The
Ron Brown award program has been in existence
since 1994, but in 1996 it was renamed in memory
and honor of the late U.S. Secretary of Commerce,
who consistently pursued the concept of economic
diplomacy. The Program is funded under the auspices
of the Support for Eastern European Democracy
Act (SEED), through the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department
of State. Grants have been awarded to the citizens
of Serbia and Montenegro since 1997, and over
30 grantees from Serbia and over 10 from Montenegro
have already successfully completed their studies,
while 8 from Serbia and 4 from Montenegro are
still in U.S. universities. Grants are awarded
to candidates from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro,
Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Estonia and Latvia.
In the past there were also participants from
Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
The Ron Brown educational program supports effective
transition in the former communist regime countries
and offers fully funded two-year degree programs
at the Master’s level (excluding law, which is
one year, or one-year non-degree professional
development programs). Eligible fields of study
are:
- Business Administration (M.B.A.)
- Economics (M.A.)
- Educational Administration (M.A.)
- Environmental Policy/Management (M.A.)
- Journalism/Communications (M.A.)
- Law (LL.M.)
- Public Administration/Public Policy (M.P.A./M.P.P.)
The program is intensive and places fellows
in leading institutions that best fit their
academic needs and qualifications. It goes beyond
enriching the fellows academically. It provides
them with the opportunity to gain practical,
hands-on experience in their field of study
during a three-month summer internship. This
combination of education and practical experience
allows fellows to make a difference at work,
in community, and in society in their home countries.
Sample internships include: Cable News Network
(CNN), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank,
Congressional Research Service, United Nations
and the Kennan Institute.
After their return from the United States, grantees
from Serbia have won important positions in
state, private and non-governmental institutions
and organizations, like the Ministry of Privatization,
Ministry of Finance and Economy, OSCE, World
Bank, Belgrade Human Rights Center, etc. |
