The United States-Kosovo Educational Exchange Board (USKEB) has announced an open call for project proposals from Kosovan host institutions for the 2025 Fulbright Specialist Program. The deadline for submissions is July 20, 2025. Through this program, Kosovan institutions can bring qualified U.S. scholars and professionals to Kosovo for projects lasting between two and six weeks.
According to USKEB, "The Fulbright Specialist Program in Kosovo offers around twelve (12) Fulbright Specialist grants per calendar year." Projects must begin no earlier than October 1, 2025, and be completed by September 30, 2026.
The Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) provides opportunities for U.S. academics and professionals at the faculty or full professional level to share their expertise with Kosovan host institutions. While many participants are academics, professionals such as attorneys, journalists, scientists, economists, security experts, and others in eligible fields also take part. The minimum length of a project is 14 days and the maximum is 42 days, including travel days and weekends.
"Fulbright Specialists exchange knowledge, build capacity, and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities both in the United States and in Kosovo," states the program description. The FSP aims to promote long-term collaboration between U.S. and Kosovan institutions through projects that align with U.S. Department of State goals as well as host institution priorities.
Projects must be conducted in person; virtual participation is not permitted under current policy. The FSP operates as part of the broader Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Kosovo.
Eligible activities under FSP include teaching or training sessions, workshops delivery, strategic planning development, curriculum design or educational material creation, institutional planning support, consultancy on specific initiatives, staff capacity building efforts, seminars or academic courses delivery, data analytics work or research tasks, as well as needs assessments for programs or institutions.
For fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), activities may be conducted within a set of 24 eligible disciplines spanning areas such as agriculture; American studies; anthropology; archaeology; biology education; business administration; chemistry education; communication and journalism; economics; education; engineering education; environmental science; computer science/information technology; law; library science; mathematics education; peace/conflict resolution studies; physics education; political science; public administration/global health/social work/sociology/urban planning.
Host institutions considered eligible include reputable academic organizations (universities/colleges/research/vocational-technical institutes), government bodies (ministries/agencies), cultural organizations (museums/libraries/conservatories/theaters), NGOs/think tanks/public health-related entities like hospitals or public health organizations.
U.S.-based entities—including businesses—and personal research projects are not eligible under this program’s guidelines. Clinical medical research involving patient contact is also excluded from eligibility.
Host institution responsibilities include developing a suitable project proposal aligned with FSP parameters specific to Kosovo’s requirements while providing cost sharing covering local expenses such as lodging/meals/in-country transportation ($40 daily meal stipend required). Institutions must also provide safe accommodations—hotels/university housing/homestays if approved—airport transfers/funding assistance for meals/reporting obligations to both USKEB/American Councils Kosova/U.S Embassy Pristina regarding any issues during implementation/completion of final report survey/project impact/media coverage updates.
All applicants seeking placement on the Fulbright Specialist roster must be U.S citizens with significant field experience demonstrated by professional/academic/artistic achievements who can travel overseas for up to six weeks depending on project duration requirements. Disclosure of prior legal/disciplinary matters is mandatory during application/subsequent stages before/during grant period according to eligibility criteria determined by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) & Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA).
Interested candidates may apply via World Learning’s online portal: https://worldlearning-community.force.com/FSPHost . Further information about eligibility requirements can be found at https://fulbrightspecialist.worldlearning.org/program-timeline/.
Kosovan host institutions interested in participating should submit applications directly through World Learning’s portal by July 20th after registering online—a username will be needed to complete submission steps outlined on https://fulbrightspecialist.worldlearning.org/. For additional instructions/questions about accessing this system contact World Learning directly via their website.
World Learning manages recruitment/preparation logistics for selected specialists traveling from the United States while USKEB oversees program administration once specialists arrive in Kosovo.
Specialists may be matched through either an open process—where World Learning identifies suitable candidates from its roster—or by naming preferred individuals already listed or proposed new candidates subject to peer review approval before final matching occurs with oversight from USKEB/ECA authorities based on project fit/current context considerations locally relevant within Kosovo’s environment.
Selection procedures involve pre-screening applications against administrative priorities followed by review/selection decisions made jointly between USKEB/Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs regarding funding/project assignments/specialist appointments accordingly.