undergraduate and graduate higher education insti-
tutions the Bureau determines are likely to produce 
a range of qualified applicants to be sent abroad. 
‘‘(e) STRUCTURE.— 
‘‘(1) WORK PLAN.—To carry out the purposes 
described in subsection (b)— 
‘‘(A) each fellow selected pursuant to sub-
section (d)(1) shall be encouraged to arrange 
placement in a mining education program at an 
eligible foreign university; 
‘‘(B) each fellow shall— 
‘‘(i) 
participate 
in 
advanced 
coursework, research projects, and prac-
tical training opportunities, including in-
ternships, offered by the host institution; 
‘‘(ii) engage with faculty advisors and 
industry partners to gain hands-on experi-
ence through internships, laboratory work, 
and field studies relevant to the mining in-
dustry; 
‘‘(iii) serve as a cultural and academic 
ambassador of the United States by fos-
tering mutual understanding within the 
host country’s academic and professional 
mining community; 
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‘‘(iv) participate in professional devel-
opment activities, such as conferences, 
workshops, and seminars, to expand knowl-
edge of global best practices in mining en-
gineering and related fields; and 
‘‘(v) build and strengthen networks 
with international peers, faculty, and in-
dustry professionals to facilitate ongoing 
collaboration and knowledge exchange; and 
‘‘(C) the Bureau shall, for each fellow, ap-
prove a work plan that identifies the target ob-
jectives for the fellow, including specific duties 
and responsibilities relating to such objectives. 
‘‘(2) FELLOWSHIP PERIOD.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each fellowship under 
this section shall continue for a period deter-
mined by the Bureau, which, whenever feasible, 
shall not be shorter than 1 year. 
‘‘(B) RENEWAL.—The Bureau may grant 
a renewal for a second year, in consultation 
with the relevant United States embassy or the 
Fulbright Commission. 
‘‘(f) FELLOWSHIP AWARD.—The Bureau shall pro-
vide each fellow under this section with an allowance equal 
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to the amount needed for the fellow’s reasonable costs dur-
ing the fellowship period, including— 
‘‘(1) mandatory university fees, including tui-
tion, associated with his or her studies; 
‘‘(2) living expenses, including housing, basic 
food costs, and daily transportation; 
‘‘(3) essential textbooks and other academic 
materials; 
‘‘(4) mandatory visa application, immigration 
fees, and other essential pre-departure requirements; 
‘‘(5) relocation expenses, including travel by air 
or by rail; 
‘‘(6) a research allowance, including essential 
travel to field sites and laboratory work; and 
‘‘(7) other reasonable costs approved by the Bu-
reau. 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after 
the completion of the Fellowship Program by the initial 
cohort of fellows selected pursuant to subsection (d), and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit 
a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives that includes information re-
garding the implementation of the Fellowship Program, 
including— 
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‘‘(1) the demographics and geographical origins 
of the cohort of fellows who completed a fellowship 
during the reporting period; 
‘‘(2) a description of academic placements se-
lected and their relation to the development of the 
United States region-specific specialties under the 
Fellowship Program, including participant feedback 
on program implementation and lessons learned; and 
‘‘(3) a plan for factoring lessons learned and 
acquired skills based knowledge into future program-
ming.’’. 
SEC. 5. VISITING MINING SCHOLARS PROGRAM. 
The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act 
of 1961, as amended by sections 3 and 4, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 117. VISITING MINING SCHOLARS PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is authorized to be es-
tablished the Visiting Mining Scholars Program (referred 
to in this section as the ‘Visiting Scholars Program’) with-
in the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Pro-
gram. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Visiting Schol-
ars Program is to bring mining academics and profes-
sionals to the United States— 
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‘‘(1) to build and expand United States mining 
education programs at higher education institutions; 
‘‘(2) to bolster workforce development pro-
grams; and 
‘‘(3) to advance research and development ini-
tiatives in the mining industry and adjacent fields. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State (referred 
to in this section as the ‘Bureau’) shall administer the Vis-
iting Scholars Program in accordance with policy guide-
lines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship 
Board (referred to in this section as the ‘Board’), in con-
sultation with binational Fulbright Commissions, mining 
industry leaders, higher education institutions, foreign 
governments, and United States embassies in eligible 
countries. 
‘‘(d) SELECTION OF VISITING MINING SCHOLARS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Board shall select 
qualified individuals to participate in the Visiting 
Scholars Program, who shall be foreign nationals— 
‘‘(A) currently employed as mining profes-
sionals, practitioners, or operators outside of 
the United States; or 
‘‘(B) currently employed as academics 
working at institutions of higher education in 
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