Eisenhower Fellowships' Multi Nation Program, its largest and oldest, brings to the United States 25 emerging leaders from as many countries each year. The program provides two months of travel throughout the United States, with a custom-designed program for each participant. Meetings, conferences, and related events are tailored to the Fellow’s professional interests and with his or her active participation.
Each program offers a unique opportunity to broaden the Fellow’s horizons by exchanging ideas and perspectives with leading U.S. thinkers and practitioners in the relevant field. The eight-week fellowships typically involve visits to 10-12 cities and 60-80 individual appointments.
Eisenhower Fellowships brings Fellows together for seminars at the beginning and end of each program, laying the foundation for shared learning and life-long international friendships and contacts.
Candidates are identified and recommended by in-country nominating committees composed of Eisenhower Fellows and other eminent citizens. Final selection is made by the Philadelphia-based selection committee. Spouses who are fluent in English are invited to accompany Fellows for a minimum of three weeks.
The first Multi Nation program took place in 1954 with 13 Fellows, each of whom spent 11 months in the U.S., traveling by car throughout the country. The president of Turkey, a young hydraulic engineer in 1954, was a member of the first group of Fellows. Since that time, 106 countries have participated in the Multi Nation program.
Today's Fellows travel by plane, visiting approximately 10-12 cities and having 60 to 80 meetings in their two months.
Countries in the Multi Nation Program are chosen on the basis of active alumni involvement in the Eisenhower network, the local Nominating Committee’s ability to identify and attract top-quality candidates, and the potential for Fellow contributions to national development.