1730 M St., NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC20036
Phone: 1-202-293-6466 | Fax: 1-202-293-7770
/ Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
2600 Virginia Ave., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 1-202-337-9450| Fax: 1-202-337-2978
Saudi Arabia ExchangeFellowship
Cultural and Educational Exchange Experience for
American Model Arab League Alumni
APPLICATION FORM
TheNational Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR), in collaboration with theSaudi Arabian Cultural Mission to the U.S. (SACM) and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), is pleased to sponsor the Saudi Arabia Exchange Fellowship. Ten American university students will be selected for this prestigious program, which lasts for approximately one calendar year. The Saudi Arabia Exchange Fellowship consists of three parts:
1.Pre-departure Period - November-December 2013: after being selected, participants build their background knowledge of modern Saudi Arabia, prepareto be exposed to a new culture, and begin to plan the logistics of the next year of Fellowship activities.
2.Study Visit - December 27, 2013-January 8, 2014 (tentative): beginning with a pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC, participants then travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiafor an immersiveexperience inthe country’s culture, society, and economics, as well as government priorities, concerns and needs as they pertain to Saudi-U.S. relations and the Kingdom’s role in regional and world affairs. Within the Kingdom, the delegation will be accompanied by two NCUSAR escorts and various Saudi officials while being introduced to a broad range of government and business representatives, academics, policymakers, specialists, and student peers, as well as traditional and modern Saudi Arabian culture and life.
3.Fellowship Year - January-December 2014: after returning to the U.S., participants spend the following calendar yearimplementing a variety of programs, events, and outreach efforts in their home communities. These programs aim to share participants’ newfound knowledge of Saudi Arabia with the American public, multiplying the educational impact of the program.
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited American university for the duration of the program, and must be in good academic standing. Alumni of the Model Arab League leadership development program are eligible to apply. Eligible students must be nominated by a Model Arab League faculty adviser (see page 4), and will be required to complete the application process described below. Only one student from a given university will be selected.
Program Purpose Statement
While thousands of Saudi Arabian students visit and study in the United States each year, very few American students have a reciprocal opportunity. As a result, the average Saudi Arabian citizen knows a great deal about American culture, economics, government, etc. while Americans remain uninformed of the nuances, intricacies, and even basic details of a country of such strategic importance and interest to the United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabia Fellowship was formed to help remedy this shortcoming and enhance knowledge and understanding of Saudi Arabia among America’s future leaders and general public.
A completed application includes the following items:
1) A résumé
2)Acurrent officialtranscript
3) A cover letter detailing your interest in the region, your experience in the Model Arab League, and what you believe you can contribute to the program, not exceeding 1 page
4)A clear photocopy of your passport, and two color passport-sized photos (approx. 2”x2”)
5)An essay detailing your post-visit Fellowship Year activities. This should be in short essay format, not exceeding 2-4 pages, while maintaining adequate creativity and detail
If chosen to participate, you will spend one year sharing your experiences in Saudi Arabia and the knowledge you gain through it with your home communities – hometown, university, religious affiliation, civic organizations, etc. – through a variety of events, presentations, written articles, or other programs. Typical Fellowship Year activities include at least 5-10 separate programs that reach a variety of constituencies, and utilize a variety of direct and indirect methods. While the selection process favors those with ambitious plans, make sure your plan is achievable and realistic. It is helpful if you detail the connections you already have in your communities which will help you implement your plan.
6) The following completed forms from this application:
a)Contact Information and Educational Status(Page 3)
b) Nomination and Emergency Information(Page 4)
c) Fellowship Program Contract (Page 5)
PROGRAM NOTES:
**COSTS: This program is considered expense-paid. This includes international roundtrip airfare from Washington, DC to Saudi Arabia; visa application fee; and all in-country programming. A program fee of $400.00 must be paid by those accepted into the programin order to reduce attrition. Fellows are also required to cover their own expenses to travel to and fromWashington, D.C. for the pre-departure orientation.
**TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION: All participants must hold a U.S. Passport that will not expire before June 2014. Those whose passport contains a stamp or entry visa to the State of Israel must obtain a new passport which does not contain markings indicating previous travel to Israel. This is to adhere to Saudi Arabian travel and visa protocol.
CONTACT INFORMATION
FULL NAME: ______
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY: ______
HOMETOWN, STATE: ______
PERMANENT ADDRESS: ______
______
PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS: ______
SCHOOL E-MAIL ADDRESS: ______
MOBILE PHONE: ______OTHER PHONE: ______
EDUCATIONAL STATUS
EXPECTED DATE OF GRADUATION: ______
ACADEMIC STATUS: [Freshman___] [Sophomore___] [Junior___] [Senior___]
[1st Year Graduate___] [2nd Year Graduate___] [Other______]
MODEL ARAB LEAGUE CONFERENCES ATTENDED: ______
______
Please briefly describe your current educational situation. This will include how many years you have before graduation, your plans for further education such as a graduate program, and your educational focus both in your undergraduate years and any planned graduate studies.
______
FACULTY NOMINATION INFORMATION
All applicants must be nominated by a faculty member. In most cases, the nominator will be a Model Arab League Faculty Adviser. For applicants whose MAL team does not have a designated Faculty Adviser, another faculty may be substituted. If your nominator had not already submitted the nomination to NCUSAR independently, they will be contacted to confirm the nomination.
NOMINATOR’S NAME: ______
NOMINATOR’S POSITION/DEPARTMENT: ______
OFFICE PHONE: ______ALTERNATE PHONE: ______
EMAIL ADDRESS: ______
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME(S) AND RELATIONSHIP: ______
______
PERMANENT ADDRESS: ______
OFFICE OR PROFESSIONAL PHONE: ______
HOME PHONE: ______MOBILE PHONE: ______
DOCTOR'S NAME: ______
DOCTOR'S TELEPHONE: ______
Please list any medical conditions the Council and sponsoring organizations should be aware of:
Please list any special instructions you may have in case of an emergency:
SAUDI ARABIA EXCHANGE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM CONTRACT
Required Agreements for all Applicants
All applicants are required to 'x' the boxes and sign below indicating they have read and understand the following agreements. Applicants must also answer all the questions found in this section:
____Financial Responsibility – I understand it is my responsibility to cover the cost of transportation to and from Washington, DC one day prior to the departure date, and related costs prior to departure and after return. Roundtrip airfare to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as in-country lodging, transportation, and meals, will be covered by the program. Incidentals throughout are the responsibility of the student.
____Medical and Repatriation Costs – I understand that medical and repatriation costs incurred during the Fellowship are not covered by the program and are the responsibility of the participants. Participants are highly encouraged to check with their current healthcare provider for information, and to purchase travelers insurance as needed.
____Internship Status – I understand that all internships and fellowships provided under the auspices of the NCUSAR are unpaid.
____Follow-Up and Expectations – I understand that this Fellowship requires my full participation in all events related to the program, including pre-departure briefings in Washington, DC and all programmingwithin the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, I understand that I am expected to create and execute a post-visit Fellowship Year Plan in the calendar year following the visit, conforming with the standards and minimum requirements outlined by the National Council. I understand that failure to meet these standards and minimum requirements for my Fellowship Year activities constitutes a breach of confidence with the National Council and sponsoring entities which may result in legal action and/or the reimbursement of costs incurred by the National Council and sponsoring entities (SACM, MOHE, etc.).
____Personal Conduct - I understand that I am a representative of my university, of the National Council, SACM, and MOHE at all times and in all public places. I agree to abide by the laws of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and any state where I may be domiciled or present. I agree to accept and abide by the rules and standards dictated by Saudi Arabian culture and to conduct myself professionally and to the standards of internationally accepted personal behavior at all times. I further understand that my failure to meet these laws, rules, and standards may result in me being dismissed from the program. Should this occur, it will be my responsibility to cover any costs associated with my dismissal, including return travel to the United States, etc.
1. Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any school you have attended, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct that resulted in your probation, suspension, removal, dismissal or expulsion from the institution?
____YES ____NO
2. Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
___YES ____NO
If you answered yes to either or both questions, please attach a separate document(s) that gives the approximate date of each incident and explains the circumstances.
SIGNATURE: ______DATE: ______
COMPLETED SAUDI ARABIA EXCHANGE FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS
SHOULD BE SCANNED AND EMAILED TO:
Mr. Josh Hilbrand
Deputy Director of Student Programs, NCUSAR
OR HARD COPIES MAILED TO:
ATTN: Saudi Arabia Exchange Fellowship
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 503
Washington, DC 20036
If emailing a scanned application, please include a digital copy of your unofficial transcript
IN ADDITION to mailing a hard copy of your official transcript to the above address.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 23, 2013
EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL 5:00pm ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2013. IF MAILING YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE PACKAGE IS SCHEDULED TO BE DELIVERED NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2013, REGARDLESS OF THE POST MARK DATE.
If you have any questions please call the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
at (202) 293-6466 or email
SAUDI ARABIA EXCHANGE FELLOWSHIP
⇔
Page 1 of 8