The program, a part of the Academic Fellowship Program (AFP), welcomes scholars from the eligible countries who have received (or will receive by September 2008) an internationally competitive postgraduate degree in the following fields: anthropology, area/cultural studies, gender studies, economics, history, political science, international relations, psychology, public administration, philosophy, social work, sociology, public health, human rights & public law, or journalism/media studies. The program does not support scholars in philology, the visual and performing arts, or business.

The program may operate in: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo/UNMIK, Kyrgyzstan, FYR of Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

AFP fellows are placed in carefully selected university departments that are amenable to change and demonstrate a realistic and clear vision for future development. The program, which represents part of a conscious strategy to combat rain drain, helps universities in the region retain promising young scholars, who are essential to the revitalization of departments and to the sustainability of higher education reforms. The program offers financial, professional and departmental development support, as well as opportunities for further professional growth as AFP alumni. Returning Scholars and partner departments also benefit from the presence of AFP-supported International Scholars, who provide expert mentorship in such areas as professional development, curriculum development and reform, research methods, and teaching/learning methodologies specific for their discipline.

The program supports placement of Returning Scholars only in AFP partner departments. An interested scholar already associated with a department that is not supported by AFP either will be ineligible or may discuss the possibility of relocating to a qualifying department at another university. A list of current AFP partner departments can be found below (and on the OSI website), though the list is subject to change for the 2008/09 academic year. Potential applicants are advised to explore placement possibilities with an AFP Region Manager or Country Coordinator before applying.
Fellowships include a monthly stipend and various allowances, including departmental and professional development funds, and are renewable.

Application deadline: April 15, 2008.
Fellowships begin in August or September 2008 and last one academic year.

Further information:
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/hesp/focus/afp
Open Society Institute

For your information the list of partner departments in the Western Balkan countries as of November 6, 2007 for the academic year 2007/08 includes the following:

Albania
Department of Public Law
Faculty of Law, University of Tirana

Kosovo/UNMIK
Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Faculty of Philosophy, University of PriÂstina

FYR of Macedonia
Department of Political Science
Faculty of Law, University of Skopje

Serbia
Department of Political Science
Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade