The Muskie Mentor/Advisor Exchange (MAX) program supports continued professional relationships between Muskie alumni and their American host advisors, supervisors, professors,and mentors.The program enables Muskie alumni, working in collaboration with a host mentor or advisor, to create and implement a professional education workshop in the alumnus/a’s home country. Mentors/advisors travel to Eurasia to conduct or co-conduct workshops focusing on continuing professional education with and for the Muskie alumnus/a and their non alumni peers and colleagues.
The alumnus/a will identify in-kind support required to hold the workshops, which may include venue rental, food, printing costs, etc. IREX will cover the travel and lodging cost of the visiting mentor while providing a stipend to cover their in-country expenses.
Who is Eligible for Muskie MAX?: American mentors/advisors eligible for this grant include: academic advisors, internship host supervisors and any other professional contact that worked directly with the Muskie fellow in away that was related to his/her field of study. Mentors/Advisors MUST be US citizens. Alumni must be in good standing and currently residing in their home country.
How to apply ?: The Muskie alumnus/a will complete a brief online application describing the intent of the workshops, the workshop participants, and the profile of the American mentor/advisor who would participate. Alumni may submit only one proposal and only one mentor/advisor may be identified to participate. The application can be found at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/992BSDQ
Examples of Potential Projects:
An alumnus/a organizes a series of five workshops for NGO members, Peace Corps Volunteers, human rights and other civic activists, focusing on women’s media activism. The alumnus/na manages the logistics and works with the advisor to create the content of the workshop. The hosting institutions cover the costs of space, materials, and meals as well as sight-seeing opportunities for non-local participants.
An alumnus/a who is a Director at a university library organizes a two-day forum for librarians on improving library services towards building information literacy. The academic advisor presents on the organization of public libraries to create a more user-friendly space and encourage a strong civil society by allowing groups to meet and discuss. The national library where the forum is held donates the space and meals and materials are provided by an alumni association.
An alumnus/a focusing on environmental law issues in relation to human rights invites a professor to co-conduct lectures at three universities on the topic open to students and other interested participants. Future project collaboration is developed between the host and U.S. institutions. The universities provide lecture hall space.
An alumnus/a in Education organizes and collaborates with an advisor to create a conference for professionals and interested participants on the topic of supporting international students. Two universities host the event and provide free lecture space and refreshments.
