B. Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP)

The Tibet Fund established the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) in 1988 when the US Congress approved Fulbright support for Tibetan refugee students and professionals. Since that time, the TSP has received 18 annual scholarship grants from the Fulbright Program, totaling to $8,425,870, enabling us to bring 282 Tibetan refugee professionals to the US to receive higher education. 

TSP students have been placed in some of America’s most prestigious educational institutions, including University of Massachusetts, UC Berkeley, Brandies University, Cornell University, Columbia University, Emory University, Harvard University and Yale University. A total of 230 have completed their studies with the majority returning home to assume positions of leadership and responsibility within the Tibetan refugee communities and Offices of Tibet abroad.

Each year the TSP supports 25 Tibetan students. In 2004, ten TSP students received 2-Yr Master’s degrees, five students received 1-Yr certificates and fifteen new students arrived in August.

The annual Fulbright grants of $500,000 are inadequate to support the students. This year the Tibet Fund disbursed $642,937.58 and had to raise the balance of $142,937.58. In addition, we have obtained External Scholarships amounting to $174,273 from different universities in the US.

Evaluation of TSP:

In July 2004, SRI International conducted an outcome assessment of the TSP under contract with the Office of Policy and Evaluation of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

The assessment report concluded: "This assessment found that the TSP is achieving its overall goal of increasing mutual understanding under the Fulbright-Hays mandate, as well as the specific objectives of achieving cultural learning and generating positive personal and professional outcomes and linkages. According to both qualitative and quantitative information collected through several means from grantees, participation in the TSP has provided a highly beneficial educational and cultural experience that serves both the individuals who participated in the program, and the wider Tibetan Refugee Community.

The program has thus accomplished what it sets out to do; it has provided motivated young leaders with the opportunity to develop professional skills, acquire a new cultural perspective, and bring something back to their community."

We continue to try to improve our services to the students once they arrive in the US and are in the process of addressing recommendations that were raised with regard to the selection process.

The Tibetan Sponsorship Program seeks sponsorships from individuals for students, monks and nuns in exile communities. Through the dedicated work of volunteers like Mr. Steve Drago and Ms. Kathy Nolan, in 2004, the Program raised a total of $252,844.00 including $184,947.50 for students at the Tibetan Children’s Village, the Tibetan Homes Foundation and DOE administered schools and $67,896.50 for monks and nuns at religious institutions throughout India and Nepal. All donations are sent directly to India with no deductions taken by the Tibet Fund for administrative costs.

The Transit School in Dharamsala was set up to serve new refugee young adults who tend to have limited education and no training in Tibetan language or culture. Students generally undertake an accelerated 5-year program here to learn Tibetan, English and mathematics. The school’s library had little furniture and a few books.

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