Deadline: 4-Aug-25
The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for the FY 2025 Community College Initiative (CCI) Program.
Purpose
- The program advances America’s security and prosperity by addressing global challenges that result in economic instability. The program equips foreign students, many from regions vulnerable to radicalization or illegal immigration, with technical skills and U.S. networks in fields that are of strategic importance to the United States. With improved technical, professional, and entrepreneurial skills, the participants return home to join a global network of over 3,900 CCI alumni from 30 countries. Participants are required to complete a minimum two-year residency in the home country.
- These emerging leaders contribute to economic growth and stability, integrating a U.S. perspective into critical industries in strategic countries. Program content, duration of study, and participating countries will align with U.S. foreign policy priorities and emerging global workforce demands.
Goals
- The program goals are to:
- Equip exchange participants with professional and technical skills in fields of study that address 21st century workforce demands and align with U.S. foreign policy priorities;
- Expand future academic and employment opportunities for emerging foreign leaders in strategic countries at risk of radicalization/illegal immigration;
- Prepare participants to contribute to economic stability in their local communities upon their return home as alumni;
- Promote internationalization efforts on U.S. community college campuses and contribute to U.S. students’ preparedness for successful futures in a global marketplace.
Objectives
- The program objectives for participants are to:
- Demonstrate increased technical knowledge and professional skills in their chosen field of study through academic coursework, professional internships, and other experiential learning;
- Demonstrate increased confidence and ability in their personal, professional, and leadership skills to enhance their employability and/or prospects for economic success;
- Demonstrate improvement in their level of proficiency in English that will serve as a springboard to opportunity;
- Demonstrate a better understanding of community engagement as practiced within their multinational campus cohorts and in their host communities in the United States;
- Demonstrate a better understanding of the values, society, institutions, and culture of the United States; and
- Demonstrate an increased ability to be a leader and difference-maker that is committed to return home to share what they learned and contribute to their local communities.
- The program objectives for community colleges are to:
- Increase institutional capacity thereby improving institutional support systems, student experiences, and ultimately the capacity to recruit international short term and degree seeking students;
- Increase understanding of emerging industries on a global level and programs that could address skills gaps in key sectors;
- Internationalize on-campus opportunities for U.S. students to gain global competencies and ultimately to increase the job skills and mobility of U.S. community college students.
Funding Information
- Total Available Funding $3,937,500, pending availability of funds
Duration
- Length of Performance Period is 12 to 36 months
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S. Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- U.S. Not-for-profit public and private educational institutions
- All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.