Whitaker International Program Establishes New Undergraduate Program

With support from the former Whitaker Foundation, IIE will provide undergraduate
biomedical engineers and bioengineers funding for a semester or one academic
year to pursue, in an international setting, coursework in biomedical
engineering (BME).  By providing BME students the opportunity to go abroad, the
Whitaker International Undergraduate Program will achieve the following
objectives:

• Diversification of the Whitaker International Program to include
  opportunities for undergraduates in BME
• Increasing the number of undergraduates in BME who go abroad
• Provision, early in their education, of the opportunity to see BME with an
  international perspective

There will be two competitions each year, one
for the Fall/Academic Year term, and one for the Spring term.  Award amounts
range from $7,500 for a semester program to $10,000 for an academic year
program.

To be eligible for the award, an applicant must:

• have U.S. citizenship or be permanent residents of the U.S. ,
• be enrolled as a Sophomore (2^nd year), Junior (3^rd year), or Senior (4^th or 5^th year), with at least one semester remaining,
  in an undergraduate BME degree program with good academic standing, and
• demonstrate a need for financial support to participate in study
  abroad. 

Priority will be given to students going to non-traditional
destinations.

A student may apply to attend any overseas academic
institution that is endorsed by the student’s study abroad advisor.  The advisor
must certify that the program is approved and the student will receive academic
credit at the home institution.  The advisor must also certify the student’s
financial aid need.

The Fall/Academic Year competition deadline is March
15^th, 2012.  For more details and application guidelines, please
visit www.whitaker.org.

The
Whitaker Foundation was created in 1975. Throughout its history, the Foundation
primarily supported interdisciplinary medical research, with a focus on
biomedical engineering. Most of the Foundation’s efforts were directed toward
the establishment and enhancement of formal educational programs and the support
of especially talented students and faculty. In 2006, the Foundation ceased
operations, and committed its remaining funds to a grant program focused on
strengthening international collaborative links between young leaders in BME
worldwide. Under the guidance of the Institute of International Education,
the Whitaker International
Program is designed to bring
international experience and insight to the field of biomedical
engineering.
 
The Institute of International Education, based in New
York, was founded in 1919 as an independent, nonprofit organization and has
become a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. It
administers the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Government’s premier public
diplomacy initiative, and works to solve global problems and to foster mutual
understanding among the peoples of the
world.