- Exchanges from Moldova to the U.S.
- Exchanges from the U.S. to Moldova
Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe at the crossroad between east and west. It is surrounded by Ukraine to the northeast and Romania to the southwest with a population of about 3.0 million people. Once known as “the garden” of Soviet Union, it is famous for its wine, the world’s largest wine cellars and its charming countryside. Safe and welcoming, it is one of the few countries with a bilingual population (Romanian- and Russian-speaking) with two different alphabets: Cyrillic and Latin.
Moldova has a fascinating history; it was part of Romania during the interwar period, and it was a Soviet republic from the end of World War II until the breakup of the Soviet Union. Previously, it had been an independent nation under Ottoman rule and annexed by Tsarist Russia. Today, Moldova is an independent republic with an autonomous region called Gagauzia and a strip of break-away territory called Transnistria, which has not been recognized by any country. Transnistria has existed in a state of limbo since 1990. It is distinctive by its Soviet architecture, posters and pro-Russian sentiments. Transnistria State University is located in its capital Tiraspol, offers internationally accredited courses and features satellite campuses in the towns of Rybnitsa and Bender.
Overall, there are 27 universities in Moldova, 18 of which are state institutions and 9 private. The majority are in the capital, Chisinau, including Moldova State University, Technical University, Pedagogical University, Medical University, University of Arts, Academy of Economic Studies and Agricultural University. There is also one state university in the northern city of Balti; one in Comrat, the capital of the Gagauz region; and another in Cahul, in the south of Moldova. The biggest and oldest private university is Free Independent University of Moldova (ULIM) in Chisinau.
A placement in Moldova is a great opportunity for someone who is looking for direct interaction with multi-ethnic republics and its Soviet and Romanian heritage.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers approximately 470 teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright offers flexible awards including multi-country opportunities.
The U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program brings two to four U.S. faculty and professionals to Moldova each year. Grantees lecture at Moldovan universities and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
For more information please visit: https://www.cies.org/program/fulbright-us-scholar-program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects. A candidate will submit a Statement of Grant Purpose defining activities to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S.
During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of Moldova, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, the individual will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.
Every year Moldova hosts one or two U.S. Fulbright research students.
For more information please visit: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/fulbright-us-student-program
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms in Moldovan high schools or universities to provide assistance to the local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. The age and academic level of the students varies by country, ranging from kindergarten to university level. Applicants for ETA Programs can apply to only one country.
In Moldova ETAs are hosted by universities and top tier high schools outside of the capital city.
For more information please visit: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/types-of-awards/english-teaching-assistant-awards
The Fulbright Specialist Program
The Fulbright Specialist Program is designed to provide short-term academic opportunities (two to six weeks) for U.S. faculty and professionals. Shorter grant lengths give specialists greater flexibility to pursue a grant that works best with their current academic or professional commitments. The goal of this program is to promote increased connections between U.S. and non-U.S. higher education academic institutions and to encourage new activities that go beyond the traditional Fulbright activities of lecturing and research.
For more information please visit: https://fulbrightspecialist.worldlearning.org/
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program was launched in 2006 to promote critical language learning among American youth. The U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with American Councils for International Education, awards and administers merit-based scholarships to high school students for participation in summer and academic year immersion programs in locations where the eight NSLI-Y languages are spoken.
NSLI-Y immerses participants in the cultural life of Moldova, giving them formal and informal language practice and sparking a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures. Participants receive intensive language instruction, live with a host family for all or part of the program, and participate in community service and a variety of cultural activities.
For more information please visit: https://www.nsliforyouth.org/nsli-y/
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception in 2001. A Gilman Scholarship enables American students to gain proficiency in diverse languages and cultures, skills that are critically important to their academic and career development.
For more information please visit: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/program/program-overview/
Boren Scholars and Fellows
Boren Scholars and Fellows study a wide range of critical languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Romanian, Portuguese, and Swahili. Boren Awards are available to students of all proficiency levels who are committed to enhancing their skills.
Boren Scholars and Fellows from diverse fields of study immerse themselves in the cultures in world regions underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
For more information please visit: https://www.borenawards.org/
