Civic Education & Leadership Fellowship (CELF) Program – Deadline May 14, 2012

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut is seeking applications for the MEPI 2012 Civic Education & Leadership Fellowship (CELF) program. The CELF program will provide to Lebanese academics an opportunity to participate in individually-tailored programs at the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University (http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/) in upstate New York.

CELF is a four-month fellowship (i.e., one academic semester – either Fall 2012 or Spring 2013) opportunity for university teachers and scholars from the MENA region designed to: 1) promote democracy and international standards in social science education; 2) develop civil society capacity on the university policy level; 3) enhance the quality of education through improved curricula development and delivery, increased institutional capacity, and expanded student and faculty engagement; and 4) further develop the critical thinking and analytic capabilities of educators regarding civic education.

Syracuse University will match each fellow with faculty members on campus who may serve as mentors and contacts, and develop individual work plans for the three substantive areas of the project:  1) curriculum development; 2) teaching and research skills development; and 3) professional enhancement and networking activities.  The project will work with fellow before they arrive in the United States on their individual work plans so that they can maximize their time while they are on campus.

All Fellows will participate in civic engagement, teaching skills and curriculum development seminars. Fellows will also participate in professional networking initiatives that broaden their contacts with individuals and academic institutions in the United States. Program participants will receive a certificate from Syracuse University upon the successful completion of the program.

The U.S. Department of State through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) will cover all international and domestic travel, health insurance, housing in shared apartments, and a moderate living stipend in the United States for all Fellows participating in the project.  Fellows will not be allowed to travel to the United States with family.

CELF is open to individuals working in an accredited institution of higher education for a minimum of five years in social science disciplines (including, but not limited to political science, public administration, law, media, journalism, and communications). Though PhDs (completed or in progress) are preferred, the minimum requirement for the candidates is a completed Masters degree in one of these fields.

Furthermore, the ideal candidate for CELF should:

• have demonstrated a commitment and a desire to remain working in this field for the foreseeable future, and an equal commitment to improving the quality and capacity of educational institutions in their field of study;
• have exhibited leadership skills and the capacity to apply opportunities presented in this project in a way that would benefit an educational institution, organization, sector, and/or community;
• have a high level of English language fluency to function successfully in a high-level academic and professional environment;
• have not already completed an academic degree or resided in the United States, and is not subject to J Visa restrictions; and
• have letters of support from the institution that will allow him/her to study in the United States in Fall 2012 or Spring 2013.  Note:  Applicants must indicate their availability for each term, and indicate which one they prefer.

Applicants are expected to submit a current resume and two essays of no more than 500 words each, written in English, which answers the following questions:

Essay 1: What hopes and plans do you have for improving the quality and capacity of your educational institution in your field of study?  How do you see yourself leading this change?

Essay 2: What are the prospects for greater civic engagement in solving social problems and fostering participatory democracy in your country, and what role do you see yourself and your institution playing in this regard?

Professional resumes and essays should be sent to BeirutPD@state.gov with the subject line “CELF Application” by Monday, May 14, 2012.