Annual Report

Letter from the ExecutiveDirectorformer United Nations Undersecretary-General forHumanitarian Affairs and Emergency ReliefCoordinator, U.S. Ambassador Benson Whitney,Minister Tora Aasland from the Norwegian Ministryof Education and Research, State Secretary RaymondJohansen and Nobel Institute Director GeirLundestad. In addition, individual certificates, signedby Fulbright’s honorary chairs, have been presentedto all the Norwegian grantees in recognition of beinggranted a Fulbright award. Receptions to honor thegrantees have been well attended and successful.The Fulbright staff continues to accelerate its activityregarding workshops on highly relevant topics likesports’ scholarships, applying to graduate school andpossibilities for studying in the U.S. Granteebrochures, with individual photos and informationregarding their U.S. and Norwegian affiliations andthe purpose of individual grants, have been preparedto promote the program and highlight theimportance of host universities. In an effort to makeprogram information easily accessible, the websitewas redesigned two years ago.Now that the first three years of the currentExecutive Director’s tenure have passed, it is time totake stock of significant improvements in thecommission’s situation and activities that have beenachieved.Thanks to an active Board and stellar staff, thegreatest achievement is additional funding from allthree funding agencies: the U.S. State Department,Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research andNorwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which hasresulted in a significant increase in the number ofscholarships. For the first time, the High Northflagship stipend was given last year to set focus onArctic studies in the high north.Another important milestone is moving theorientation meetings in preparation for the awardyear, both for the U.S. and Norwegian grantees, intothe public arena. Previously held in the office, theseimportant meetings are now framed at the globallyrenowned Nobel Institute, famous for theceremonies surrounding the awarding of the annualNobel Peace Prize. Among dignitaries who haveaddressed grantees are Jan Egeland, Fulbrighter andThe Fulbright staff collaborates to promote itsprograms through panel debates at NAFSA,presentations at Science Week in Washington, D.C.,hosting a booth at the European Association forInternational Education in Trondheim, participating inEmbassy events, advising, hosting universitydelegations, in particular the visit of FulbrightScholarship Board member and President of theUniversity of Minnesota Dr Bruininks, welcoming theEuropean Regional Educational Advising Coordinatorfor Europe to Oslo. Recently, the Executive Directorwas elected to the Executive Committee of theEuropean Fulbright Executive Directors. Fundingagencies are kept abreast of developments through amore comprehensive Annual Report.Finally, new programs have been started. Now in itssecond year, the Summer Institutes for OutstandingEuropean Students has increased from four to fiveparticipants. The Foundation will launch the EnglishTeaching Assistantship program, the High NorthSummer Institute as well as High North postdoctoralexchange next year. For the first time, we nominatedone candidate to the prestigious Fulbright Scienceand Technology Award.- Sonia Noronha Mykletunpage 2