Deadline: 22-May-23
The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition to administer the FY 2023 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan.
U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to organize and carry out academic exchange activities for students from underrepresented sectors in Pakistan. Support for this program is being provided from FY 2022/FY 2023 Economic Support Funds (ESF) that ECA anticipates being transferred from USAID to the Bureau for obligation prior to the funds’ expiration on September 30, 2023. It is anticipated that the total amount of funding for FY 2023 costs will be up to $3,792,500, pending the transfer and availability of funds.
Purpose
The principal objective of the FY 2023 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan (herein referred to as “Global UGRAD – Pakistan”) is to provide a substantive exchange experience at a U.S. college or university to a diverse group of emerging student leaders from underrepresented socio-economic and geographic sectors in Pakistan. The students will complete one semester of non-degree undergraduate study in the United States at accredited two-and four-year institutions. In this context, the recipient organization should ensure that participants are able to enroll full-time in courses at U.S. institutions alongside U.S. peers and provide the participants with opportunities and enrichment activities designed to help them understand the United States and U.S. citizens inside and outside the classroom. To enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants, each student cohort should have leadership development as an overarching theme for the program, which will focus on increasing the leadership skills of the participants.
Program Specific Guidelines
- Participants will return to Pakistan at the conclusion of the exchange program to re-enter colleges and universities there and re-integrate with their home communities. An objective of the program is to provide participants with tailored instruction in the academic skills and study habits required to be successful at the undergraduate level and better prepared for higher level studies in the future.
- The recipient organization will be responsible for the following aspects of the program: placement of approximately 108 Pakistani students at accredited U.S. institutions (54 fall semester 2024, 54 spring semester 2025), student travel to the United States, arrival orientation, enrichment programming, advising, monitoring and support, re-entry workshop, evaluation, and follow-up with program alumni.
- The Global UGRAD Pakistan Program will provide scholarships for study at U.S. institutions of higher education to outstanding Pakistani students from non-elite sectors in Pakistan. Scholarships will be granted primarily to students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in Pakistan, although students just completing their final year of high school will also be eligible. The recipient organization will place participants in nondegree programs at both two- and four-year U.S. colleges and universities.
- The recipient organization should develop enrichment activities to enhance the participants’ academic education, including having students participate in community service and make local presentations about their country. Transfers of academic program or visa sponsorship of participants to another U.S. institution will not be considered.
Funding Information
- Approximate Total Funding: $3,792,500, pending the transfer and availability of FY 2022/FY 2023 Pakistan Economic Support Funds (ESF).
- Approximate Number of Awards: 1
- Approximate Average Award: $3,792,500 pending the transfer and availability of FY 2022/FY 2023 Pakistan Economic Support Funds (ESF).
- Ceiling of Award Range: $3,792,500 pending the transfer and availability of FY 2022/FY 2023 Pakistan Economic Support Funds (ESF).
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants
- U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, exchange-of-persons, and other not for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit applications for this competition. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application.
- Other Eligibility Requirements
- The following additional eligibility requirements apply to this NOFO announcement:
- Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $130,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award in an amount of $3,792,500. Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.
- All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO, POGI and the PSI; non-compliance will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process.
- Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.
- Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined in the PSI document.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.