Programs for Faculty and Professionals There are various programs for which faculty and other professionals can apply. The Traditional Fulbright Scholar Program (http://www.cies.org) is the longest, ranging from 10 – 12 months. With access to more than 140 countries, the traditional Fulbright Program literally offers the world. And with the exception of Latin America, francophone Africa, and parts of the Middle East, most lecturing assignments are in English. For those conducting research, language capability is required depending on the area of the world and project. The Senior Specialists Program (http://www.cies.org/specialists/) is designed to provide short-term academic opportunities for U.S. faculty and professionals. The Senior Specialists program is one of several new Fulbright initiatives administered by CIES. Not only are the grant lengths shorter – from two to six weeks, with possible serial grants – but grantees also have the chance to participate in a variety of new and exciting activities. It is possible to collaborate with counterparts in other countries on curriculum and faculty development, assist in institutional planning, deliver a series of lectures or provide other expertise, depending on a host institution’s interests and needs. A fairly new program is the New Century Scholars Program (http://www.cies.org/NCS). With the New Century Scholars Program, Fulbright adds a new dimension for international, interdisciplinary collaboration among the world’s outstanding research scholars and professionals. Under this exciting new initiative, leading academics and professionals – representing many different disciplines, nationalities and cultures – assemble annually to address a topic of global significance. Approximately 30 top scholars and professionals from the U.S. and abroad are selected to participate in the program. On average, one-third of the participants are U.S. scholars, the remaining two thirds are visiting scholars from outside the U.S. Launched in 2000, the Alumni Initiatives Awards Program (http://www.cies.org/aia) was established to offer former U.S. and Visiting Fulbright Scholars the opportunity to develop and sustain ongoing partnerships with home and host institutions initiated while they were abroad. Nurturing these mutually beneficial relationships has not only allowed for a continued exchange of ideas between U.S. and foreign institutions, but has also encouraged the internationalization of the respective campuses. For higher education administrators who seek a short but in-depth look at another country and culture, the Fulbright International Education Administrators Seminars afford an excellent opportunity (http://www.cies.org/IEA). Each summer, two-to-three-week seminars are offered in Germany, Japan and Korea. Designed to introduce participants to the society, culture and higher education systems of these countries, the seminars include campus visits, meetings with foreign colleagues and government officials, attendance at cultural events, and briefings on politics, economics and education. The Fulbright German Studies Seminar Program (http://www.cies.org/award_book/award2005/award/Ful5281.htm) previously was a summer seminar for German specialists only. In recent years the seminar has become an interdisciplinary experience for specialists and non-specialists alike. The annual three-week German Studies Seminar focuses on current German society and culture and examines political, social and economic institutions. Each year a theme is chosen and past topics have included “Urban Planning in Germany,” “Environmental Protection and Alternative Forms of Energy,” and “International Migration and National Identities.” Under the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program (http://www.cies.org/vs_scholars/), international scholars can conduct research or teach at colleges and universities in the U.S. Individuals apply through their local country’s Fulbright Commission. U.S. universities may also request international scholars.