Grants

These funds are intended to facilitate the professional development of Academic Fellowship Program (AFP) Returning Scholars by covering such costs as conference fees, travel expenses to and from academic events, or other expenses related to activities contributing to the development of the fellow as a scholar. Other examples might include visiting research centers or libraries to for gather research data and access research materials, establishing mentorship relations with academics from another university, or strengthening academic networks.

If the support is intended to cover costs of conference participation, the conference must be:

• important for the fellow’s own professional development and relevant to AFP's mission;
• held under the auspices of a recognized university or an academic association that selects conference presenters in an open and competitive process.

If support is requested for other activities related to the fellow’s professional development, the application must clearly justify the expense by proving the significance and relevance of the activity to the fellow (e.g., how this activity augments the fellow’s professional development plan or how it will contribute to establishing or strengthening academic cooperation in the fellow's discipline). Fellows should attach to the application a letter of endorsement from the mentor or a letter of invitation from the institution to be visited. A letter of support from the home university is also required if the fellow intends to represent the university or department.

Central European University (CEU) Library/Research Visits are offered within the AFP Professional Development Fund. AFP encourages Returning Scholars conducting research to apply for a CEU library/research visit trip and take advantage of the wide range opportunities for accessing information provided by the CEU in Budapest. CEU holds the largest collection of English-language materials relating to the social sciences and humanities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Application Requirements and Procedure

Fellows must apply at least six weeks (42 calendar days) before the date of travel. In addition fellows must:

• include in the application a one-page proposal outlining the importance of the proposed activity to the fellow's own professional development and its relevance to AFP;
• include proof that the fellow’s paper was selected for presentation (such as e-mail confirmation from the organizers, official acceptance letter, or listing in conference program). If funds are requested for other activities (study/research visits, establishing a mentorship, etc.) letters of endorsement and letters of invitation must be attached; and
• send the completed application form, proposal, other required documents, and budget estimate to the AFP Regional Manager.

Selection

AFP Regional Offices review the applications; recommended applications are then considered by the Professional Development Panel on a rolling basis.

Fellows must submit their applications between the following dates of their period of fellowship/academic year: Aug 31 to the following June 30. All project activities must be completed no later than August 31 at the end of the fellowship/academic year.

Professional Development Fund Grantee Responsibility

The grantee agrees:

• to immediately obtain brochures and other AFP materials necessary for representing AFP during the proposed activity and to clearly identify him/herself as an AFP/HESP Fellow;
• to acknowledge AFP support in any resulting papers or publications;
• to arrange a presentation on AFP activities, if possible and appropriate, and to disseminate AFP promotional materials;
• to obtain a clear leave-of-absence from the home university and agree to make up any missed teaching time (absence from the home university must not exceed ten days).

Recipients of the award must submit a financial report and return any unspent funds to their regional office no later than four weeks after the event or not later than August 31 at the close of the academic year. Reports must be submitted by e-mail to the AFP Administrative Coordinator (amolnar@osi.hu).