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Photo courtesy of
www.travel-bulgaria.com
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Former Secretary of State Lawrence
Eagleburger once observed that Bulgaria was the
world's best kept secret. As far as many Americans
are concerned, it is still a secret-but not for
the growing number of U.S. Fulbrighters who have
lectured or conducted research there. These scholars
agree that Bulgaria is a beautiful country with
a rich historical past and a varied cultural tradition
that the Bulgarians are eager to share.
When the Commission for Educational Exchange
between Bulgaria and the United States (Fulbright
commission) was established in Sofia in 1993,
the Fulbright Program with Bulgaria had already
been in existence for nearly two decades. In the
late 1970s, when the program was in its formative
years, it could accommodate two lecturers in American
literature or TEFL and one researcher, all at
the University of Sofia or the University of Veliko
Turnovo. Throughout the 1990s, however, the program
has grown in both size and diversity. In 2000-2001,
for example, the Bulgarian Fulbright commission
offered the country's first-ever distinguished
lecturing award in the humanities and social sciences.
Today, lecturers and lecturer/researchers in
a wide variety of disciplines and professions
are working with Bulgarian faculty and helping
train students in numerous institutions of higher
learning throughout the country. Fulbrighters
also continue to participate in many areas of
educational reform in Bulgaria by introducing
new teaching and research methodologies and helping
to establish advanced degree programs in social
work, public administration, journalism and business
administration.
In return, grantees to Bulgaria have gained increased
knowledge of a country that lies at an extremely
strategic and well-traveled crossroads between
the East and West-a country whose history, culture,
and people are both typical of the region and
unique. Many Fulbrighters have returned home with
an increased awareness of a country where the
spirit of democracy and tolerance and a profound
belief in universal, civic education are rooted
far deeper in tradition than may have been expected.
A number of scholars have successfully incorporated
their newfound knowledge and their experience
into their own research and teaching agendas and
have continued to build on collaborations and
projects initiated in Bulgaria.
General
 Bulgarian
Travel Guide
Bulgarian
Fulbright Commission
The
Government of Bulgaria
Bulgarian
Embassy
Bulgaria.com
Bulgarian
Digest
Balkan
Info: Bulgarian Room
Bulgaria
Online
Library
of Congress: Bulgaria
www.searchenginecolossus.com/Bulgaria.html
Search Engine Colossus: Blugaria
Education
Bulgarian
Universities (Braintrack)
Bulgarian
Universities (Yahoo)
Other Sources
United
States Department of State, Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Embassy
in Bulgaria
Funders
Online
Sabre
Foundation
Geocities
Europe Online
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