One of the challenges for CEP, or any organization working in Central and Eastern Europe, is to continue to be responsive to the needs of the region as they evolve over time. A key element in CEP's mission has been its commitment to building local capacity through the teaching of students and, to a lesser degree, the training of local faculty. Beginning with the 1995-96 program year, CEP will introduce a new program designed to take these efforts one step further by developing a mechanism for placing back in the region's universities young local scholars who have completed graduate training in Western Europe or the United States. A far greater number of opportunities exist today for students from Central/Eastern Europe to travel and study at the Central European University or in North America or Western Europe. As these students complete their training, they face the difficult challenge of securing teaching positions, that are poorly-paid to begin with, back in their home countries. Despite the obvious benefits of their graduate training, studying outside one's home country often creates enormous difficulties in reentering the home country's academic market. At many universities, just as in other countries, a patronage system exists and once a student leaves that system, he or she is shut out of the academic community.

CEP's Local Faculty Fellow Program will work with young scholars to assist them in securing placements in universities back in their home countries. The program is a partnership with the scholar working directly with the university to create a position which will suit both the university's needs and the abilities of the scholar. Moreover, it is designed to provide financial support to help local scholars make the financial transition back home into an academic career in their home country. As CEP Eastern Scholars, they will participate fully in CEP's regional activities -- attending country retreats and contributing to curriculum development workshops as well as participating in other project development activities. During the 1995-96 program year, more than a dozen young scholars will be placed in the region.