Sec. 5. Visiting Mining Scholars Program

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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: There is authorized to be established the Visiting Mining Scholars Program (referred to in this section as the Visiting Scholars Program ) within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program. The purpose of the Visiting Scholars Program is to bring mining academics and professionals to the United States— to build and expand United States mining education programs at higher education institutions; to bolster workforce development programs; and to advance research and development initiatives in the mining industry and adjacent fields.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State (referred to in this section as the Bureau ) shall administer the Visiting Scholars Program in accordance with policy guidelines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (referred to in this section as the Board ), in consultation with binational Fulbright Commissions, mining industry leaders, higher education institutions, foreign governments, and United States embassies in eligible countries.

The Board shall select qualified individuals to participate in the Visiting Scholars Program, who shall be foreign nationals— currently employed as mining professionals, practitioners, or operators outside of the United States; or currently employed as academics working at institutions of higher education in foreign countries with mining education programs, as approved by a Fulbright Commission or United States embassy, in consultation with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

The Bureau shall determine the number of fellows selected each year, which, whenever feasible, shall be not fewer than 10. Visiting mining scholars shall be foreign nationals— of a country in which an existing Fulbright Foreign Student Program operates; and of a country that has expertise, specialized knowledge, or engages in practices that could benefit the United States mining industry. To the extent practicable, the Board should prioritize selection of visiting mining scholars who live or work in— a member country in the Minerals Security Partnership; or any additional country identified by the Bureau, in consultation with the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, as containing individuals who have academic expertise, specialized knowledge, or engage in practices that could benefit the United States mining industry.

To the extent practicable, the Bureau shall conduct outreach in coordination with appropriate United States embassies, mining industry leaders, and mining institutions abroad that are likely to produce a range of qualified applicants to come to the United States. To carry out the purposes described in subsection (b)— each individual selected pursuant to subsection (d)(1), and who is coming to the United States as a visiting mining scholar— shall arrange placement in a United States academic institution approved by the Bureau; and should— consult with faculty members to provide technical assistance on how to develop or expand a mining education program at the host institution of higher education; assist in the development and review of mining education curricula, including course syllabi, laboratory modules, and fieldwork components; participate in collaborative research projects with faculty, students, and third-party research institutions focusing on innovative mining technologies, sustainable mining practices, and resource management; facilitate partnerships between the host institution and mining organizations, government agencies, and other institutions to foster academic exchange, research collaboration, and workforce development; mentor undergraduate and graduate students interested in mining education, offering guidance on academic projects and career development; and contribute to the development of outreach programs aimed at increasing awareness of the mining industry as a career path and to increase awareness of the types of mining professions available; and the Bureau shall, for each scholar, approve a work plan that identifies the target objectives for the scholar, including specific duties and responsibilities relating to such objectives.

Visiting mining scholars shall be placed in a higher education institution approved by the Bureau that— demonstrates a commitment to develop or expand academic programs in the mining industry; possesses existing faculty expertise or research activity in the mining industry or related extractive fields; provides institutional support and resources, such as laboratory facilities, field sites, or equipment, relevant to mining education and research, including in geology; demonstrates a commitment to integrate the visiting scholar into curriculum development, faculty training, or workforce pipeline initiatives in mining; demonstrates a plan for sustaining mining or critical mineral resources programs beyond the duration of the visiting scholar’s placement; shows evidence of student interest or regional workforce demand for mining education programs or training; and agrees to provide mentoring, administrative support, and opportunities for the visiting scholar to engage with students, faculty, and local industry.

The duration of each scholarship period under this section shall be determined by the Bureau and shall, whenever feasible, be not less than three months and not more than one year. Any exception to the duration of the scholarship period described in subparagraph

(A)shall be submitted by the visiting mining scholar to and approved by the Bureau before such exception takes effect. The Bureau shall provide each visiting mining scholar under this section with an allowance to cover the scholar’s reasonable costs of living during the scholarship period. Not later than 1 year after the completion of the Visiting Scholars Program by the initial cohort of scholars selected pursuant to subsection (d)(1), 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 on the implementation of the Visiting Scholars Program, including— the demographics and geographical origins of the cohort of scholars who completed a Visiting Scholars Program during the reporting period; the United States universities at which visiting scholars were placed; the foreign universities or other post-graduate institutions from which the cohort of visiting scholars were chosen; a description of academic placements selected under the Visiting Scholars Program, including participant feedback on program implementation and lessons learned; and a plan for factoring lessons learned into future programming. .