"We must try to expand the boundaries of human wisdom, empathy and perception, and there is no way of doing that except through education", Senator Fulbright, 1976
Purpose
The Fulbright Commission`s foundation and operation is based on bilateral agreement between the Czech Republic and the United States with the purpose to enhance the educational, research and cultural exchanges between the United States and the Czech Republic through the Fulbright Program. Similar organizations, based on bilateral agreement between the U.S. and particular country, work in many other countries of the world.
Objectives
The Commission`s activities follow main objective of the Fulbright Program - to promote mutual understanding between the U.S. and the CR through educational, research and cultural exchanges. Other long-term goals of the Fulbright Commission are also to increase expertise in particular fields, to identify new fields in which mutual cooperation is desirable to further development, to support outstanding individuals, to extend activities by establishing cost sharing programs with participating institutions, to make the program broadly known, and to provide information about educational and research opportunities in the USA.
Activities
Administration of Fellowship Programs
The main content of the work of the Fulbright Commission consists in administration of fellowships and grants of the Fulbright and some other programs for study, research and teaching in the U.S.
Program administration includes activities concerning application and selection process and stay in the U.S. for Czech citizens, as well as care for U.S. grantees during their stay with the program in the Czech Republic.
Information about Opportunities of Educational Exchanges with the U.S.
The Advising Center of the Fulbright Commission is a main resource of comprehensive, unbiased and current information about possibilities to study or research in the U.S., including information about standardized tests (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT) administration in the Czech Republic. At the same time, the center strives to serve as a resource of information about study and research in the Czech Republic for U.S. students and scholars and to assist representatives of U.S. schools and educational organizations.
Annual Report
The Annual Report covering activities of the Fulbright Commission in the year of 2009 is available here.
Structure
The Commission is governed by a Board. The Board consists of five American and five Czech members. Among other things, the Board decides about priority fields.
The Fulbright Commission is headed by an Executive Director.
The Commission in the Czech Republic consists of several offices:
Financing
The Fulbright Program and work of the Fulbright Commission is co-financed by the governments of the United States and the Czech Republic. The U.S. government contributes about 70 percent of the budget with the Czech government contributing about 30 percent.
