PRESS RELEASE: UNITED STATES AND SLOVENIA SIGN NEW MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON FULBRIGHT PROGRAM
Ljubljana, March 24, 2022
The United States and Slovenia have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on the Fulbright Program which provides legal authority for this U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program in Slovenia. The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia ratified the memorandum last week. The new memorandum was signed by U.S. Ambassador Jamie L. Harpootlian and Slovenian Minister of Education, Science, and Sport, Dr. Simona Kustec.
The previous Memorandum of Understanding expired in December 2021. The new memorandum removes any sunset clause to the agreement and codifies amendments made to the previous memorandum in 2014. “By removing the sunset clause, this agreement will continue indefinitely. This will enable academics and scholars to make connections and build bridges which will deepen the ties between our two countries,” said Ambassador Harpootlian.
Since 1993, over 400 doctoral students and researchers have been included in the program, namely 212 Slovenians and 190 Americans.
“The signing of the Fulbright memorandum between Slovenia and the U.S. for an unlimited period is proof of the good cooperation so far, and the close ties and strong trust that has been built, and both countries’ support for the knowledge for the future,” said Minister Kustec. “The Fulbright program is considered one of the most prestigious international educational and academic programs. It enables alumni to study and conduct research at the best universities and institutes. So far more than 400 alumni have taken advantage of this opportunity on both sides, many of whom have later gone on to pursue top international academic and research careers. I am very happy that with this MOU, Slovenia has given support and committed to the future role and importance of knowledge,” she added.
For 75 years, the Fulbright Program has given hundreds of thousands of talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges. Over 400,000 Fulbrighters have participated since its inception in 1946, including 40 heads of state or government, 61 Nobel Prize Laureates, 75 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, 89 Pulitzer Prize Recipients, and 16 U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients.
