The mission of the Fulbright Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. It pursues this mission by awarding grants and fellowships, on an open competition basis, to students, teachers, scholars, artists and professionals from participating countries to study, teach, lecture and conduct research in the United States, and to U.S. citizens to engage in similar activities abroad. Grants are awarded on a rigorously competitive basis to individuals selected on the basis of academic excellence and professional qualifications.