Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in Serbia

Deadline: 15-Aug-21

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade is now accepting applications from citizens of Serbia for participation in the prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program for the 2022-23 academic years.

The Humphrey Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education.

Over 6,000 Fellows representing 162 countries have participated in the program since its inception in 1978. That has included 20 Serbians in the past decade.

Successful candidates are accomplished, young, mid-career professionals in leadership positions who have a demonstrated commitment to public service and have the potential for further advancement in their fields.

Candidates should be interested in strengthening their leadership skills through a mutual exchange of knowledge and views with the Americans and with Fellows from other countries they meet during this program about issues of common concern.

Practical experience in the U.S. gained through this program, plus greater familiarity with American society and culture, will provide Humphrey Fellows with the basis for lasting, productive ties with their American counterparts in the years to come.

Professional Fields

The Humphrey Fellowship is granted competitively to public and private sector candidates from Serbia with strong leadership potential and a commitment to service who are focused on the following fields:

Economic Development.
Finance & Banking.
Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration.
Technology Policy and Management.
Law and Human Rights.
Trafficking in Persons Policy & Prevention.
Agricultural and Rural Development.
Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change.

Requirements

Appropriate candidates are young, mid-career professionals in leadership positions in either the public or private sector who have demonstrated a commitment to public service and the potential for further advancement.
They strongly encourage men and women to apply, as well as persons with disabilities and individuals from other underserved groups.
The technical eligibility requirements are:
- Serbian citizenship and eligibility to obtain a U.S. visa.
- An undergraduate university degree.
- A minimum of five years of full-time, professional experience in the relevant field by August 2022.
- Limited or no prior experience in the United States.
- Demonstrated leadership qualities.
- A record of public service in the community.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English. Candidates will normally have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 525 (paper-based) or 71 (internet-based). If you have taken a TOEFL exam in the past, scores are valid for two years. The TOEFL exam is not a requirement at the time of application. Candidates who pass the interview will receive the instructions how to register for the TOEFL exam.
- Note: In addition to the pre-academic language training traditionally available to all selected candidates, the Humphrey Program offers Long-Term English (LTE) language training opportunities to facilitate participation of individuals who might lack sufficiently advanced English language skills at the time of application. Candidates for LTE typically have TOEFL scores in the 440-500 range (paper-based test) or 42-61 (internet-based test). LTE participants will travel to the U.S early for intensive language training lasting 20-25 weeks to improve their English skills before transitioning to their host university campuses at the start of the 2020-21 academic years.
Ineligible candidates include:
- Recent university graduates (even if they have significant positions);
- University teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities;
- Individuals who have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more during the seven years prior to August 2022;
- Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2022; and
- Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status may not apply to the program; they are ineligible for a J visa.
- Local employees of U.S. Missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State and members of their families as well as individuals who work for or are otherwise associated with an organization that is responsible for nominating or selecting individuals for participation in any Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) exchange program are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment.