programs and contribute to curriculum development. The program is especially appropriate for small liberal arts colleges, minority-serving institutions, and community colleges in the U.S., many of which do not often have the opportunity to host visiting scholars.

• Fulbright New Century Scholars Program forges new links among scholars and professionals from around the world who will work together to seek solutions to issues and concerns that affect humankind.  International scholars have the opportunity to work individually and in groups to address significant issues in international context.  
   
  

Fulbright Programs for U.S. Citizens:

• U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program.  Ukrainian educational institutions can invite Americans in any areas of expertise to deliver lectures from 1 to 2 semesters during the academic year.  U.S. Scholars can apply to lecture at Ukrainian institutions of higher education, lecture and conduct research, or conduct research on a topic of their choice

• U.S. Fulbright Specialist Program.  Ukrainian educational and research institutions can invite U.S. faculty and professionals to collaborate with their counterparts on curriculum and faculty development; institutional planning; participation in conferences, seminars, and workshops; and intensive teaching activities with students and faculty.  The program awards grants ranging from 2 to 6 weeks.

• U.S. Fulbright Graduate Student Program.   U.S. students and professionals, with at least a B.A. degree from a U.S. institution of higher education, apply to conduct research on a project of their own choosing for a period of up to one year. 
  

Fact Sheet/Statistics of the Fulbright Program in Ukraine

By 2010, more than 500 Ukrainian scholars, students, and professionals have had the opportunity to travel to the United States for research or study in U.S. institutions of higher education.  During the same period, more than 400 U.S> scholars, students, and professionals have participated in Fulbright programs in Ukraine as university lecturers, researchers, and consultants.

The Fulbright Program in Ukraine shares a special status among Fulbright Programs around the world with only two other countries:  The Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China.  In these three countries the Fulbright Program is administered independently from the U.S Embassy, but not under the auspices of a bi-national committee formed by treaty between the U.S. and the host country.   The offices of the Fulbright Programs in Russia, China, and Ukraine are situated within the respective international offices of the Institute of International Education, which has administered the Fulbright Program internationally since its inception in 1946.  

Funding for Fulbright Programs in Ukraine is provided exclusively by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.   

• 1992 – Fulbright Program in Ukraine established as an independent program.  Initially it was run from the US Embassy, but in 1999 Dr. William Gleason was appointed as the first director of the program. There have been three directors of the Fulbright Program in Ukraine:

Dr. William Gleason   1999-2000

Dr. Martha Bohachevsky-Chomiak    2000-2006

Myron O. Stachiw   2006 –

• 1999 – The Ukrainian Fulbright Association (UFA) was established as an association of Ukrainian alumni of Fulbright Programs.  Today there are more than 500 Ukrainian alumni of Fulbright Programs.  The UFA, together with the Fulbright Program in Ukraine and support of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, organizes annual conferences focused on important issues in Ukrainian society; publishes scholarly articles and monographs by its members, as well as occasional volumes of conference proceedings; awards small grants for travel to conferences, organization of seminars and workshops, and other activities; and provides a very important platform for social and intellectual intercourse among Ukrainian scholars and intellectuals.
• In 2001 the office of the Fulbright Program in Ukraine was moved to its present location within the building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 4 Hrushevskoho Street.
• In 2009-2010, the Fulbright Program in Ukraine rated #5 in Europe (including Turkey) in the number of grantees (43) supported for study in the U.S. through the Graduate Student and Faculty Development Programs; #4 in Europe (including Turkey) in the number of scholars (13) sent for research in the U.S.
  

• Current Staffing:
• Director – Myron O. Stachiw  (U.S. Fulbright Scholar, 2004-2006)
• Financial manager – Ivanna Fedorak
• Outreach Manager – Vitaliy Zhuhay  (Ukr. Fulbright Scholar, Kennan       Institute, 2007-2008)
• Program Officer, Scholar Programs – Natalia Zalutska
• Program Officer, Student and FDP Programs – Inna Barysh
• Program Offcier, Special Programs and Alumni Relations – Veronika Aleksanych 
• Programs Assistant – Oksana Parafeniu
• Publications Coordinator – Marian Luniv
• Administrative Assistant – Edward Horodniy
• Secretary/Administrative Assistant – Anna Pasenko

 

4 Hrushevskoho
Office 305
Kyiv 01001
Telephone: (044) 279-1850, 279-2324
Fax: (044) 230-2060
email: office@fulbright.com.ua 
www.fulbright.org.ua