U.S. Mission to India seeking Proposals for promoting Internationalization of Indian Universities through U.S. Collaborations

Deadline: 26 May 2020

The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in New Delhi (PAS New Delhi) is soliciting proposals from legally recognized non-profit, non-governmental organizations that meet U.S. and Indian technical and legal requirements to develop and implement public diplomacy programs.

The proposed funding opportunity will provide insights on U.S. internationalization best practices to Indian higher education administrators from a range of private and public institutions.

This exposure to discussions, presentations and networking opportunities will help Indian administrators forge collaborations with their American counterparts. PAS India believes that higher education advocacy organizations like Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) provide opportunities for Indian and American institutions to explore common strategies and forge collaborations. Annual conferences organized by these two and other prominent associations or advocacy groups could be an excellent platform for Indian universities to meet, negotiate, and discuss with their American counterparts in order to develop ideas to collaborate. Collaboration includes setting up joint academic programs like joint Ph.D. degrees, study abroad programs, research collaborations, and potentially hiring young post-doctoral scholars from the United States.

PAS India will work with the grantee to identify a cohort comprising higher education leaders from all consulate regions in India to be part of this group of education leaders that can leverage the AIEA platform. PAS New Delhi will take the lead in working with the selected grantee to identify higher education leaders who have demonstrated interest and have proven record of supporting U.S.-India collaborations. After disseminating information about this opportunity to education contacts, the project will develop and distribute an application to select best-fit candidates.

Project Goal

Develop strong academic ties between U.S.-India higher education institutions.

Project Objectives

(10) Indian higher education administrators from eminent institutions visit the conferences, hold discussions with American counterparts, and agree upon at least three academic partnerships two-three months after conference participation.
As a direct result of successful meetings at AIEA, (10) Indian higher education administrators would have increased their understanding about the current debates on internationalization, as evidenced by post-conference key informant interviews, focus groups, and/or surveys.
Indian administrators have significantly developed and expanded their network of contacts with American University administrators, as evidenced by post-conference key informant interviews, focus groups, and/or surveys.
(10) Indian administrators have identified and formalized a total of at least 5 academic/research/programmatic partnerships, with their American counterparts.
Following their return from this program, (10) participating administrators will identify at least 5 institutional deliverables that they individually or that their home institution will implement as a result of their experience.

Project Deliverables

In consultation with PAS, grantee will reach out to a wide network of education contacts throughout the five Consulate regions in India to disseminate information about the opportunity to participate in the AIEA conferences in the United States, by October 2020.
Implementer to select 12 candidates (10 final and 2 alternates) for participation in one of the proposed conferences, by early April 2020.
Implementer to co-produce (10) conference “game plans” in cooperation with participating Indian administrators, based on their strengths, needs, and interests.

Project Audience

The primary beneficiaries of this grant will be Indian higher education administrators from leading institutions such as the institutions of eminence identified by the Government of India, as well as other leading institutions. The median age group of the education administrators would be 50 years and the level of education of these administrators typically would be post-doctoral. The designation of these administrators is that of Vice Chancellors, Deans of Research, Directors, and Researchers. The audience members’ caste, class, religion or any other social identity is not relevant to this grant.

Funding Information

Maximum Award Amount: $100,000

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply: