PFP


 

The Professional Fellows Program (PFP; previously known as Legislative Fellows Program or LFP) is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Turkey, it is administered by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS.

PFP Program Goals are: to strengthen understanding of U.S. legislative process; to enhance appreciation of the role of civil society and its engagement in the political process; to create partnerships between U.S. and foreign institutions; to establish a common language for developing practical solutions for shared problems and concerns.

Important Facts: Georgian fellows of the 2013 program year will be selected through a competitive application process. All interested candidates should apply online at: https://ais.americancouncils.org.

Semifinalists will be selected based on their applications and then interviews will be conducted at the American Councils office in Tbilisi. Final decision upon finalists will be made by the independent committee members at American Councils D.C. office.

Upon arrival in the United States, fellows will participate in a three-day intensive introduction to the U.S. political process in Washington D.C. Fellows will then begin their five-week long fellowships across the United States in state legislatures and city halls, immersing themselves in the daily operations of state governance, government oversight, and citizen participation.  At the end of the program, Fellows will be given a unique opportunity to meet PFP fellows from Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Singapore, Taiwan and learn about their legislative systems during two day wrap-up conference organized in Washington, D.C.

Anyone who meets below listed eligibility requirements can participate in the program:

  • Be 25 to 35 years of age Georgian citizen at the time of application
  • Be a college graduate (equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree or higher)
  • Be proficient in English, as demonstrated by paper based TOEFL scores over 500, CBT scores over 173, IBT scores over 61 or its equivalent (for example, university-level study in an English-speaking program or IELTS band 6 or higher). If you have none of these and are selected as a semi-finalist, we will give you an institutional TOEFL exam
  • Have legislative experience and knowledge as it relates to your home country
  • Have relevant experience in and commitment to a career in the public sector
  • Have demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills.

Important Dates:

Deadline for Professional Fellows Program fall season applications: March 20, 2013

Fall program tentative dates: October 1 – November 9, 2013.

 

For more information, please contact us:

American Councils for International Education in Georgia,

35 a Chavchavadze Ave. 0162, Tbilisi. Tel: (995 32) 229-21-06, 229-132-72, 2291-32-52

E-mail: lfp.georgia@gmail.com

Web site: http://professionalfellows.americancouncils.org/