The Fulbright Program was named after Senator J. William Fulbright from Arkansas, who proposed the program shortly after World War II “to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries.” The presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board oversees worldwide policies and procedures for the program and approves grants.

Since its inception, the Fulbright Program has become the largest and most prestigious educational exchange program worldwide. More than 250,000 grantees have benefited from the program, teaching, studying and conducting research projects. The program has a significant impact in the internationalization of the academic community, and contributes to the exchange of ideas and better understanding among citizens around the world.

The Program, in which 140 countries were participating in 2002, is administered in the U.S. principally by the Department of State with the Department of Education administering smaller programs for Americans only. Outside the U.S. it is administered by 51 binational Commissions and by the United States Embassy in countries without Commissions.

The primary source of funding in the U.S. is the U.S. Congress through annual appropriations. In fiscal year 2002, $ 123 million went to the State Department and $ 10 million to the Department of Education. Approximately 40% of the Program’s total budget comes from foreign governments and private sources.

Approximately 6,000 new grants are awarded annually. About half go to graduate students in all countries and graduating seniors in the U.S.; roughly 1,000 to scholars and another 400 to school teachers. Approximately 700 grants are made to American graduate students, scholars, K-12 teachers, and administrators under the Fulbright-Hays Foreign Area and Language Training Program administered separately by the U.S. Department of Education.

LASPAU: Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas: is an association of more than 800 institutions of higher education throughout the Americas. It is affiliated with Harvard University and carries out programs for several sponsors including the United States Information Agency. There are two programs administered for Bolivia:

Fulbright/LASPAU, Faculty Development Program - Faculty development grants are awarded to faculty members of participating American Republics universities for advanced study in the U.S. Grants provide English language training as necessary and maintenance through completion of a Master's, or non-degree programs. Invitations to participate in the LASPAU Programs are forwarded to universities and Amazon institutions in May. All candidates take the TOEFL and PAEP exams in July.

Fulbright/OAS, Ecology Initiative - provides opportunities for scholars from the area to study environmental issues. Grantees in the natural sciences, social sciences, and public policy consider multidisciplinary approaches to sustainable development of the region.

CIES Research Program for Foreign Scholars- Provides 3-6 month grants to scholars from the American Republics area to conduct research at a U.S. educational institution. Minimum Master's degree is required.

Scholar-in-Residency Program - Provides grants to scholars from the American Republics area to lecture at U.S. universities for one semester or one academic year. U.S. institutions submit proposals to CIES. Proposals may specify scholars or request assistance in identifying suitable candidates, and should include cost sharing.