The U.S. Department of State’s Mission to Saudi Arabia has announced an open competition for
organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to conduct three
virtual U.S. higher education fairs for students and other education
stakeholders in Saudi Arabia.
Objectives
Maintaining Saudi student mobility and access to
the U.S. higher education system is a primary strategy for promoting long-term
mutual understanding between the people of Saudi Arabia and the United States.
It is also a key contributor to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for economic
transformation including youth and women’s workforce development. These
policies promote regional stability and greater bilateral economic opportunities.
Activities
A successful proposal will include the following
activities:
- Program Elements
- The grantee will offer three
(3) college fairs for U.S. HEIs and Saudi students/education stakeholders
scheduled in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 to include:
- A general fair for
approximately 75 U.S. HEIs offering programs in diverse fields of study
scheduled in conjunction with International Education Week in November.
- A sector specific fair for
approximately 50 U.S. HEIs offering programs in fields of study related
to tourism, hospitality management, culture and cultural preservation,
arts management, and visual and performing arts practice.
- A sector specific fair for
approximately 50 U.S. HEIs offering programs in allied health sciences
including nursing, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy,
respiratory therapy, nuclear medicine, etc.
- The grantee will offer a
pre-fair program of workshops and panel discussions for each of three
fairs. Topics may include:
- The 5 steps to U.S study,
- Financial aid opportunities
for international students
- Making the most of a virtual
college fair; navigating the online fair platform,
- Visa requirements and
process,
- Roundtable discussion for HEI
representatives with Saudi scholarship program managers, and
- Other topics proposed by the
grantee or by HEI participants.
- The grantee should identify
speakers for the proposed workshops from among the conference HEI
participants or from other sources as appropriate. Some speakers may be
provided by the U.S. Mission.
- Technology Elements
- The grantee will maintain a
system for registering participants, including U.S. HEI representatives,
Saudi students and other Saudi education stakeholders, and other
participants.
- The grantee will maintain a
system for collecting registration fees by U.S. HEI representatives.
- The grantee will maintain and
manage a conference platform(s) that allows for restricted access by
registered participants; moderated group meetings and workshops; and
individual interaction between HEI representatives and Saudi
participants. The platform will allow HEI participants to make data files
available for download to conference participants.
- Prior to each event, the grantee
will schedule and manage a technical walk-through and test with
conference speakers.
- The grantee will record
workshops and roundtable discussions and make these available for public
review on a website or other publicly accessible platform for at least
three (3) months following the last fair.
- Communications Elements
- The grantee will design and
draft promotional announcements for each of the fairs to solicit
registrations by U.S. HEIs and Saudi stakeholders. These announcements
may be distributed by the grantee, the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, the
Department of State, a/o the EducationUSA program of the Bureau of
Education and Cultural Affairs.
- The grantee will design a
social media and email communications campaign to generate interest
leading up to each fair and maximize participation by Saudi stakeholders.
The grantee will provide draft communications materials to the U.S.
Mission for distribution through their channels.
- Reporting Elements
- Through the registration data
and post conference surveys, the grantee will collect data for use in
reporting on the outcomes and effectiveness of the activity.
- The grantee will provide short
summary reports on participation following each event, and a fuller
analysis report at the conclusion of the grant period.
- The grantee will provide raw
data collected to the U.S. Mission, including participant contact
information.
Funding Information
- Type of Funding: FY2021
Fulbright-Hays
- Award amounts: awards may range
from a minimum of $30,000 to a maximum of $50,000
- Anticipated program start date:
August 1, 2021
- Length of performance period: 9
– 12 months
Participants and Audiences
- Prospective Saudi Arabian
undergraduate and graduate students
- Parents of prospective students
- College counselors and advisors
- Saudi Arabian education
officials
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants: The following organizations
are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations,
including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental
organizations
- Public and private educational
institutions
Post Date - 26-Jul-2021