Fulbright Foreign Students Volunteering at the 2010 Enrichment Seminar in Philadelphia
2011 Traditional Enrichment Seminars for First-Year Fulbright Students
Traditional enrichment seminars bring together approximately 140 first-year Fulbright foreign students and ten recently returned Fulbright U.S. Student alumni in nine cities.
The enrichment seminars allow participants to meet and network with other Fulbrighters from around the world who are studying in the United States as well as with local citizens in each seminar city. Students also develop a better understanding of contemporary life and culture, policy formulation and public attitudes of nationally and globally important issues in the U.S.
Each year, the seminar highlights a topic of national significance which also has implications for the global community. This year's theme – “Greening of the Planet: Global Challenges, Local Solutions” – examines the effects of climate change on the host city and local efforts to respond to these environmental challenges.
In 2011, the seminars take place in:
| Los Angeles, CA | February 3-6 |
| Nashville, TN | February 10-13 |
| Denver, CO | February 24-27 |
| San Francisco, CA | February 24-27 |
| New Orleans, LA | February 24-27 |
| Washington, DC | March 16-20 |
| Chicago, IL | March 24-27 |
| Philadelphia, PA | April 7-10 |
| New York, NY | April 14-17 |
Over three days, students explore the theory and practice of environmental sustainability and its implications for urban living, scientific innovation, economic development and education. They participate in interactive discussions with subject matter experts, volunteer in local community service projects, engage in group workshops and explore each seminar city's unique role in making a local impact on the topic or issue.
Fulbrighters meet private and non-profit sector leaders, U.S. government officials, members of the academic community, scientists and artists. Additionally, the students have an opportunity to interact with the U.S. Department of State sponsors and staff from administering agencies.
Each enrichment seminar incorporates the following elements:
Panel Discussions and Presentations by Experts and Fulbright Students
Seminars focus on organizations and individuals who are at forefront in their communities of addressing these challenges. Subject matter experts interact with participants to discuss the local impacts they are making to this global issue and the best strategies for applying entrepreneurial principles, business models and public policies to solve environmental problems.
Fulbright students are also invited to submit an application before the seminar to speak on a student panel about their efforts in home countries to create a positive social change in the areas of education, environment, scientific innovation and economic development.
These presentations help Fulbright seminar participants connect the seminar topic, the unique host city's perspective on the topic and the topic's implications for future projects in their home countries.
Community Service Volunteer Projects
At every seminar, Fulbright students spend an afternoon working with local volunteer organizations on specific volunteer environmental projects in urban neighborhoods, public parks and schools. These activities highlight the importance of civic participation in American society. Fulbrighters volunteer side by side with American citizens, U.S. Department of State staff and IIE staff. Students gain an additional insight into how volunteers of all ages and backgrounds foster a culture of service and civic responsibility. It is also an opportunity to give back to the host city community.
Home Hospitality Evenings
A home hospitality evening brings Fulbright students together with members of the host city community. The hospitality evening is a special highlight of the enrichment seminar program – allowing Fulbrighters an opportunity to interact directly with Americans and learn first-hand about unique cultural features of American life.
Group Workshop Projects
Throughout the seminar Fulbrighters learn from presenters, panelists and fellow students how the seminar topic affects sustainable solutions to problems facing communities around the world. Students are divided into small groups of 15 according to their interests. These groups collaborate to identify an environment challenge in a specific country or region and to develop a hypothetical project to address this challenge, using the seminar presenters' strategies and experiences as inspiration. Each group prepares a short presentation to a panel of expert judges. The panel selects the most sophisticated and promising project as the competition's winner.
Cultural Events and Activities
At every enrichment seminar, Fulbrighters explore the unique cultural heritage of the host city. Opening and closing dinners are held at local museums and historic venues, often in conjunction with group tours of galleries and exhibitions. Students learn about host cities by participating in scavenger hunts, visits to museums and monuments or trips to local points of interest.
Traditional Enrichment Seminars Application and Selection Process
The seminars are open to first-year Fulbrighters in any field of study. All eligible students are encouraged to apply. Seminar assignments are made randomly through a lottery-type process, which takes into account student date preferences, country representation, gender balance, diversity of fields of study and host campuses.
For the 2011 seminars, the seminar invitation was sent on October 15, 2010 to all eligible Fulbrighters whose grants are administered by one of the Fulbright foreign student cooperating agencies (IIE, LASPAU and AMIDEAST). Applications were due November 8, 2010. Since each seminar accommodates 140 students, not every applicant is able to participate, though efforts are made to include as many students as possible. Students received seminar assignments in early to mid-December 2010.