Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; Project in Curriculum Development and Faculty Training at the University of Pristina, Kosovo; Request for Grant Proposals

The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department of State announces an open competition for an assistance award to support the development of programs of instruction and faculty training at the University of Pristina in one or both of the following two fields: (1) Business management and entrepreneurship; and (2) public administration. Organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit proposals that address one or both of these objectives. The means for achieving these objectives may include mentoring, teaching, consultation, research, distance education, internship training, and professional outreach to public and private sector managers, entrepreneurs, and local government administrators in Kosovo. Overview and Project Objectives: The project is designed to assist the University of Pristina to develop a modern program in business management education to facilitate the development of entrepreneurial and business activity in Kosovo. The project is also designed to enable the University of Pristina to develop a program of instruction in public administration to increase efficiency and accountability in the administration of the public sector in Kosovo. Applicants may submit proposals focusing on either, or both of the two disciplines. In business management, proposals should emphasize practical strategies to assist the faculty to develop a new curriculum in business management focusing on accounting, finance, banking, entrepreneurship, and the role of women in business. In public administration, proposed activities should assist with curriculum design and faculty training in local government administration, taxation, financial management, land registry/ownership and property rights. The inclusion of organizational development and personnel management among proposed activities is also encouraged. Proposals should include an emphasis on providing practical training and hands-on experience in local government administration as well as techniques for drafting legislation. Proposals should explain how the public administration program will equip the University to promote concepts of accountability and transparency in the administration of the public sector in Kosovo. Bureau policy stipulates that awards to organizations with less than four years experience in conducting international exchanges are limited to $60,000. The Bureau anticipates awarding either two grants not to exceed $221,300 (one grant for each one of the two designated disciplines), or one grant not to exceed $442,600 to work in both disciplines. Funds will be awarded for a period up to two years to defray the costs of exchanges, to provide educational materials, and to increase library holdings and improve Internet connections. Up to 30% of the grant total may be used to defray the costs of project administration. The project should pursue these objectives through a strategy that coordinates the participation of junior and senior level faculty, administrators, or graduate students for any appropriate combination of teaching, mentoring, internships, in-service training and outreach, for exchange visits ranging from one week to an academic year. Visits of one semester or longer for participants from Kosovo are strongly encouraged and program activities must be tied to the goals and objectives of the program. The strategy may include intensive English language training for selected participants, whose prior knowledge of English may need to be refreshed. If the proposed project would occur within the context of a previous or ongoing project, the proposal should explain how the request for Bureau funding would build upon the pre-existing relationship or complement previous and concurrent projects, which must be listed and described with details about the amounts and sources of external support. Previous projects should be described in the proposal, and the results of the evaluation of previous cooperative efforts should be summarized. U.S. Institution and Participant Eligibility: In the United States, participation in the program is open to accredited two and four-year colleges and universities, including graduate schools, as well as to other organizations meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c). Applications from consortia or other combinations of U.S. colleges and universities are eligible. The lead U.S. organization in the consortium or other combination of cooperating institutions is responsible for submitting the application. Each application must document the lead organization's authority to represent all U.S. cooperating partners. With the exception of an outside consultant reporting on the degree to which project objectives have been achieved, participants who are traveling under the Bureau's grant funds must be teachers, advanced graduate students, who are teaching or research assistants, or administrators from the participating institution(s). Advanced graduate students are eligible for Bureau-funded participation in this program only if they are working under the direction of an accompanying faculty participant. Kosovo Institutional and Participant Eligibility: In Kosovo, the partner is the University of Pristina. Secondary foreign partners may include relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as non-profit service and professional organizations concerned with issues in business development and/or public administration training in Kosovo. Foreign participants will be selected in consultation with the U.S. Office in Pristina and must be instructors at the University of Pristina, or persons preparing to become instructors at the University of Pristina, who are eligible to receive a J-1 visa. Budget Guidelines: Applicants may submit a budget up to $221,300 for projects focusing on one discipline, or a budget up to $442,600 for projects focusing on both of them. Requests for amounts smaller than the maximum are eligible. Budget notes should carefully justify the amounts needed. There must be a summary budget as well as a breakdown reflecting the program and administrative budgets including unit costs. Applicants submitting a budget for the combined program must separate budgets for each sub-project. Cost-sharing will be considered an important indicator of institutional commitment. Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete guidelines and formatting instructions. Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs concerning this RFGP should reference the above title "Project in Curriculum Development and Faculty Training at the University of Pristina" and reference number ECA/A/S/U-01-04.