Deadline: 15 June 2020
The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in New Delhi is soliciting proposals for a grant/cooperative agreement that meets non-profit, non-governmental organizations and Indian technical and legal requirements to develop and implement public diplomacy programs.
The U.S. Embassy New Delhi is requesting proposals from American universities (preferably those with a program that offers a Masters (MA) degree for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages – MATESOL) to have their American MATESOL students facilitate academic readiness coursework specifically to develop academic reading and writing skills through online, virtual programming for Indian students enrolled in Indian universities. American MATESOL students will gain valuable teaching experience facilitating online classes to international students. Students will take pre-program surveys to self-assess their skills as well as post program surveys to measure one dimension of the change in skill level. Timing for the online courses should be approximately fall 2020 (September – November) and/or spring 2021 (February – April).
Project Goals
- To provide Indian university students an opportunity to improve their academic English Language skills so they are better prepared for their academic studies in India. The opportunity could also benefit those Indian students poised to study in the United States and who need additional academic readiness skills prior to departing.
- To offer American MATESOL students distance-education teaching experience.
Project Objectives
By the end of the 10-week Virtual Academic Readiness Program, participants will be able to better:
- read academic texts using critical thinking skills
- write in an appropriate academic style for various assignments (descriptive, narrative,
- demonstrate understanding of academic integrity by using proper citations and referencing (and avoiding plagiarism)
- take notes on presentations to capture key information using an appropriate style (linear, outline, mind map, other)
- search for information for projects and assignments using the web and the library
- give short presentations and participate in group discussions
- demonstrate understanding of how different kinds of essays are structured
By the end of the 10-week Virtual Academic Readiness Program, MA students will be able to
- facilitate online classes related to academic readiness for learners in need
- support learners in any of the following reading, writing, and presentation skills for academic success
- explain academic integrity to participants (e.g. using proper citations and referencing and avoiding plagiarism)
- lead participants through various notetaking strategies on presentations to capture key information using an appropriate style (linear, outline, mind map, other)
- help learners search for information for projects and assignments using the web and the library
- guide learners on how to give short presentations and participate in group discussions
- help learners distinguish between different kinds of essays are structured
Funding Information
- Minimum Award Amount: $10,000
- Maximum Award Amount: $50,000
Project Audience
Primary Beneficiaries of this project are first- and second-year Indian university students and American MATESOL students in the United States.
Project Deliverables
- At least (100) Indian university students in India will participate in a 10-week Virtual Academic Readiness Program and receive certificates (for 80% participation and 80% performance).
- Five (5) American MATESOL students will facilitate 10-week Virtual Academic Readiness Program for 100 students each.
- 80% – 100% of the university students who participated in the 10-week Virtual Academic Readiness Program report an increase in their academic readiness as evident in self-reported surveys (comparing before and after survey results). The survey results will be compiled one week after the end of the program.
- 80% – 100% of the university students who participated in the 10-week Virtual Academic Readiness Program report an increase in their academic performance in self-reported surveys two months after they return to their university. The survey results will be compiled three months after the end of the program.
- 80%-100% of the MATESOL students who facilitated classes for the 10-week Virtual Academic Readiness Program report an increase in confidence in their online teaching ability overall and for particular themed classes as evident in self-reported surveys.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Think tanks
- Public and private educational institutions
- Individuals
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
- Please choose organization nationality and type: International Not-for-Profit Organization.
- Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.
- Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.
- Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.
Applicants must ensure:
- All documents are in English
- All budgets are in U.S. dollars and calculated @ USD 1 = INR 68
- All pages are numbered
- All materials are submitted in .pdf format
- Applicant has read the Standard Terms and Conditions applicable to all Grants and Cooperative agreements. Included in the package here.
- Forms SF-424, SF-424A and SF-424B are completed and submitted with the application. These forms are included in the package.
- Applicants submitting proposals over $100,000 must also submit Standard Form LLL (SF-LLL), Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=326764