The goals of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program are to build higher education capacity in Iraq and Libya through faculty development and mentoring, foster long-term collaboration and institutional linkages between Iraqi and Libyan scholars and U.S. academics, and to promote mutual understanding by facilitating the scholars’ engagement with the broader host campus community.
The Council for International Exchange of Scholars selected only five U.S. institutions to host the Iraqi scholars. Six universities were chosen to host the scholars from Libya. The nine professors in the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program for Iraq arrived on June 28 and will stay until Sept. 7. The four scholars from Libya arrive July 7 and will stay until Sept. 14.
Kent State is hosting the science and technology cohort from Iraq and the information technology cohort for Libya.
“It is indeed an honor for Kent State to host the Fulbright Visiting Scholars from Iraq again this year,” Nettey said. “It is an even greater privilege to report the selection of Kent State’s proposal to host the very first Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program for Libya in the area of information technology. It is quite special to be selected by the U.S. Department of State to serve as the launch institution for the new program.”
To fulfill the program requirements in the area of cultural enrichment stipulated by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Kent State administrators have planned an extensive array of activities, including trips to Akron Aeros and Cleveland Indians baseball games, Blossom Music Center, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and a day-trip to Niagara Falls.
“This is a wonderful honor and opportunity for Kent State,” Nettey said. “Hosting both Fulbright programs continues the university’s progress toward meeting Kent State President Lefton’s goal of increasing the international focus of the university, and we are looking forward to working with these esteemed scholars.”
