Ohio State named a top producer of Fulbright grant winners

germanium_sm.jpg

The element germanium in its natural state. Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a technique for making one-atom-thick sheets of germanium for eventual use in electronics. Photo by Joshua Goldberger, courtesy of The Ohio State University.

The Ohio State Universitywas recognized today as a top producer of both Fulbright Scholars and U.S. Fulbright students for the 2014-15 academic year. Top-producing institutions are highlighted in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program. It provides grants for students and scholars to study, teach or conduct research and exchange ideas in 155 countries around the world.

Six scholars from Ohio State were awarded prestigious Fulbright grants for 2014-15. Among the nation’s top 13 research universities, Ohio State ranks fifth, tied with Michigan State and the universities of Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, North Texas and Wisconsin.

In addition, 14 Ohio State Buckeyes – recent graduates and current graduate students – are representing the United States as winners of Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants. Fulbright grants offer one year of academic study, research or teaching assistantship experience around the world. Ohio State ranks 16th out of 36 top producing research institutions.

“The Fulbright Program offers opportunities to promote international goodwill and share research and knowledge,” said Ohio State President Michael V. Drake, MD. “I am grateful that so many Ohio State faculty and students are gaining national recognition for their talents, and I look forward to how these experiences will enrich our teaching and scholarship in the future.”

The rankings are the result of increased emphasis at Ohio State on Fulbright opportunities. The Office of International Affairs, the Graduate School and the Undergraduate Fellowship Office collaborate to promote Fulbright opportunities through a Fulbright Week at Ohio State program.

The rankings are the latest recognition of Ohio State’s international programs. In the 2014 Open Doors Report, the university ranked in the top 15 for study abroad and international students. Earlier, Ohio State University was selected to receive NAFSA’s Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization which recognizes institutions for overall excellence in internationalization efforts.

The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.

In addition to sending students and scholars abroad, some 4,000 new foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study for graduate degrees, conduct research and teach languages.