The Embassy of the United States of America is accepting applications from citizens of the Republic of Mauritius for the 2023-24 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. The deadline for receipt of applications is August 8, 2022.
Program Description:
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was established in 1978 as a Fulbright exchange that advances U.S. foreign policy goals through the exchange of mid-career professionals representing approximately 140 eligible countries from all world regions. Humphrey Fellows work in critical fields for collaboration, such as law and human rights, public health, including infectious diseases, climate change, and public policy. During the program, Humphrey Fellows participate in non-degree study at 13 host campuses across the United States and complete at least six weeks of a professional affiliation at a U.S.-based governmental, non-governmental, private sector, or international organization. Through their academic and professional experiences, they gain knowledge about the United States, deepen their professional expertise, and experience in their field, and expand their networks to include U.S. and international counterparts. Humphrey alumni are well positioned to serve as key interlocutors between the
U.S. and Mauritius and Seychelles and advance the bilateral relationships. Alumni have lasting impacts on their communities, applying knowledge and skills acquired through their Fellowships to effect broad change across their organizations and fields of expertise.
Program Components:
Non-Degree Academic Study: Humphrey Fellows pursue tailored study programs at participating host institutions, where freedom from the requirements of a degree program gives each Fellow the flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program at a host campus. Approximately 13 U.S. campuses have been selected through a competitive process based on their ability to offer institutional and professional resources to host cohorts of Fellows in designated fields of study. Humphrey Fellows may not request placement at a particular university. Each campus has at least one designated faculty coordinator for academic and administrative support. In addition, faculty advisors assist Fellows in pursuing balanced academic and professional programs. Even though Fellows will spend time in an academic setting and are able to enroll in classes, the Humphrey Fellowship Program is classified as a
non-degree program by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Humphrey Fellows cannot transfer from non-degree status to degree status under any circumstances during their program.
Leadership and Professional Development: Professional enrichment activities include professional visits, enhancement skills workshops, conferences, training programs, and a professional affiliation (placement). The professional affiliation provides firsthand exposure to a
U.S. work environment on a full-time basis for a minimum period of six weeks. These professional affiliations strengthen Fellows’ connections with American colleagues and allow them to contribute directly to U.S. communities by bringing a global perspective to issues in their professional fields. Early in the academic year, each Fellow develops, with assistance from the local campus coordinator and faculty advisors, a detailed plan of practical professional activities geared to the Fellow’s program objectives.
Fields of Study:
- The 2023-2024 Recruitment Guidelines, which may be downloaded
from https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/guidelines, contain additional guidance regarding appropriate candidates in the following eligible fields. These priority fields align with U.S. Embassy goals and advance the development of a network of international leaders with experience in the United States who serve as key interlocutors.
Human and Institutional Capacity:
- Economic Development
- Finance & Banking
- Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
- Technology Policy and Management
- Human Resource Management
Rights and Freedoms:
- Communications and Journalism
- International Religious Freedom
- Law and Human Rights
- Trafficking in Persons Policy & Prevention
Sustainable Lands:
- Agricultural and Rural Development
- Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change
- Urban and Regional Planning
Thriving Communities:
- Contagious and Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Policy and Management
- HIV&AIDS, Policy and Prevention
- Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention (see below)
- Educational Administration, Planning, and Policy
- Higher Education Administration
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Note on Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment field: ECA cooperates with the National Institute on Drug Abuse which provides some co-funding to work with Humphrey Fellows in the field of substance abuse. Candidates must have either a research background in the field or demonstrated ability to learn the results and policy implications of current research. The candidates should be recruited and ranked together with candidates in other fields and must complete the supplementary field-specific page of the application for this topic area.
Selection:
Appropriate candidates are mid-career professionals in leadership positions who have demonstrated a commitment to public service and the potential for professional advancement.
Candidates should have both the need to participate in the program and the potential to benefit from it. Accordingly, they should demonstrate the required experience, skills, and commitment while also indicating how they can benefit from this program in ways that they have not experienced previously and are not likely to experience without the Humphrey Fellowship. Applicants with distinguished records and no compelling need for the Humphrey experience are not appropriate candidates.
Individuals must hold a passport (or be eligible to hold a passport) of the country nominating them.
Prospective Fellows should have a minimum of five years full-time professional experience (prior to August 2023) in the relevant field and should be interested in the policy aspects of their field of specialization. Please note that candidates must have completed a university degree program
requiring at least four years of full-time study to qualify for participation in U.S. graduate study programs.
Candidates should generally be proficient in both written and spoken English as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 525 (paper based) or 71 (internet-based), although exceptionally promising candidates with lower scores may be nominated and will be considered for one of the two English training programs (LTE and Pre-Ac).
U.S. universities require current English language test scores for Humphrey candidates from all countries outside the English-speaking Caribbean.
Possible Ineligibility:
A candidate may be removed from consideration if they do not meet all technical eligibility requirements. If you feel that you qualify for an exception, please explain this in your application.
- Ineligible candidates include:
- Recent undergraduate university graduates;
- University teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities (except in the fields of Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment and Teaching of English as a Foreign Language);
- Individuals who have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more during the seven years prior to August 2023;
- Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2023; and
- Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status may not apply to the program as they are ineligible for a J
A candidate with recent third-country experience, especially in developed countries, may have a less compelling need for the Humphrey Fellowship Program than a candidate who has never had a significant professional opportunity abroad.
Dependents
Humphrey Fellows may bring dependents on J-2 visas to accompany them while in the United States if they meet all criteria described in this paragraph. All expenses for J-2 dependents must be covered by the Fellow. The Humphrey Fellowship stipend is sufficient only to support the Fellow. Candidates should be advised of the high cost of living in the United States if they are considering having dependents join them. Dependents may not accompany Fellows to English language training or arrive during the first month of the program. Fellows who wish to have an exception made to this rule must receive prior approval following a technical review of evidence that they have adequate personal funds to cover living expenses, dependents’ health insurance, and childcare (if needed). Health insurance for dependents is required and may cost USD 200 per month per dependent.
Application Forms:
The online application for Humphrey Program applicants is available at: https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey
Applicants must state 2023-24 cycle when they are filling out their application. A complete application includes:
- Duly filled Application Form
- Official transcripts with the degree
- English translations of official documents where
- Two letters of recommendation including one from current
- Study Objectives and Personal
Note: Candidates who are under 30 need to clearly demonstrate the maturity and discipline needed to carry out a flexible, self-directed program.
Only shortlisted candidates will be called in for an interview at which time, the originals of all documents must be produced. Incomplete/poorly written applications will not be considered.
Queries on this call for application should be directed to the Public Affairs Section team of the
U.S. Embassy at portlouis_pas@state.gov with subject line: 2023-24 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.
