(FOA)-Limited Submission – Department of State – U.S. University Partnership Initiative in South Africa (DOS-PTA-202005); February 28, 2020

 

Purpose: The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy South Africa of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program focused on strengthening existing ties and fostering new collaboration between U.S. and African universities. The goal of the University Partnerships Initiative (UPI) is to strengthen existing ties and foster new collaboration between U.S. and South African universities. Project activities must take place in South Africa and the United States, and be directed at South African audiences/ participants. Focus areas include promoting faculty and student exchanges, facilitating joint research, building administrative capacity, and creating public-private partnerships. Program proposals should address how relationships between institutions will be sustained after U.S. government funded efforts are concluded.

 

Specific program objectives are to:

- Promote U.S.-South Africa faculty and student exchanges, particularly the development of dual degree programs that have South Africans complete their studies in their home country and address South Africa’s shortage of qualified academic staff.

- Facilitate joint research, especially in agriculture, food security, and STEM.

- Provide training and transfer skills in all aspects of university administration through subject-matter exchange programs.

- Explore public-private partnerships, with an emphasis on commercialization, technology transfer, and job creation.

 

The intended audience is community college and university students, university administrators, corporations, the NGO sector, and USG alumni. Proposals that address linkages between South African technical universities and their American counterparts are strongly encouraged. Programs that create or grow linkages between academia and commerce are also encouraged. DOS anticipates making awards as cooperative agreements.

 

Funding Amount/Funding Period:  $150,000-$500,000 for up to 24 months

 

Link to Funding Opportunity Announcement

 

Institutional Limit: 1

 

Internal Competition: To participate in the university’s selection process,please upload the following,assembled into a single PDF file, to the Office of the Vice President for Research via this portal with a copy to your Associate Dean for Research by January 21, 2020:

·         Names and departments or affiliations of the Project Director and other key personnel or partners;

·         Title of program and/or funding opportunity announcement number;

·         Brief project description (2 pages maximum);

·         Brief biographical sketch

 

A committee will be convened to review the material and make a recommendation.

 

For questions or issues with submission through the portal, email the limited submission mailbox (limitedsubmissions@uky.edu) or call 257-2861.

 

Agency Deadline:  February 28, 2020