Looking
toward Fulbright’s future in Colombia first involved
a renewed commitment to the core grant programs. In this
regard, I would like to cknowledge the crucial role played
by our partners in Colombia in supporting opportunities
to study, teach and conduct research in the U.S. Colciencias,
the National Planning Office (DNP) and the Ministry of
Culture, all increased their contributions to the Fulbright
program in 2006. I would also like to recognize the ongoing
support our programs receive from the Ministry of Education,
Suramericana, Colombian universities and other institutions
that cosponsor our Colombian students and help support
American grantees in Colombia.
In 2006
the Fulbright Commission was also very busy in securing
U.S. and Colombian government support for new program
initiatives. Responding to the need in Colombia’s
regions for postgraduate study in the U.S., the Ministry
of Education, DNP and Colciencias joined forces with
Fulbright Colombia in 2006 to establish a new Regional
Program for Postgraduate Study available exclusively
to Colombians outside of the country’s major metropolitan
areas.
We are especially pleased
that this is the first time the Ministry of Education and
Fulbright cooperate in a with Fulbright to establish a
new Regional Program for Postgraduate Study available exclusively
to Colombians outside of the country’s major metropolitan
areas degree granting program.
The Fulbright Commission
also presented two new grants in 2006. The Foreign Visiting
Scholar Program supports one semester of advanced research
for Colombian professors at U.S. universities and research
centers. The Fulbright-American Political Science Association
grant program consists of a year-long internship in the
office of a U.S. member of congress as well as specialized
courses in congressional studies.
The Fulbright Board, staff
and alumni community in Colombia and the U.S. have much
to commemorate as 2006 comes to a close and we anticipate
the 50th anniversary celebrations during 2007. Five decades
of operations working toward strengthening Colombian higher
education and research, contributing to Colombia’s
development, and enhancing cooperation between both nations
sets the stage for this exciting anniversary.
Kind regards,
Ann C. Mason
Executive Director
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