Marius Profiroiu

Fulbright Scholar, 2010-2011

I am pleased to inform you that my Fulbright Program in US is progressing well. I have advanced with my research, by participating to courses, seminars, workshops at Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, by accessing the University library resources and by having different formal and informal discussions with my American colleagues related to my research topic. At this time I am writing to the report of my research, which is due within this month.

Also, with the support of Professor Edward T. Jennings, I approached the Kentucky League of Cities, in order to apply a survey on the Local Governance. The survey is in the phase to be launched, its results being planned to be integrated into my research report.

From September, 29 to October,3, I have participated to the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration's (NASPAA) Annual Conference held in Nevada, event that had as main topic: ''Transition in Public Services". Within the Conference I participated to five panels: a) Management research: Frontiers of Public Management Research, chaired by Stuart Bretshneider, Syracuse University; b) Public policy and Public Administration Research, chaired by Burt Barnow, The George Washington University; c) Education for cultural competency, chaired by Susan Gouden, Virginia University; d) International panel: Global perspectives on public affairs curricula, chaired by Iris Geva-May, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada; e) International panel: "Exploring educational borders:student and faculty exchange, chaired by Iris Geva-May. I mentioned that in this panel I delivered a presentation of Faculty of Administration and Public Management, ASE, Bucharest about its mission, programs, and partnerships. The participation to the Conference was useful from the research perspective, but also the chance of networking with scholars and professionals from higher education and public administration field from US, Canada, China, Japan, Brazil, Costa Rica. Also, on November, 4-6th I will participate to the 32th Annual Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, together with educational staff from Martin School. This Conference is an important event in Public Policy Arena in US.

Besides these professional related activities, I have participated to different socio-cultural activities in US. Most notable was the participation at the World Equestrian Games, 2010, in Lexington and participation to a Conference organized by the University of Kentucky, where the special guest was the former US President, Mr. Bill Clinton.

Concluding, the experience in US helped me to understand some practical aspect of research on public administration, the challenges for American Universities, and allowed me to extend my professional network to academics and professionals from public administration field in US, to know the American system.

United States is a realm that must be known and experienced, therefore I am grateful for Fulbright Commission support in allowing me to have this unique experience.