Strengthening African universities is one of the most effective ways to contribute to the continent’s growth and continued excellence. The U-M African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) program has helped retain and strengthen faculty members working in African institutions of higher education, and empowered them to contribute to international academic networks and set their own research agendas.
The UMAPS Programme brings early career faculty from African universities to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Scholars are paired with a faculty collaborator during their stay and have full access to the University of Michigan’s (U-M) 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Previous recipients of the UMAPS fellowship are not eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applicants without extensive international experience outside the continent.
All applicants must:
Be an early career faculty member who has taught in the higher education system for less than ten years, and who is presently teaching in a college or university in Africa
Be employed in an ongoing position at a university or college in Africa
Be able to demonstrate support from a home institution with a letter of recommendation from the head of department, dean, or vice chancellor
Be able to remain in residence for five months
Benefits
Those admitted to the UMAPS Programme 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. The UMAPS program is unable to accommodate spouses and/or dependents
Office/Laboratory space
Opportunity to present research to the U-M community
Process
A multidisciplinary faculty committee at the University of Michigan will review and select candidates. Selection will be based on the following:
Academic quality of the candidate and of the proposed program of scholarship;
The academic fit of the candidate with others selected in the cycle-and with the areas of interest described above;
And the support of the candidate’s home institution.
Strong emphasis 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 given strong consideration.
Candidates who already have significant international experience will not be favored for this program.
Documents Required
All applicants must:
Complete the online application form » (IN THIS APPLICATION CYCLE, this link can only be used by applicants from the following countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda)
Upload a curriculum vitae using the online application
Upload a scholarly program/research proposal (not to exceed five pages). Applications from a wide range of disciplines and schools are welcome; applications that align with the center’s disciplinary initiatives—AHHI, ASRI, and STEM-Africa—are encouraged
Provide complete name and contact information of the department head, dean, or vice chancellor at the applicant’s home institution who will be writing their letter of support
Applications will be reviewed after the closing date on October 15. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Application procedure and deadline
Applications can be completed through the online portal.
For applicants from outside Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, or Uganda, nomination is required and needs to be completed by a U-M faculty member familiar with the work of the prospective applicant. The nominating faculty must:
Complete the online nomination form (for University of Michigan faculty only and access requires U-M login)
Submit /upload a letter of endorsement that indicates their willingness to serve as a mentor during the length of the residency, commit to meet regularly, and if possible provide an office space for the prospective participant
As soon as we receive the complete nomination form and letter of support, we will send the nominated candidate an email invitation with a link to the application portal for nominated applicants; please do not use the regular application portal.
UMAPS Information Webinar (via Zoom) | Aug 31, 2023 08:30 AM EST
This webinar will provide information on the program, covering topics such as (i) eligibility, and (ii) how to prepare an application to the program.
Click here to register in advance.
Application deadline is October 15, 2023.
