ECA EUR Regional Inter-Country Travel Grant Program

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Updated August 12, 2024

 

ECA/A/E/EUR would like to remind Posts and Commissions of the EUR regional Inter-Country Travel Program, which allows universities and higher education-related institutions in EUR countries to invite U.S. Fulbright Scholars in both Post and Commission countries in all fields from other parts of the EUR region to provide lectures, particularly in fields not represented by current grantees, or at institutions not hosting core Fulbright Scholars; deliver keynote addresses at conferences and lead workshops; consult on academic course or program curriculum and evaluation; and undertake other scholarly and outreach activities. 

ECA/A/E/EUR is also open to considering funding requests that do not include cost share for meals and lodging in cases where the host institution/Post/Commission cannot provide this. Overall there is a limited amount of funding available so any and all cost share is welcome but in an effort to reach new hosts and support innovative projects, funding up to $1,000 for travel, meals, and lodging may be approved per trip.

The EUR Inter-Country Travel Program is designed to provide collaborative opportunities for U.S. Fulbright Scholars with counterparts at European and Eurasian institutions of higher education. The list of all U.S. Fulbright scholars in Europe and Eurasia is available here. 

Guidelines:

I. Funding

  • For each trip, funds up to $1,000 will be made available for inter-country travel and local transportation for a maximum of five (5) days of scholar activity in the receiving country.
  • The host institution (or Post/Commission) is asked to supply cost-share of meals and lodging.  In cases where this is not possible, funds can be used to cover lodging and meals, but no more than $1,000 per trip will be provided for all costs, including travel, lodging, and meals.
  • Inter-Country Travel recipient Fulbright grantees are not permitted to receive honoraria from the U.S. Government, inviting Commission, or sponsoring institution, as per FFSB Policy 654.3b.

II. Eligibility

  • Each U.S. Fulbright Scholar is eligible for a maximum of one (1) Inter-Country Travel Program per semester.
  • There is a limit of three (3) Inter-Country Travel Programs per academic year for each receiving country.
  • Individual Scholars may not apply for the Inter-Country Travel Program, but are encouraged to discuss possible projects with colleagues at potential host institutions.
  • Funding is available to current U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program grantees only; U.S. Fulbright Student grantees are not eligible.
  • In order for Inter-Country Travel requests to be approved, borders must be open between the two countries. ECA is unable to provide special permission to travel into a country with closed borders for an engagement.

III. Procedures

  • Requests for support for Inter-Country Travel Programs must be initiated by the requesting host institution.
  • The Scholar must provide a proposal with a project statement, dates, and budget, in addition to a host institution invitation and approval message from the Fulbright grant/sending institution.
  • The receiving Post or Commission corresponds with their ECA Program Officer to discuss the ICT opportunity and then the Commission/Post will complete the ICT Funds request form and return it to ECA. The ICT Funds request form should be submitted to ECA preferably no less than one month prior to the proposed ICT grant start date to allow sufficient time for review and processing.
  • If the request meets ECA guidelines, ECA will forward the request with the ICT Funds request form to the Fulbright Finland Foundation, which will disburse the approved funds to the U.S. Scholar. If the request does not meet guidelines, the request will be returned for corrections and resubmission.
  • Travel arrangements are made by the invited Scholar, with assistance from the host institution, Post, or Commission.

Examples

The Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) invited a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Lithuania for a three-day Inter-Country Travel Program to meet with senior academics and hold discussions, program reviews, and a lecture presentation for students in Research Methods and Entrepreneurship Studies.

Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences hosted a U.S. Scholar based in Austria.  During her visit, the Scholar gave two scientific lectures on self-assembling materials and had numerous scientific discussions with research staff and Ph.D. students.  

Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow hosted a U.S. Scholar based in Norway who gave interactive presentations to graduate students. Both the subject matter and the way the Scholar presented were of great interest to audience members.

Additional information provided by the Fulbright Finland Foundation