MENLO PARK, Calif., September 9, 2002 - SRI International, a leading independent research institute, today announced results of a two-year outcome assessment of the U.S. Scholar component of the Fulbright Educational Exchange Program, the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. The U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

SRI found strong evidence that the program is achieving its mandate of promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and other nations, and that it has diverse and often powerful impacts not only on Fulbright Scholars themselves, but also on their colleagues, students, friends and families.

Key Findings
SRI researchers found two key themes: the capacity of the Fulbright experience to increase Americans' knowledge of and engagement with the world, and the power of personal relationships to increase mutual understanding. These themes are particularly compelling in view of the events of September 11, 2001.

The real power of the Scholars' experiences is in their "multiplier" effects. The study indicates that during their grant period, the Scholars teach, collaborate in research with colleagues and students, organize workshops, provide media interviews, socialize with neighbors, and interact in many other ways with a variety of people in their host countries. When they depart, they leave behind books and other materials, changed curricula, new ideas and new perspectives and increased understanding of American culture - immediately and for many years to come.

"This study demonstrates and quantifies the impact of the Fulbright Scholar Program for the first time," said Dr. Patti McGill Peterson, executive director of CIES. "It underlines the value of the program to America's international relationships and also to Americans' understanding of other nations. At a time when the world is so endangered by lack of understanding, the Fulbright Scholar Program is a beacon of hope."

Virtually all Scholars reported that their Fulbright experiences gave them a deeper understanding of their host country and heightened their awareness of social and cultural diversity. They also cited ways in which ongoing personal contacts stemming from living and working in a community put a face on U.S. policies and culture and increase mutual understanding. Without exception, they agreed that their Fulbright experiences were valuable. This level of approbation is extremely rare in program evaluation research.

Other key findings included the following:

• Scholars' grant activities are diverse: Beyond the basic lecturing or research focus of their grants, Scholars wrote or edited articles or books, advised students, provided technical advice and organized or participated in conferences or events.
• Grantees are active in their neighborhoods and communities: 98% interacted with people from their host country by engaging in some form of media, community or social activity.
• Scholars build knowledge and long-term relationships with host institutions and foreign colleagues: 80% said they imparted new knowledge about their field, 75% have continued to collaborate with colleagues since their grant's completion and 70% have been visited in the U.S. by host country colleagues or friends.
• Scholars make U.S. campuses and communities more "international": 73% have incorporated aspects of their Fulbright experience into courses and teaching methods.
• Scholars are enriched and inspired by Fulbright experiences: Large majorities reported that their overseas experience led to professional expertise they otherwise would not have developed, enhanced their credentials and contributed to greater insight into their field.

Study Background
SRI surveyed a stratified random sample of 1,004 U.S. Fulbright Scholar alumni whose grants began between 1976 and 1999. Eighty percent of the Scholar alumni - 801 people - completed a questionnaire about the impact the Fulbright program has had on individuals and institutions both in the U.S. and in the Scholars' host countries. An executive summary and the full report of SRI's outcome assessment can be found at www.sri.com/policy/csted/reports/.

About the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program
Legislation to establish the Fulbright Program was proposed to the U.S. Congress in 1945 by Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas and signed into law in 1946. In the aftermath of World War II, Fulbright viewed the program as a much-needed vehicle for promoting "mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries of the world."

The U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program, one of several under the Fulbright umbrella, provides grants for American college and university faculty, professionals and independent scholars to lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic disciplines in 140 countries. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (http://exchanges.state.gov), and administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a private, non-profit organization.

About SRI International
SRI International (www.sri.com) is one of the world's leading independent research and technology development organizations. Founded as Stanford Research Institute in 1946, SRI has been meeting the strategic needs of clients for more than 55 years. The nonprofit research institute performs contract research and development for government agencies, businesses and nonprofit foundations.

SRI International's Center for Science, Technology and Economic Development (www.sri.com/policy/csted) helps regions, organizations, and businesses develop more effective science and technology, economic, and educational programs and policies through through research, analysis, program evaluation and strategic planning for private and public sector clients.