The Fulbright Indigenous Communities Program is part of a joint initiative between the U.S. Embassy in Colombia and the Fulbright Commission Colombia to promote access to graduate education opportunities for leaders of indigenous communities in the country, committed to their development. In particular, this grant will support the high-level training of one (1) Colombian individual with a professional degree who belongs to and is recognized as part of an indigenous community and who wishes to pursue a master’s or Ph.D degree in the United States beginning in the second semester of 2024.

The Fulbright Indigenous Communities Program also falls within the mission of the Fulbright Colombia Commission, which seeks to promote intercultural knowledge, scientific and research cooperation, and development through the advanced training of leaders with a high degree of social commitment. In this sense, the Fulbright Commission Colombia gives grants to professionals of excellence who are chosen through a system of academic and professional merit, giving them the opportunity to study, teach, research, exchange ideas and find solutions to challenges and interests of local, national, and global scope. Since 1957, when the program began in Colombia, 5,303 people have benefited from the different Fulbright Colombia programs.  

Consistent with the guidelines of the national government, this call is part of the need expressed by the Misión de sabios to contribute to the construction and implementation of a public policy of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation and to support the formation of human capital in graduate studies of Colombians committed to responding to the social, economical and productive challenges of the country.   

The Fulbright Colombia Commission seeks to see all population groups in the country represented in its scholarship programs. For this reason, within the framework of the call, a differential approach is sought that guarantees the participation of diverse people and traditionally underrepresented populations, coming from all regions of Colombia, regardless of their sexual orientation, creed, ethnic identity or disability. In addition to the above, people who stand out for their high social and educational commitment to the country are sought.

The selected people must return to Colombia at the end of their study program and remain in the country for a minimum period of two (2) years, during which time they must repay the knowledge obtained during the program.

The Fulbright Award for Indigenous Communities is also part of the mission of the Fulbright Commission in Colombia, which seeks to promote intercultural knowledge, scientific and research cooperation and development through the advanced training of leaders with a high degree of social commitment. In this sense, the Fulbright Commission in Colombia awards grants to professionals chosen through a system of academic and professional merit, giving them the opportunity to study, teach, research, exchange ideas and find solutions to challenges and interests of local, national and global scope. Since 1957, when the program began in Colombia, 4,958 people have benefited from the different Fulbright Colombia programs.