Additional Resources
Fulbright Faculty Development Program
The Fulbright Faculty Development Program is designed for junior faculty, currently teaching in Georgia. Applicants should intend to return to their position at their home institution upon completion of the program, continue their teaching responsibilities, and apply newly gained knowledge and experience. The goal of the program model is to introduce participants to best practices and theoretical approaches to curriculum development in the U.S. and provide them with concrete strategies on how to develop curriculum for a course, including an overview of academic and research resources. During the program, fellows will be expected to research and develop a course description syllabus and outline specific teaching strategies for their proposed course.
The submission deadline for the online application is September 4th, 2025 (18:00 local Georgian time).
The Faculty Development Program is structured as a 5-month program, typically beginning in the middle of August and ending in the middle of January. A multi-day opening workshop is planned for the start of the program during which strategies on how best to develop course curricula will be shared. After the opening workshop, participants will work with a faculty advisor to develop field-specific content for their course curricula at a U.S. host institution. Participants are expected to share their progress during the closing workshop.
To qualify for the Fulbright Faculty Development Program, an applicant must:
- Have citizenship of Georgia and or permanent residency
- Be eligible for a J-1 visa (with two-year home-country residence requirement)
- Hold a university degree
- Be currently teaching at an institution of higher education
- Have at least two years of teaching experience at an institution of higher education by the time of application
- Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English (selected finalists will be required to take TOEFL test in October 2025)
During the program, fellows will be expected to research and develop a course description, syllabus and outline specific teaching strategies for their proposed course. As part of their university research affiliations, grantees receive a certain number of privileges. Since each university affiliation will vary, each grantee may receive different benefits. For example, some privileges may include:
- Permission to observe classes (non-credit)
- Access to appropriate laboratories
- Accounts for computer facilities
- Access to health services
- Access to recreational facilities (for a fee)
- Borrowing privileges at university libraries
- Office space
- Shared workspace
- A university I.D. card
- On-campus housing
- Off-campus housing help
- Upon completion of the research affiliation at the host university, grantees will return to New York City or Washington, DC in early January for a 2-day workshop where grantees will be expected to present their course overview, share syllabi, and discuss best practices learned through the program
Completed applications must include:
- Online application at: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2026
- Three (3) Letters of Reference (can be submitted online by instructors, professors or work supervisors)
- Detailed project statements of proposed activity for research/lecturing in the U.S.
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae (resume)
- Academic transcripts/diplomas (certified translation into English or verified copies of original academic transcript and degree certificate – scanned and attached to the application)
- Official English translation of certificate for the current academic status (scanned and attached to the application)
- Valid results from the U.S. standardized test – if available, please submit standardized test scores by the time of application submission, otherwise only short-listed candidates will be required to take the official TOEFL test in October 2025 with provided free vouchers.
- Letter of invitation from a preferred U.S. host Institution (if available)
- Copy of passport
For the online application and instructions, please click here:
https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2026
Tips for FFDP application: Statement of Purpose and Research Objectives essays
If you experience difficulties with the online application form, contact us at TbilisiExchanges@state.gov with the subject line “2026-2027 Fulbright Faculty Development Program”