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Published: 08 Jun 2023 656 views
The Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) is the only global program that arranges, funds, and supports fellowships for threatened and displaced scholars at partnering higher education institutions worldwide. These year-long fellowships of USD $25,000 support temporary academic positions at institutions of higher learning anywhere in the world where IIE-SRF fellows can continue their work in safety. In most cases, IIE-SRF fellows are eligible to apply for a second and final year of fellowship support.
Since 2002, IIE-SRF has received more than 3,000 requests for assistance from scholars in over 100 countries. We have awarded IIE-SRF fellowships to 1,059 scholars from 62 countries, placing them at 470 host partner institutions in 55 countries around the world.
Around the world, scholars have long suffered harassment, detention, torture, and other forms of persecution as a result of their work. In the worst cases, scholars pay with their lives for their dedication to their academic work and freedom of thought. The Institute of International Education (IIE), an independent not-for-profit organization, has participated in the rescue of persecuted scholars since its founding in 1919. In 2002, IIE launched the Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) to formalize its commitment to protecting the lives, voices, and ideas of scholars around the globe.... continue reading
| Application Deadline | Not Specified |
| Country to study | United States |
| School to study | Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) |
| Type | Fellowship |
| Sponsor | Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) |
| Gender | Men and Women |
The IIE-SRF fellowship award includes a grant of up to US$25,000, along with individual health insurance and relocation funding, to support a visiting academic appointment of up to one year (renewable for a second year). The final fellowship amount is dependent upon several factors, including the location of the host institution, the cost of living, and the value of any additional contributions from the host institution or other sources.
IIE-SRF requires that the hosting institution provide financial support that is equal to or greater than the IIE-SRF fellowship award. This matching support generally takes the form of a stipend or other direct benefits that would offset the fellow’s cost of living such as housing, airfare, or health insurance. Other in-kind contributions such as office space, computer and library access, or laboratory/bench fees are encouraged for a complete fellow support package but do not qualify as part of the matching contribution.
IIE-SRF may consider on a case-by-case basis a waiver of the full host funding requirement in order to allow fellows to undertake appointments within their home regions or in countries where the cost of living is lower and the funding requirement is prohibitive.
IIE-SRF accepts applications from professors, researchers, and public intellectuals who face threats and cannot continue their work in their home countries. Scholars from any country and in any academic field or discipline may qualify. Applicants are assessed based on academic qualifications and experience, the quality and/or potential of their work, and the urgency of the threats that they face.
Preference is given to scholars who:
hold a Ph.D. or highest degree in their field and have significant teaching and/or research experience at a university, college, or other institution of higher learning;
have an established record of published research;
demonstrate superior academic accomplishment or promise;
are facing or have recently fled from immediate, targeted threats to their lives and/or careers in their home countries or countries of residence;
will benefit their home and/or host academic communities.
We encourage applications from women and members of ethnic, racial, cultural, or religious minority groups, or those otherwise underrepresented in their fields.
Unfortunately, IIE-SRF typically cannot consider applications from individuals who:
are seeking to continue their studies, including Ph.D. study, or to complete an academic training program;
have been displaced or have resided outside their home countries for more than two years;
hold citizenship or permanent residency in a safe second country;
will have completed two years on a comparable fellowship or other program for threatened scholars.
Because of high demand for assistance, IIE-SRF is not able to grant fellowship support to all applicants who meet the eligibility requirements.
IIE-SRF conducts a thorough review of each applicant’s application materials to assess their experience, the quality of scholarly work, and the nature and urgency of the threat in the applicant’s home country. In doing so, IIE-SRF may contact the applicant’s references and/or other sources, such as independent experts on the applicant’s academic field, country of origin, or the particulars of the reported threat. (IIE-SRF will never share identifying information about an applicant without their permission.)
In many cases, IIE-SRF will follow up with an applicant directly for additional information about their academic work and/or their situation in their home country, in order to gain a full understanding of their scholarly background, individual circumstances, and need for the IIE-SRF fellowship.
Because of high demand for IIE-SRF assistance, the program is not able to grant fellowship support to all applicants who meet the eligibility requirements.
After the initial application assessment is complete, select applicants are presented for consideration by the IIE-SRF Selection Committee, which makes the final decisions on fellowship awards. The Committee meets four times per year.
Unfortunately, because of limited resources not all qualified applicants will be considered by the IIE-SRF Selection Committee.
Scholars can apply by sending the required application materials to us directly at [email protected]. In cases where a scholar is unable to submit the application, a third party may send the materials on their behalf.
The required application materials include:
To begin assessing an application, IIE-SRF must receive the application form, a current CV, academic statement, and personal statement. The remaining materials may be sent at a later time.
Please note that all application materials submitted to IIE-SRF must be original and unique to an applicant’s particular academic background and circumstances. IIE-SRF will not accept academic or personal statements that share identical language with the statements of other applicants to IIE-SRF. Any language or background information borrowed from the internet or other outside source should be cited to credit the original source.
Spouses who may both be eligible for IIE-SRF and intend to apply should submit applications at the same time. Please note that if one spouse submits an application after their partner has already been awarded the IIE-SRF fellowship, we may not be able to consider the second application. While we recognize that spouses may be experiencing similar circumstances in their home country, IIE-SRF requires each spouse to submit complete, unique application materials.
Please submit all application materials via email to [email protected]. If you do not have access to email, you may send your materials via fax or post.
Address:
Scholar Rescue Fund
Institute of International Education
One World Trade Center, 36th Floor
New York, New York 10007
USA
Fax: +1-212-205-6425
For more details visit: IIE-SRF website.