University of Michigan Fully Funded African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Program 2018/2019
About
The University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Program brings early career faculty from African universities to Ann Arbor, Michigan for residencies that begin in late August, generally lasting up to six months. Scholars are paired with a faculty mentor during their stay and have full access to the University of Michigan's resources to further their work on a research project, an academic degree, publications, grant proposal, or other relevant activity. The program supports the development of the next generation of African scholars by integrating them into international academic networks, and promotes U-M’s international commitment to research and teaching collaborations across diverse disciplines, from engineering to literature to economics.
Since 2009, the UMAPS Program has hosted nine cohorts of scholars (118 total) from Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Nigeria, representing a wide range of disciplines
Eligibility Requirement
*Previous recipients of the UMAPS fellowship are not eligible to apply.
All applicants must:
Be an early career faculty member who has taught in the higher education system for less than ten years, presently teaching in a college or university in Africa
Be able to demonstrate support from home institution with letter of recommendation from head of department, dean, or vice chancellor
Be able to remain in residence from four to six months
Faculty members of colleges and universities in all other African countries cannot apply directly to the UMAPS program without first being nominated and invited to apply by a U-M faculty member with whom s/he already has a pre-existing relationship.
Selection Criteria and Award Details
Review and selection will be made by a multidisciplinary faculty committee at the University of Michigan and will be based on the following:
Academic quality of the candidate and of the proposed program of scholarship
Academic fit of the candidate with others selected in the cycle and with the areas of interest described in the Scholarly Program section below – it is our hope to facilitate scholarly networks
Support of the candidate’s home institution
Priority will be given to candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds. Promotion of gender equity in the current class of scholars and in the African academy will also be prioritized. Applicants who already have significant international experience will not be favored.
Benefits
Those admitted to the UMAPS Program will receive:
Four to six months residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, paired with a faculty mentor with full access to the university’s resources
Round-trip airfare from their home country to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Free housing, and a modest stipend to cover living, health care, and research costs while at U-M. Important note: The UMAPS program is unable to accommodate spouses and/or dependents
Office/Laboratory space
Opportunity to present research to the U-M community
