I've met quite a few people from overseas on Steemit, so I thought I’d offer some information to help Steemians travel the world.
For educational purposes, of course. ~:^{)>
This is a somewhat complicated story, so bear with me. In 1945, just after World War 2, Congress told the State Department to start sending our smart people overseas to act as ambassadors for their individual professions.
Congress set aside some money, which went to a non-profit that ran the program with and for the State Department. This non-profit (called the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars) ran the famous, prestigious, year-long Fulbright fellowships for about 50 years, until it merged with another long-standing international exchange program called the Institute of International Education, which serves both professionals and students.
Confused yet?
In any case, here’s the State Department Fulbright website, which collects all the opportunities -- over 8 thousand of them in 160 countries. Both US citizens and foreign nationals can participate. In addition to the core programs, there are many more specialized ones: for individual academic disciplines, for people at specific stages in their careers, for individual countries, even for groups. Take the time to drill down into the website and I'm sure you'll be able to find something.
Switching gears, I personally am on the roster for the Fulbright Specialist Program, which:
sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning, and related subjects at academic institutions abroad for a period of 2 to 6 weeks.
This means that for the next few years, institutions in other countries can place a request for my services, short-term. I have a family and at this time I can not be away from them for six months or a year.
"Institutions" is deliberately vague, I think, meaning more than just universities. Although I am a neuroscientist by training, I have taught everything from high school chemistry to courses in logic and critical thinking. I have developed innovative curriculum materials using podcasts and science fiction literature. And as you can see from my Steemit blog, my interests are varied. So if you would like to have some help on an educational project within my expertise, or if you know someone who would, please reply in the comments below. This program has a rolling deadline, so we could start the preparations at any time.
My highest personal priority would be to visit the Buddhist countries of southern and eastern Asia, but really I’ll go anywhere I’m needed (and won’t get shot at, or brainwashed and forced to run for President).
The State Department provides the majority of the funding, but works out the details and cost-sharing structures with each country individually. There used to be a web form and process with pretty complete directions, but now it looks as though you have to e-mail [email protected] directly for further details. I may be able to help with some of that as well once I have some idea of what the project is.
I am a Fulbright alumnae. I came to the US to study politics and I have an MA degree in International Relations thanks to Fulbright. Probably the best experience (and achievement) of my life; an extraordinary academic experience and a life changing experience at the same time. I got to attend one of the best universities (and crazy expensive too) in the field, made friends from all over the world, and lived in the city I had always dreamt of. And I paid zero money for all of it - it was all paid for by Fulbright.
Which Fulbright program was that? And are you an Ambassador for the program in your home country now?
The Fulbright Student Program. The ambassador thing is sort of metaphorical; given that the program is based on exchange of students, they are considered to be 'cultural ambassadors' of their home countries in the host country, and then, upon graduation, they are expected to go back to their home countries with the academic experience gained, and try and implement such knowledge gained in another country.
And has it worked out that way in your case?