Overseas Seminars Abroad-Bilateral Projects (84.018)
Program
84.018 Overseas Seminars Abroad-Bilateral Projects
Federal Agency
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Authorization
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law 87-256, 75 Stat. 527.
Program Number
84.018
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To increase mutual understanding and knowledge between the people of the United States and those in other countries by offering qualified U.S. educators opportunities to participate in short-term study seminars abroad on topics in the social sciences and the humanities.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Program funds provide round-trip economy airfare, room and board, tuition and fees for seminars. Actual locations may vary from year-to-year. No dependents are to accompany awardees participating in seminars.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
(1) Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status; (2) must hold a bachelor's degree; (3) must have a minimum of 3 years full-time professional experience in U.S. school systems teaching or supervising in the social sciences or humanities subjects; (4) must have at least 3 years full-time in teaching, administering or supervising in the humanities, the social sciences or social studies subjects; (5) applicants must be currently employed full-time in teaching, administering or supervising in the aforementioned areas; (6) applicants also must meet any language requirements if applicable (see the application booklet for details). If selected, awardees must furnish evidence of good health and emotional maturity.
Beneficiary Eligibility
(1) Undergraduate faculty members of four year colleges/universities and 2-year community colleges in the fields of the humanities and social sciences; (2) supervisors and secondary (grades 9 through 12) and elementary and junior high school (grades K through 8) teachers of social studies and humanities; and (3) curriculum development specialists, administrators of local and State education agencies who have direct responsibility for developing curriculum in the subject areas encompassed by the social sciences and the humanities.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants' basic data; education and professional preparation; present and previous employment; specific statement of objectives; plans to utilize the knowledge and experience gained from the seminar; involvement in educational/professional/civic groups, associations/organizations; personal traits; honors/awards/publications, etc. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Center for International Education and Graduate Programs Service, Department of Education, publishes an annual announcement of opportunities and conducts open competition to select participants. Binational commissions or foundations or other appropriate agencies receive funding to conduct the seminars. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and as required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Eligible applicants may submit applications for a position in one of the seminars when the announcement of a new competition is made though journals, newsletters, educational associations, individuals, etc. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure
Recommendations are made to the Secretary of Education following advice from a panel of consultants. All recommended selections are subject to review and final approval by the presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Deadlines
Generally in late October of the year preceding the award to attend a seminar overseas.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
From 4 to 6 weeks.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Individual curriculum projects and program evaluations from participants are submitted.
Audits
Not applicable.
Records
Retained for one year.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2002, approximately 136 participants were enrolled in ten projects.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0201-0-1-502.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $1,777,000; FY 02 est $2,000,000; and FY 03 est $2,200,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Average award is $178,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Program announcements and related information are available from the Program Officer for International Education, Department of Education.
Related Programs
84.015, National Resource Centers and Fellowships Program for Language and Area or Language and International Studies; 84.016, Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Programs; 84.017, International Research and Studies; 84.019, Overseas_Faculty Research Abroad; 84.021, Overseas_Group Projects Abroad; 84.022, Overseas_Doctoral Dissertation; 84.229, Language Resource Centers.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
International Studies Branch, International Education Graduate Programs Service, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202-5332. Contact Gail Holdren email: gale.holdren@ed.gov Telephone: (202) 502-7691.
Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/fra.html
Examples of Funded Projects
Seminars have been conducted in Chile, China, Egypt, Hungary, Poland, Malaysia, Mexico, and Zimbabwe. Annual language training programs are offered in Japan for teachers of Japanese.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Contact the Program Office for information.
