Teaching

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

Teaching or research in Colombia for up to 6 months for U.S. scholars with a Ph.D.

Open Call

Why choose Colombia as a country of destination for your Fulbright Award?

Colombia stands as an exceptional academic destination for U.S. professors and researchers seeking a transformative and enriching collaborative research or teaching experience. With a diverse and vibrant culture, scholars can immerse themselves in a nation known for its warm hospitality and resilience.

In recent years, Colombia has stood out for its prominent leadership in the fields of sustainability and innovation as a solid pathway towards equitable development, social justice, and consolidating a culture of peace. This decisive leadership reflects the country’s strong commitment to strengthening education, research, and entrepreneurship. It offers an inspiring setting for scholars to contribute meaningfully to their disciplines and develop lasting connections and a deeper understanding of this dynamic nation.

Profile

U.S. citizen interested in engaging in academic activities in Colombia, including teaching, research, participation in conferences and seminars, as well as collaborating with higher education institutions, research centers, NGOs, or public institutions to share knowledge, develop innovative projects, and strengthen academic and professional cooperation between both countries

Description

This exchange allows U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research, and engage in academic activities in Colombia for a period of 3 to 6 months.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is open to all disciplines, and participants may carry out fieldwork, advise faculty and students, deliver lectures, contribute to workshops and seminars, among other activities

The Fulbright Scholar Award is a great honor for me and an amazing opportunity to live and work in one of the most biologically and ethnically diverse countries in the world. My family lived in Colombia for two years when I was young, and I have always wanted to return in a professional capacity. I feel so fortunate to have access to this beautiful and diverse country, and I hope that I can give as much to the research community as I know that I will take away from this amazing experience”

“All interactions with UTB have been excellent. The English Language Faculty has been very supportive of my participation in their classes and faculty meetings […] I have adapted easily to Cartagena. I feel very safe and have make local friends. I can get around easily -to and from- the Historic Center, as wel as the university. All is well!”

“I feel extremely fortunate and grateful to have had this opportunity–to learn about Colombia and Bogotá, experience the vibrant and inspiring culture (in terms of literature and filmmaking) that the country and city offer to its residents and visitors, improve my conversational proficiency in Spanish, experience the beauty of the landscapes, architecture, and music, and to have been able to focus as much as I have on my filmmaking and research”

Colombia as a Travel Destination

Colombia: A country of vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality.

Resources

Aditional Info

The team at the Fulbright Colombia Commission provides ongoing support during immigration procedures, including liaising with relevant institutions to follow up on specific cases, solving questions that may arise during the Visa or Foreigner ID Card application process, and monitoring.

This program aims to support our new grantees in the process of adapting to life in Colombia, to mitigate cultural shock upon arrival in a new country. Through this initiative, the Commission assigns Colombian Fulbright alumni to voluntarily support and guide the inbound Cohort of U.S. grantees.

More than 3,200 Colombian citizens have been awarded Fulbright grants to pursue graduate studies or conduct research or teaching activities in the U.S. Belonging to the Fulbright alumni network is one of the main benefits of the Fulbright award. Upon request, the Fulbright Commission team can facilitate connections, interactions, and collaborations among U.S. grantees and former Colombian grantees located in their city or placement region, or working in specific fields of interest. 

We promote a dynamic Fulbright community through various activities, including casual Happy Hours for alumni in various cities, academic lectures, sports events, and Fulbrighter Week. Our approach combines social, academic, and networking elements to provide grantees with a well-rounded and enriching experience, fostering both professional skills and lasting connections.

Before arrival, the Fulbright Commission offers a series of informative webinars in which relevant information is shared regarding the grantees’ preparation, the visa application process, and grant document processing, among other key aspects for a successful grant start. The grant period begins with an Orientation Seminar organized by the Fulbright Colombia Commission in late July, developed under the hybrid modality. Attendance to the Orientation Seminar is mandatory for all ETA grantees.

Grantees will also participate in the Mid-Year Enrichment Seminar. This space is designed to enhance the pedagogical skills of Fulbright ETA grantees by providing them with advanced methodological strategies and access to innovative teaching approaches to enrich their ability to teach English effectively.

The program features lectures on topics relevant to U.S. grantees and their projects in Colombia, led by speakers from the team at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. These sessions enhance their knowledge and provide insightful experiences for a greater impact and fruitful collaborations. Some examples of topics having been covered as part of the U.S. Embassy Speakers Program are:

  • Partnering for Social Projects in Colombia 
  • The U.S. Foreign Service for U.S. Grantees

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia offers a one-hour Security Briefing, led by a representative from the Regional Security Office (RSO), which provides general recommendations and security guidelines for Colombia.

Since 2023, the Fulbright Commission in Colombia implemented a digital platform designed to facilitate the tracking of U.S. and Colombian Fulbright grantees, reception of reports, documents, and updates, as well as to maintain up-to-date contact information.

The ASPE (Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges) Health Benefits Plan is a self-funded, limited, health care benefit plan designed to pay emergent covered medical expenses for eligible Exchange Participants. Click here to learn more about this benefit for Fulbright grantees.

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