Quincy Virtual U.S. Higher Education Fairs

Assistance Listing Number:       19.432                      

Award Ceiling:                               U.S. $50,000

Award Floor:                                 U.S. $30,000

Federal Agency Contact:             Mario Crifo, Grants Officer

Email:                                              RiyadhGrants@state.gov 

 

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of State’s Mission to Saudi Arabia announces 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. Please follow all instructions below.

 

Program 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.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for Saudi students, parents, and education professionals to engage in-person with officials from U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs) have been severely restricted. The “Quincy Virtual U.S. Higher Education Fairs” program proposes to fill this gap by offering three virtual events that will allow Saudi students and other stakeholders to engage directly and individually with U.S. HEI representatives.  This engagement is intended to provide education and career advising, and promote information exchange on undergraduate, graduate, and training programs available at individual institutions. The events also aim to provide virtual networking opportunities for U.S. HEIs with the leadership of Saudi government and private scholarship programs to learn about program requirements and promote diverse U.S. study opportunities for Saudi scholarship recipients. This program aims to offer three engagement opportunities in a virtual format during Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 with thematic focus on fields of study related to Saudi Arabia’s Vision2030 initiatives.

 

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:

o  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.

o  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.

o  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:

o  The 5 steps to U.S study,

o  Financial aid opportunities for international students

o  Making the most of a virtual college fair; navigating the online fair platform,

o  Visa requirements and process,

o  Roundtable discussion for HEI representatives with Saudi scholarship program managers, and

o  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.

 

Plan for Disposition of Registration Fees

·      The primary purpose of the activity is not to generate revenue. However, fees to HEI registrants are appropriate to ensure selection of a limited number of participants most committed to recruitment of Saudi students. With this in mind, the proposal should recommend a fee structure for HEI participants and indicate approximately how much in fee revenue is expected.

·      Applicants may indicate brief outline ideas for how those funds may be used if they are not returned to the U.S. government.

 

Participants and Audiences:

 

·      Prospective Saudi Arabian undergraduate and graduate students

·      Parents of prospective students

·      College counselors and advisors

·      Saudi Arabian education officials

 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

 

Length of performance period:           9 – 12 months

Number of awards anticipated:           1 award (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts:                                       awards may range from a minimum of $30,000 to a maximum of $50,000

Type of Funding:                                       FY2021 Fulbright-Hays

Anticipated program start date:          August 1, 2021

Funding Instrument Type:                     Cooperative agreement.

 

Substantial Involvement: The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia will be substantially involved in the execution of this program in the following ways:

·      Coordination and approval on the timing of the three fairs and the pre-conference workshops.

·      Coordination with Saudi institutional stakeholders and conference co-sponsors.

·      Approval of workshop session topics and speakers.

·      Approval of promotional materials and communications prior to release, including logos and branding.

·      Approval of fees assessed to HEI participants.

·      Coordination on participant data to be collected and reported through registration and surveys.

 

Additional information is available in the Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Files section of this announcement.