Application Status: Closed.
Benjamin Franklin Fellowship 2023
The application season for the 2023 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship in the United States is now open. Please email your completed application form to the U.S. Embassy in Tirana by February 15, 2023.
Applications should be emailed to CultureandEducationTirana@state.gov.
The 2023 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship Summer Institute will last four weeks, from June 24 to July 22, 2023, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, (pending availability of funds). The goals of the Franklin Fellowship are:
- to develop a commitment to transatlantic cooperation;
- to foster relationships between American and European youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups;
- to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Europe;
- to develop a cadre of youth leaders who will share their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action.
The four-week program will accommodate up to 55 Fellows in total, ages 16 to 18. The Institute will host 45 European students and 10 American students. During the program, participants also will have the opportunity to discuss other topics such as democratic practices, conflict resolution, problem-solving, communication skills, critical thinking, tolerance and respect for diversity, youth leadership, team building, disinformation, and the media.
Recruitment/Candidate profile:
The successful candidate should have a strong interest in learning more about the transatlantic relationship, the role of a free press in a democracy, and an interest in public or community service. He/She should have a strong demonstrated interest in communications, advocacy, debate, or civic participation.
He/She should have the academic aptitude for a program of this nature and the personal qualities needed to be a successful participant, including maturity, strong social skills, flexibility, and open-mindedness. These factors are particularly important given the diverse group atmosphere of the Institute. English fluency is required.
One principal and one alternate candidate will be chosen from Albania.
General Candidate Qualifications:
- must be born between June 25, 2005, and June 24, 2007 (i.e., be 16, 17, or 18 years of age at the time the program starts);
- be highly proficient in English, as demonstrated in a personal interview or the results of a standardized test;
- be committed to enrolling in high school or university in your home country in fall 2023, following completion of the program;
- demonstrate strong leadership potential and interest in transatlantic relations and diplomacy;
- indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
- demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, as indicated by academic grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;
- demonstrate a commitment to community and extracurricular activities;
- have had little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States;
- be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;
- be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive summer program, with community service and educational travel;
- be comfortable with campus life, shared living accommodations, travel, and interaction with a multinational, co-ed group of participants from across Europe and the United States;
- be comfortable engaging with the Americans they meet in the host communities; and
- be able to adjust to cultural and social practices different from those of their home countries.
Application Process
To apply, candidates must complete the application form. The essays and personal statements in the application will be evaluated based on content, grammar, spelling, and structure.
Successful applicants will be contacted via email to schedule an interview with U.S. Embassy Tirana staff.
- Deadline for submission of application forms: February 15, 2023
- Selected candidates will be notified and invited for an interview before March 1, 2023