FISI 2006

The fifth Fulbright International Summer Institute was held in the beautiful mountain resort of Borovets on August 7-19. FISI attracted 51 participants from the U.S., Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Russia and Portugal.

The participants were offered ten courses in a wide variety of areas: ”Negotiation and Conflict Resolution”, “Financial Tools for Business and Personal Decisions”, “Adjusting to Globalization, Regionalization and the Process of Change: The Context of New Management”, “An Overview of the United States Judicial System and a Practicum on Litigating a Trial” “Communication, Culture and Technology: Intercultural Competence for Students in Global Times”, “Understanding the Media: The Cornerstones of the Effective Communication”, “American Foreign Policy and the International System in the Age of Globalization”, “Is the World Really Flat: Impact of Globalization on American and European Economies”, “Lobbying in the Public Interest”, and “Introduction to Bulgarian Culture”.

The new group of Fulbright grantees from the U.S. also attended the summer program and studied different aspects of Bulgarian history, politics, economy, folklore, literature and the arts.

All courses were taught in English by distinguished American and Bulgarian professors, most of whom were Fulbright grantees and alumni. The lecturers represented prestigious universities and various companies, e.g. Harvard University, the University of Michigan, Cleveland State University, Indiana University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Dayton, Sofia University, University of National and World Economy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, New Bulgarian University, National Academy of Arts and various companies and NGOs - Phelps Dunbar LLP, Media Development Center, Common Cause Foundation.

FISI 2006 also offered an exciting cultural program to show the participants the achievements of Bulgarian culture and the magic of Bulgarian nature. The highlight of the first week was a one-day trip to Rila Monastery and Blagoevgrad. This was followed by a trip to Sofia and an adventurous walk to Mt. Moussala, the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula. During the second FISI weekend participants visited the town of Samokov.

Participants and faculty unanimously agreed that the fifth Fulbright International Summer Institute was a big success. They created their own web-based photogallery and started planning the establishment of a FISI alumni association that will encourage productive discussions on important and interesting issues, will provide a stimulating environment for exchange of knowledge and will allow alumni to stay in touch wherever they are.