November 14th, 2012: Press Release, Grant Available for European Student Leaders to Study in US

Press Release

Grant Available for European Student Leaders to Study in US

 

–       Funding available for summer program on social entrepreneurship in the US

–       One undergraduate student will receive full scholarship for five week US program

–       Deadline for applications:  3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 14^th, 2013

Wednesday , November 14^th, 2012: Today (14.11.12), the Fulbright Commission in Ireland opened the competition for a Summer Institute on Social Entrepreneurship sponsored by the US Department of State.  The Summer Institute is a five-week, all expenses paid program in the US for a current undergraduate student to study the history, development, and challenges of US social enterprise at a US university and in Washington, D.C. Further information is available on www.fulbright.ie.

All applications must be received by 3:00 on Thursday, February 14^th, 2013 in hard copy and by email.

Irish citizens and European citizens who have lived in Ireland for the past three or more years are eligible to apply if they have at least one year of university remaining. The successful applicant for the grant will receive:

–       Airfare, tuition and fees, lodging and meals at the host university, and a daily allowance.

–       Visa sponsorship and accident and sickness coverage.

–       A range of academic and cultural programming.

This award will provide the successful applicant with in-depth knowledge, understanding, and experience in the areas of business ethics, negotiations, microfinance, corporate social responsibility, innovation, and many other areas of study.

Speaking at the launch of the Summer Institute on Social Entrepreneurship, Ms. Colleen Dube, Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission said, “the Student Leaders program brings together the best and the brightest from across Europe to really challenge themselves and to gain a new understanding of US culture and society. With Ireland’s unprecedented growth in social entrepreneurship activity, I know Ireland will be able to provide a strong candidate who is looking to learn how to employ entrepreneurial skills to address social issues here in Ireland.”

Every year hundreds of Irish students travel to the US to participate in study abroad programs and full university degrees.  The 2011-2012 academic year saw an increase in Irish undergraduates going abroad (Open Doors, 2012). Commenting on the figures, Ms. Joanne A. Davidson, EducationUSA Advisor in the Fulbright Commission, stated “undergraduate applicants continue to rise year after year, highlighting the continued draw of US college programs. With competition for jobs in Ireland becoming more difficult than ever, students are looking to diversify their CVs from an early age in order to set themselves apart in this challenging market.”

The Summer Institute will provide the successful applicant with a taste of what it is like to study at a US college. The program will begin in July 2013 for a period of five weeks and applicants must be able to attend the program in full. The US Summer Institute on Social Entrepreneurship is a unique opportunity to spend time at a US university and to work closely with community leaders in the area of social entrepreneurship.

Please note this is not a Fulbright Award, but a grant from the US Department of State.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Joanne A. Davidson

Communications & Information Officer and EducationUSA Advisor, Fulbright Commission Ireland

joanne.davidson@fulbright.ie

01.660.7670 / 087.258.1417

 

Editor’s Notes

 

The Ireland-United Stated (Fulbright) Commission for Educational Exchange is managing the application process for the European Student Leaders’ Summer Institute on Social Entrepreneurship on behalf of the US Department of State. Please note that this grant is not a Fulbright Award, but a grant from the US Department of State.

The Ireland-United Stated (Fulbright) Commission for Educational Exchange operates EducationUSA, which is Ireland’s only official source for information on educational opportunities in the US. It is an initiative of the US Department of State. The Commission also runs the Fulbright Program, which annually offers postgraduate students, scholars, and professionals funding to study, lecture, or research in the US. This year’s Fulbright awards competition for 2013-2014 will close on Wednesday, November 14^th, 2012.  Visit www.fulbright.ie for more information.

For a pdf of this press release, please click here.