The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the University Partnership Program. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Serbia Program Objectives: The U.S. Embassy works to assist the Serbian people to strengthen democracy, rule of law, and the protection of human rights; help fight brain drain and advance the country’s economic development; promote regional stability and cooperation; cooperate with international partners to combat crime, terrorism, human trafficking, and other global challenges; and make further progress towards Serbia’s accession into the European Union. We also strive to explain U.S. policies, culture, society, and values to Serbian audiences and deepen ties between our two countries. University partnership proposals should support these goals while facilitating lasting connections between Serbian and American institutions of higher education. Proposals can involve in-person and/or virtual exchanges for students, faculty, and/or administrators as well as any of the following activities: curriculum development; needs assessments; joint online courses; joint research projects; development of a joint degree program; development of a study abroad program; sharing of best teaching practices and instructional methods; support for participation in academic conferences or student competitions (e.g., moot court, Model U.S. Congress, Model United Nations); establishing an American Studies course or academic program; setting up a center focused on American Studies; and/or establishing or strengthening a career development center or a research and development center. We welcome proposals which provide Serbian students and professors: o American academic perspectives on shared areas of interest and lessons learned from the American experience in the focus subject(s); o Insights into current research and academic debates in the U.S. on the focus subject(s); o The chance to engage in discussions and debate with their American counterparts; and/or o The opportunity to experience and assess teaching methodologies used in American university classrooms. Partnership program proposals should be two-way exchanges that also give American participants the opportunity to broaden their perspectives, provide them with new insights, and allow them to learn firsthand from Serbian academics about their research projects. We welcome proposals that utilize video conferencing, distance learning tools, etc., to enhance and extend the two-way exchange beyond in-person opportunities. Participants and Audiences: Participants or primary audiences for university partnership proposals should be Serbian and American students, professors/academics, and/or administrators. Depending on focus, projects may have secondary audiences or beneficiaries including media, civil society organizations or wider professional audiences, which you may note in the proposal. If your project idea might involve citizens of any other countries, check C.4. in the full text of the NOFO to understand restrictions on funding. Submission Dates and Times: Applications are due no later than April 19, 2023. Requesting the Application Package: Application forms required below are available in the Related Documents tab and at https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/. How to Apply: All application materials must be submitted by email to
[email protected]. If PDS does not receive a complete project proposal at the above address by the deadline, it will be considered technically ineligible and will not be considered for funding. For detailed information please see the full text of the Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Related Documents tab and on the Embassy’s website: https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/. Information Session. PDS will hold a virtual information session on February 7, 2023, at 16:00 (4 pm) Central European time to discuss this funding opportunity and to answer questions from potential applicants. Please contact PDS at
[email protected] for details. Please check for information on other PDS funding opportunities on the U.S. Embassy website at: https://rs.usembassy.gov/grants-programs/.