Deadline: 16-Dec-22
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2023 IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) grant competition, which assists U.S. colleges and universities in creating, diversifying, and/or expanding their study abroad programming in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.
The IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Program is designed to increase and diversify American student mobility in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. It is imperative that their next generation of leaders – American students of all backgrounds – engage internationally to foster mutual understanding and develop critical skills in support of U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. The program expands the institutional capacity of U.S. colleges and universities to Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students through IDEAS grants and capacity building initiatives for the wider U.S. study abroad community.
The two-phase 2023 grant competition will award approximately 30 grants of up to $35,000 each to accredited colleges and universities. This cycle will also pilot an opportunity for consortia of U.S. colleges and universities to apply for additional funding for collaborative projects focused on building capacity at higher education institutions serving Indigenous peoples of the United States. Approximately one IDEAS consortium grant of up to $50,000 will be awarded in this category.
Goals
Increase the number of U.S. undergraduate students studying or interning abroad for credit.Diversify American student mobility, both in terms of the students taking part and the destinations where they travel.Gain access to study abroad best practices through an in-person community and virtual library of resources.
Benefits
The grants are designed to assist U.S. higher education institutions to expand and diversify U.S. student mobility overseas. U.S higher education institutions will increase institutional study abroad capacity and will create, expand and/or diversify study abroad programming. The grant competition is open to U.S. institutions of higher education that have a broad range of capacity to administer study abroad programs. Institutions that currently have no or limited experience administering study abroad programs as well as those with established programs are eligible to apply for grant funding. Community college and minority-serving institutions are encouraged to apply. For example, grant recipients can use their awarded funds to:
- Create a faculty-led study abroad program,
- Create a new study abroad position at the college or university,
- Develop study abroad resources, programs, or materials targeting student groups underrepresented and/or historically marginalized in study abroad. This may include but is not limited to students who are racial/ethnic minorities, students in underrepresented majors, students with disabilities, or students from institutions and/or states/territories with traditionally low study abroad numbers,
- Form or further develop relationships with universities in a wide variety of international locations, particularly destinations that are underrepresented in study abroad; and/or
- Develop virtual exchange models and programs that complement in-person exchange programs and campus internationalization goals.
Eligibility Criteria
The IDEAS grant competition and capacity building initiatives are open to all accredited U.S. colleges and universities. The program seeks to engage the full diversity of U.S. higher education, including community colleges and Minority Serving Institutions.
For more information, visit https://www.studyabroadcapacitybuilding.org/
