In August 2025, 2022–23 combined grantee and 2022–24 USTA Michael Hughes traveled to the picturesque village of Alpbach in the Austrian province of Tyrol to take part in one of Europe’s most inspiring gatherings: the European Forum Alpbach. After the forum, Michael sat down with us to discuss his experience at the forum, what he learned, and how this unique opportunity continues to influence his work at Fulbright Austria and his professional and personal life more broadly.

00:00 Intro
00:34 Meet Michael Hughes
02:07 Motivation to apply for the European Forum Alpbach scholarship
02:54 Most memorable moments from the 2025 European Forum Alpbach
06:16 How Fulbright experience prepared Michael for the European Forum Alpbach
07:25 Michael's personal and professional takeaways
09:01 Advice to future applicants