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by Passanna Gunasekera.

During the fifty years the Fulbright Program initiated by Senator J. William Fulbright has enabled nearly half a million students from the US and "144" other partner nations to participate in student exchange programs. Statistics reveal that more than 176,000 foreign nationals have taught studied or done research in the US and more than 270,000 Americans have gone overseas for similar projects. As the US-SL Fulbright Commission begins to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary it is a fitting occasion to find out more about its functions and thereby make the public more aware of its existence in Sri Lanka.

In conversation with the Students Advisor of the US-SLFC Nelum Senadeera, the first question that crossed my mind was what would a "Fulbrighter" amass through the years ? She readily explained the "Fulbright Experience" as opening a lot of opportunities for scholars to enrich their personal lives and careers by living in different cultures, forming lasting friendships with students from around the world and sharing new horizons as part of what is in store for a "Fulbrighter". My next question was what benefits will the participating nations and the US reap from this sort of a project?

"American Fulbrighters" states Ms Senadheera "return to their home country to improve scholarship teaching, understanding and decision-making about other countries leaving behind lasting contributions to research, curricula and pedagogy". As for the foreign Fulbrighters "they become interpreters of American perspectives". However, both parties through this international academic exchange enhance their human resources and academic institutions while spreading their cultures to the rest of the world. I also learnt that the Fulbright grants were awarded to individuals on a regional competitive basis based on their academic and professional excellence.

Talking about the US-SLFC which gained permanent status in 1964 Ms Senadheera further stated that the objective of the commission was to promote closer ties between the two nations by increasing the number of Sri Lankan and American students who will have direct knowledge about the two countries, to facilitate students with research opportunities in the US in fields where research opportunities are limited in Sri Lanka and to encourage the participation of US university alumni in support of US-SL academic exchange.

There are a number of programs administered by the commission. The first being the Fulbright Program where a total of 832 (550 Sri Lankans and 282 Americans) scholars have participated up to the 2001 academic year. This program provides opportunities for a select group of Sri Lankan senior researchers and junior scholars to engage in research and graduate studies in the US and for the American scholars to engage in teaching and Graduate studies in Sri Lankan institutions of higher education. The Fulbright grant categories opened to Sri Lankans include;

- The Sri Lankan Graduate Student Program to conduct Masters degree level study in the US

- The Sri Lankan Senior Research Scholar Program to conduct post doctoral study and research in the US

- Scholar-in-Residence Program which paves the path for senior Sri Lankan academics to lecture in US universities.

The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Programme is yet another commission activity which enables mid-career professionals from both the public and private sectors to conduct a year of non-degree graduate study in the US while interacting with a cosmopolitan society. The US-FCSL has also been the program representative for the East-West Centre in Hawai since 1973.

Apart from the above it provides a range of educational advisory services such as, educational opportunities in the US for Sri Lankans, reference library and conducts the examinations to gain admission to American universities like SAT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT. It administers some of the specialized licensing tests like the US Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools certification exams and hosts seminars, conferences, workshops on educational and cultural themes.

My final and the most important question was the impact the September 11th tragedy and its aftermath had on foreign students, did they have to undergo harassment and uncertainty? Perhaps, but the US has been issuing statements to make public aware of the national security measures taken to assure safety of foreign students.

It is stated that international student advisors had more tasks than ever before counselling students on a one to one basis. I believe President Bush's words sum up America's eagerness to welcome new groups of international students and scholars to the US, "The US benefits greatly from international students who study in our country. The US government will continue to foster and support international students.

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