Program Descriptions
Program Number
84.018
Title
Overseas Programs-Special Bilateral Projects
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Authorization
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Section 102(b)(6), as amended, Public Law 87-256.
Status
Active
Objectives
To increase mutual understanding and knowledge between the people of the United States and those in other countries by offering qualified U.S. educators opportunities to participate in short-term study seminars abroad on topics in the social sciences and the humanities.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Discretionary).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Program funds provide round-trip economy airfare, room and board, tuition and fees for seminars. Actual locations may vary from year-to-year. No dependents are to accompany awardees participating in seminars.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
(1) Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status; (2) must hold a bachelor's degree; (3) must have at least 3 years full-time in teaching, administering or supervising in the humanities, the social sciences or social studies subjects; (4) applicants must be currently employed full-time in teaching, administering or supervising in the aforementioned areas; (5) applicants also must meet any language requirements if applicable (see the application booklet for details). If selected, awardees must furnish evidence of good health and emotional maturity.
Beneficiary Eligibility
(1) Undergraduate faculty members of four year colleges/universities and 2-year community colleges in the fields of the humanities and social sciences; (2) supervisors and secondary (grades 9 through 12) and elementary and junior high school (grades K through 8) teachers of social studies and humanities; and (3) curriculum development specialists, administrators of local and State education agencies who have direct responsibility for developing curriculum in the subject areas encompassed by the social sciences and the humanities.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants' basic data; education and professional preparation; present and previous employment; specific statement of objectives; plans to utilize the knowledge and experience gained from the seminar; involvement in educational/professional/civic groups, associations/organizations; personal traits; honors/awards/publications, etc. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
International Education Graduate Programs Service, Department of Education, publishes an annual announcement of opportunities and conducts open competition to select participants. Binational commissions or foundations or other appropriate agencies receive funding to conduct the seminars. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and as required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Eligible applicants may submit applications for a position in one of the seminars when the announcement of a new competition is made though journals, newsletters, educational associations, individuals, etc. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure
Recommendations are made to the Secretary of Education following advice from a panel of consultants. All recommended selections are subject to review and final approval by the presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Deadlines
Generally in late October of the year preceding the award to attend a seminar overseas.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Applicants notified in mid March of selection for seminars.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
From 4 to 6 weeks.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Individual curriculum projects and program evaluations from participants are submitted.
Audits
None.
Records
Retained for one year.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0201-0-1-502.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 07 $2,670,325; FY 08 $2,149,000; and FY 09 est $2,420,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For FY 2008, the range of awards is expected to be $70,000 to $313,000; the average award is expected to be $317,000.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2007, approximately 144 participants were enrolled in nine projects.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Education Department General Administrative Regulations. Program announcements and related information are available from the Program Officer for International Education, Department of Education.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
International Education Programs Service, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5331. Contact Gail Holdren, E-mail: gale.holdren@ed.gov, Telephone: (202) 502-7691.
Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/
Related Programs
84.015, National Resource Centers Program For Foreign Language And Area Studies Or Foreign Language And International Studies Program And Foreign Language And Area Studies Fellowship Program
84.016, Undergraduate International Studies And Foreign Language Programs
84.017, International Research And Studies
84.019, Overseas Programs - Faculty Research Abroad
84.021, Overseas Programs - Group Projects Abroad
84.022, Overseas Programs - Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad
84.229, Language Resource Centers
Examples of Funded Projects
Seminars have been conducted in Chile, China, Egypt, Hungary, Poland, Malaysia, Mexico, and Zimbabwe. Annual language training programs are offered in Japan for teachers of Japanese.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Contact the Program Office for information.
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