Thirty-one outstanding research scholars and professionals from 22 countries and regions, including Yemen, Egypt, and the United States, have started working collaboratively to establish a broad framework for constructive action to ensure the future of higher education worldwide. Lead by the distinguished higher education expert Philip G. Albach, the new Fulbright New Century Scholars will look into issues like the future of the academic profession, elite versus mass-access, the public-private mix in higher education, and the globalization of higher education. A final plenary will take place in Paris from October 19-25, 2006, co-hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Franco-American Commission for Educational Exchange.

The Fulbright New Century Scholars programme is sponsored by the US Department of State in partnership with the Council of International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), which is a division of IIE. The programme is designed to provide world scholars from different fields with a platform for multinational, interdisciplinary debate and dialogue in response to specific challenges.