The Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (Fulbright) announces its annual competition for Fulbright awards under the Thai Visiting Scholar Program which offers grants to senior Thai scholars to lecture, pursue research or undertake special academic-related projects in the United States.

Thai scholars are invited to submit proposals in various areas of expertise for a grant to conduct research, lecture, or engage in special academic-related projects in the United States. For research projects, preference will be given to topics which focus upon the Thai-U.S. relationship in, for example, political, economic, trade, legal, cultural, or educational affairs. Lecturing projects should deal with topics relating to aspects of Thai society, modern Thai art, Thai-U.S. relations, or Thailand's role in regional affairs.

Selection will be based on the professional qualifications of applicants, and on the quality and significance of their project proposals. Applicants are expected to explore in advance the most appropriate location for their research/lecture/projects and should be able to indicate that the proposed host institutions - universities, archives, institutes, etc. - are prepared to receive the scholars. Project proposals will be considered only if the applicant submits an invitation from a U.S. institution along with his/her application.

Up to three awards, two of which are reserved for university/faculty members, will be offered for a period of 3-6 months. Funding for this program is through the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation under the Fulbright Program, and includes round-trip international travel, monthly stipend, professional allowance, settling-in allowance and health insurance. The monthly stipend ranges from US$2,500 to 2,900 based on survey data on the relative cost of living. An additional allowance (approximately US$200-350 per month) is given for qualified dependents who accompany the scholar for at least 80 percent of the grant period. Eligible dependants are spouse and children under 21.

* Individuals holding U.S. immigrant visas or permanent U.S. resident cards (green cards), or dual (Thai and U.S.) citizenship are not, eligible for Fulbright scholarships to Thai citizens.

The Fulbright New Century Scholars Program will bring together annually over the next three years 25-30 outstanding research scholars and professionals from the U.S. and around the world. NCS scholars will engage in multidisciplinary collaboration of the highest quality on a topic of substantial global significance under the leadership of a distinguished New Century Scholar Leader, an individual selected for expertise and standing in the area of the research topic as well as for the ability to approach the topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Approximately 25-30 leading scholars and professionals representing a variety of disciplines from the U.S. and abroad will be selected to engage in international collaboration of the highest quality related to the NCS research theme. Approximately one third of the participants will be U.S. scholars, the remaining two thirds will be visiting scholars from outside the U.S.

Along the lines of the traditional Fulbright Scholar Program, NCS will offer participants an international exchange opportunity of two-six months to further their research and investigate comparative approaches by interacting with colleagues abroad or in the U.S. In addition, NCS will add a new dimension to the traditional Fulbright exchange experience by providing participants with opportunities throughout the program year to maintain contact and exchange ideas about their research.

Each year, several American institutions are invited to submit proposals for scholars to the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). The CIES committee determines and recommends the strongest proposals to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and to the Foundation.

If a scholar is named in the recommended proposal, the Foundation will review the scholar's credentials and suitability and determine his/her availability, as well as clarify the institutional proposal with the scholar in order that all terms and conditions are understood. In the event that a scholar is not named or if the recommended scholar is not able to accept the award, the Foundation will identify other appropriate candidates in the country who fit the requirements of the proposal.

In connection with this program, some Thai lecturers of Language and Linguistics are invited to participate in the "Asian-Scholar-in-Residence Project", to teach Thai Language to American students and professionals in U.S. institutions every year.