APPLICATION DEADLINE – June 1, 2023.

The Public Affairs Section of U.S. Mission Ghana is pleased to announce the annual call for applications for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program for the 2023/2024 academic year.

OVERVIEW

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange, enhances leadership among international professionals who collaborate to address local and global challenges and foster change for our collective good. Through academic study and professional development with U.S. counterparts, this growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in in critical fields for collaboration, such as law and human rights, public health, including infectious diseases, climate change, and public policy. By providing future leaders and policy makers with experience in U.S. higher education, society, culture, and professional organizations, the program provides a basis for lasting, productive ties between Americans and their professional counterparts in other countries, such as Ghana.

Unlike the traditional Fulbright and most other foreign scholarship programs, the Humphrey Fellowship is a mid-career, non-degree program for professionals interested in strengthening leadership skills, as well as learning more about their professional fields of study. The Humphrey Program also emphasizes the mutual exchange of knowledge and understanding about issues of common concern to the U.S. and Fellows’ home countries.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Ghanaian citizen or permanent resident and currently residing in Ghana (Please note: Ghanaian nationals with dual citizenship from the U.S. are not eligible for the program).
• A university (bachelors) degree.
• A minimum of five years full-time professional experience (prior to August 2023) in the relevant field and should be interested in the policy aspects of their field of specialization.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and a record of public service.
• High prospect of receiving study leave from applicant’s employer.
• Demonstrated commitment to public service in either the public or private sector.
• Applicants must be in good health. Successful candidates will be asked to submit a Medical History and Examination Report.
• Applicants should have sufficient proficiency in English to carry out their research projects and collaborate effectively with their peers in a U.S. institution. (Note: TOEFL exams are required – see below for more details).

IMPORTANT – TOEFL Exam and English Language Ability

All Humphrey finalists will be required to take the TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language).  The examination fee will be paid for by the program only for notified finalists.  Applicants are not required to take the exam until after they have been shortlisted as a finalist.  All applicants are encouraged to study for the TOEFL exam before, during and after the application process.  TOEFL scores of 80 and above are considered competitive for this program.  Study tools and resources are available – visit our EducationUSA Center or online.

In an effort to engage with candidates from non-elite populations, rural areas, minority groups, and others who may be excellent candidates but are lacking the necessary language skills, English language training is available for nominees with lower TOEFL scores. Candidates may be asked to take part in an English training program in the United States to prepare Fellows prior to the start of the Humphrey Fellowship academic year.

Qualities of a Competitive Candidate:

• High motivation and serious commitment to completing the program and returning to Ghana to apply knowledge at home institution or other institutions in-country
• Well-written, professional applications
• Preference is given to applicants with limited or no experience in the United States
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright scholar grant.

Persons from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. This includes minorities, people with disabilities, or otherwise disadvantaged candidates such as members of underserved and underrepresented populations and geographic locations, women, and individuals with limited prior international exposure. Persons with may request reasonable accommodation. Please contact us at AccraExchange@state.gov with “Request for Reasonable Accommodation – HHF 2024” in the subject).

Additional Ineligibility Factors:

• Recent undergraduate 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 2024
• Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2024;
• Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status may not apply to the program as they are ineligible for a J visa.

WHAT TO EXPECT

During the academic year, Fellows are placed at university campuses where they pursue individual program goals and work closely with their Humphrey colleagues in workshops and seminars. Fellows are also expected to engage in professional development activities outside of their university campus, attending conferences and seminars, and completing a six-week professional affiliation requirement.

Fellows are grouped together by professional fields at various universities. Since many of these Humphrey cohorts have as many different nationalities as there are Fellows, in addition to learning about American culture Fellows also have to accommodate customs and traditions from other regions of the world. This requires a person who is adaptable, flexible and willing to tolerate differences.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Non-Degree Academic Study: Humphrey Fellows pursue tailored study programs at participating host institutions, where freedom from the requirements of a degree program gives each Fellow the flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program at a host campus. Approximately 13 U.S. campuses have been selected through a competitive process based on their ability to offer institutional and professional resources to host cohorts of Fellows in designated fields of study. Humphrey Fellows may not request placement at a particular university. Each campus has at least one designated faculty coordinator for academic and administrative support. In addition, faculty advisors assist Fellows in pursuing balanced academic and professional programs. (Note: Humphrey Fellows cannot transfer from non-degree status to degree status under any circumstances during their program.)

Leadership and Professional Development: Professional enrichment activities include professional visits, enhancement skills workshops, conferences, training programs, and a professional affiliation (placement). The professional affiliation provides firsthand exposure to a U.S. work environment on a full-time basis for a minimum period of six weeks. These professional affiliations strengthen Fellows’ connections with American colleagues and allow them to contribute directly to U.S. communities by bringing a global perspective to issues in their professional fields. Early in the academic year, each Fellow develops, with assistance from the local campus coordinator and faculty advisors, a detailed plan of practical professional activities geared to the Fellow’s program objectives.

FIELDS OF STUDY

The following are areas of study aligned with U.S. foreign policy and Mission Ghana’s goals. While the U.S. Embassy will consider all applications, applications in the following fields are strongly encouraged:

Human and Institutional Capacity:

• Economic Development
• Finance & Banking
• Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
• Technology Policy and Management

Rights and Freedoms:

• Communications and Journalism
• Law and Human Rights

Sustainable Lands:

• Agricultural and Rural Development
• Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change
• Urban and Regional Planning

Thriving Communities:

• Public Health Policy and Management
• Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention (see 4b)
• Educational Administration, Planning, and Policy

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Humphrey Fellowship provides international travel, tuition and university fees, accident/sickness coverage, monthly maintenance allowance and funding for books and professional activities.  The Humphrey Program does not provide financial support for accompanying dependents.

APPLICATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

The application and instructions can be found at:  https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey

Applicants should log onto the website, enter an e-mail address, and create a password. Please remember this password because it will be used throughout the application process. Applicants are also advised to read the instructions preceding the application.  Check carefully for grammar and spelling mistakes.  Do not plagiarize.  Do not use capital letters (or “ALL CAPS”) to complete the application or required essays except for typing acronyms.

Objectives and Program Plan

The stated objectives should be consistent with the overarching goals of the Humphrey Fellowship Program. This program is not designed for applicants wishing to complete a degree or pursue research within traditional academic disciplines. Your objectives and plan should demonstrate a seriousness of purpose and commitment to broaden, deepen, and enhance your ability to contribute professionally to the development of Ghana.  Your program plan, career goals, and personal statements must be clear, explicit, and well thought through.

Recommendation Letters

Two recommendation letters are required for each nominee. One of the letters should be from the nominee’s current employer.

Transcripts and Diplomas

We require course listings, grades/scores, and confirmation that the degree was conferred for each higher education degree received.

IMPORTANT TIP: First formulate your application in a word document then upload to the online form. Remember, your application is your ‘interview on paper’.

Additional Tips for a Quality Application:

• Use clear, concise language – say what you mean
• Articulate how your interests/objectives are relevant to current trends/challenges in Ghana and how you will apply your experience upon returning
• Proofread your work and ask others to proofread your application and offer their feedback (grammar and spelling mistakes will reflect poorly)
• Do not plagiarize

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words, ideas, or research as your own without crediting the source.  If you use someone else’s works, research, or even your own published works, then you must utilize one of the following citation styles: APA, MLA or Chicago Style.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 1, 2023.  The application and instructions can be found at: https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.  If you do not hear back about your application, then you may revise your application and apply the next year.