NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the nation's largest non-profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion of the exchange of students and scholars to and from the United States, in cooperation with the Global Foundation for Research and Scholarship (GFRS) of Tokyo, Japan, is pleased to announce an exciting new grant opportunity available to international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities.

The GFRS INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL INTEGRATION AWARDS will provide grants to allow international graduate students to attend the NAFSA 50th Anniversary Conference-Building Global Leadership for a New Century in Washington, DC from May 24-29, 1998.

The GFRS International Professional Integration Awards are targeted to international graduate students in the humanities and/or social sciences who have a demonstrated interest in promoting and facilitating the internationalization of higher education. Students will attend a special orientation session at the May 1998 NAFSA conference, participate in a mentoring program with experienced professionals, and will have resources available to assist them in selecting sessions and networking with NAFSA members. Other special events will be held for participating international students.

International students desiring to participate in the program will be asked to provide information regarding their experiences and goals related to the internationalization of higher education. The minimum eligibility criteria are outlined below.

Awards are intended for:

• international students actively enrolled at U.S. higher education institutions, pursuing degrees in the social sciences and/or humanities
• applicants able to commit to attend the entire NAFSA conference from Sunday, May 24 to Friday, May 29, 1998 in Washington, DC
• international graduate students with an interest in careers related to mobility in higher education, internationalization of the global work force, increasing international educational exchanges, and internationalizing academic fields of study

Grants will cover travel, lodging, meal allowance, conference registration and special events, as well as a one-year Associate membership in NAFSA. Award recipients will be asked to make travel arrangements through NAFSA's travel agency, Van Slycke and Reeside Travel, Washington, DC.

Students will be required to complete an application form and describe in an essay their academic experiences with U.S. higher education and their learning objectives for attending the NAFSA conference. A support letter from an academic advisor or international student advisor is highly recommended.

Application deadline will be Wednesday, February 18, 1998. Original application, including essay and optional letter of recommendation must be submitted to the NAFSA Central Office. Applications postmarked by February 18 but received later will be considered late. Complete applications received via fax or email will be accepted. Award notification will take place beginning Monday, March 23, 1998.

GFRS (in Japanese, Kokusai Kenkyu Shogaku Zaidan) is a private foundation established in 1997, founded to initiate research activity and to carry on and enhance fellowship and professional development programs previously administered by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

For additional information and/or an application, contact Eileen Heffern using the contact information provided above.

The URL for this page is: http://www.friends-partners.org/~ccsi/announce/nafsa.htm
Last updated: January 13, 1998

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