NAFSA’s Global Dialogue Fellowship Program: Africa is a two-year non-resident fellowship offered to individuals in charge of international programs and internationalization initiatives at higher education institutions in select sub-Saharan African countries.
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The Global Dialogue Fellowship Program: Africa, launched in 2014, offers a two-year non-resident fellowship to higher education professionals from select sub-Saharan African countries. Through this program, NAFSA is committed to:
Engaging with African colleagues and expanding their working knowledge of and access to model practices in internationalization, international programming, and international education
Providing opportunities for the exchange of international education expertise and innovative ideas between African leaders and the larger NAFSA community
Ensuring African presence and inclusion of African voices at NAFSA annual conferences
Offer publication and other opportunities for fellows to share their regional expertise
Program Features
10 higher education professionals are selected every two years and engage in a variety of professional development and networking opportunities, including:
Ongoing collaboration with senior level international education administrators at U.S. higher education institutions
Development and implementation of individual action plans to expand international education capacity and partnerships portfolio of fellows’ institutions
Attendance at two NAFSA annual conferences held in the United States
Testimonial
"The Global Dialogue Fellowship Program has given me an improved appreciation of internationalization from a different perspective. I was able to share how my university has been able to develop and sustain successful partnerships as well as exchange or study abroad programs with institutions outside Africa. The annual conferences were great opportunities to network and also engage colleagues from other institutions."
- Global Dialogue Fellow, December 2018
Program Applications
Application for the 2020 Global Dialogue Fellowship Program: Africa will open soon. To receive a personal notification about the 2020 call for applications, please contact us.
Global Dialogue Fellows
Meet the current and past Global Dialogue Fellows.
The 2020 Fellowship is open to individuals who meet the following requirements:
Are citizens of one of the countries listed below:
Soon to be announced.
Have served for 3 or more years in a leadership position as a faculty or academic administrator in charge of international programs, international affairs, international partnerships, or similar positions at an accredited higher education institution located in one of the countries above. *
Demonstrate evidence of previous efforts to increase university connections and partnerships, student or faculty exchanges, or research collaborations with higher education institutions in other countries.
Able to offer a concrete vision for increasing the international education capacity of their home institution, including expanding and deepening connections with universities in other countries.
Hold a completed master’s or doctoral degree.
Have advanced professional proficiency in English.
* To diversify the representation of African institutions and countries participating in the program, priority will be given to applicants from institutions that have not been represented in the fellows’ pool in the past three years.
Program Benefits
The Global Dialogue Fellows will receive the following benefits from NAFSA:
Complimentary registration to the NAFSA annual conferences in the United States, held in late May in 2021 and 2022, including access to the full week’s programs and access to the International Education Expo. In addition, at each of these conferences, the Global Dialogue Fellows will be able to attend two of the following special programs:
Travel costs for an economy-class roundtrip ticket (minus $500 each year) to attend the annual conferences in 2021 and 2022.
An allowance for meals during the annual conference week, library visit, and travel days.
Complimentary housing during the annual conference in 2021 and 2022.
Participation in a pre-conference workshop exclusively for Global Dialogue Fellows and Global Dialogue Partners on navigating the annual conference and building successful international programs and institutional partnerships.
Partnership with a volunteer Global Dialogue Partner from among the NAFSA membership who will maintain contact with their Global Dialogue Fellow throughout the two-year program and offer advice and information about programs and benefits available at the annual conference and about building international programs and institutional partnerships.
Periodic conference calls among the Global Dialogue Fellows and Global Dialogue Partners to discuss topics of importance.
Complimentary NAFSA membership for the term of the fellowship, with membership benefits including a digital subscription to NAFSA’s International Educator magazine.
The choice of a NAFSA publication free of charge each of the two years.
Assistance in planning conference presentations and panels.
Program Requirements
Each Global Dialogue Fellow selected is expected to fulfill these requirements. Failure to complete these requirements can result in early termination of the fellowship.
Sign a program agreement and send it back to NAFSA by late September 2020.
Be able to start the fellowship on October 1, 2020.
Actively contribute to the program online community.
Develop a personal action plan to expand internationalization initiatives at home institution, implement it over the term of the fellowship (and if need be, beyond the end of it), and provide regular progress reports to NAFSA.
Participate fully in the NAFSA annual conferences in 2021 and 2022 and actively collaborate with the assigned Global Dialogue Partner, including participation in:
Pre-conference group workshop for Global Dialogue Fellows and Partners to plan for a successful conference and further program experience
NAFSA Pavilion panel held at the Expo Hall
Africa Forum
End-of-conference debrief meeting with Global Dialogue Fellows and Partners
Following the 2021 and 2022 annual conferences, complete post-conference surveys.
In July-August 2021, submit at least one session proposal for the 2022 NAFSA annual conference.
By end of August 2022, submit a report on the two-year fellowship experience.
Hold a passport valid until 2023 or later.
Be available to travel to the United States for the periods May 29-June 6, 2021 and May 28-June 5, 2022.
Secure an entry visa for the United States in 2021 and 2022.
Secure funding for $500 each year to be used towards the economy-class air travel costs to the United States.
Have reliable Internet and Skype access.
Be in good health and be able to participate fully in Global Dialogue Fellowship Program activities.
How to Apply
In order to be considered, applicants must complete an online application form and submit supporting materials by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. All materials must be submitted in English.
A complete application includes:
A completed online application form
A résumé or curriculum vitae
A signed letter of support from an administrator at your institution with the position of dean or department chair or higher. The letter should indicate the capability of the applicant to make practical and feasible recommendations regarding expanding the university’s international education capacity and institutional partnerships.
