Deadline: 31 July 2019

The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in New Delhi is soliciting proposals for a grant/cooperative agreement from legally-recognized non-profit, non-governmental organizations that meet U.S. and Indian technical and legal requirements to develop and implement public diplomacy program “Transforming U.S.-India Higher EducationCollaboration – Fostering Academic Integrity”.

The objective of this grant is to provide a platform to share U.S. and Indian experience and expertise in strengthening academic integrity in higher education. The program will focus on the critical role of integrity in every academic endeavor, from learning to teaching and research, to ensure the global credibility of initiatives in the arts, science, technology, entrepreneurship, business and other fields. Through a series of pan-India workshops and other programmatic venues, American and Indian educators and experts will share models of Academic integrity practiced in public and private universities.

Program Description:  Based on funding availability, this program will support the design and implementation ofthree Academic Integrity workshops led by American and Indian educators and experts in Tier II Indian cities located in three of the five Embassy Consular districts (North India, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Hyderabad.)  In addition, the grantee will organize a 90 minute South Asia regional Zoom digital video conference at the American Center in New Delhi connecting the American expert/s with audiences in 2-3 South Asian countries (Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or others).   Finally, the grantee will create an online educators’ platform on the grantee website, designed to share best practices and provide networking opportunities in the area of academic integrity.  This resource should ideally be sustainable beyond the duration of the grant.

Program Requirements

• Three pan-India workshops: Organize three Academic Integrity workshops led by American and Indian educators and experts. The workshops would be held in Tier II Indian cities located in three of the five Embassy Consular district (North India, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Hyderabad).  One of the three workshops mustbe in North India (Lucknow, Varanasi or Jaipur).  Each workshop would last two-three days.
• Invite American and Indian experts – Each workshop must include one or more qualified American educators or experts well versed in the principles and implementation of academic integrity in U.S. universities. The U.S. expert(s) should have experience as the director of the office of academic integrity of a U.S. university or college and/or have similar experience administering program(s) designed to support a culture of academic integrity.  They should be respected in their field.  The U.S. expert should be able to address academic integrity in all its multidisciplinary manifestations (Science and Technology, Liberal Arts, etc.)  The U.S. expert(s) would share models of academic integrity practiced in U.S. colleges and universities and learn about the education environment in India.  They would share best practices in U.S. university policies, including implementing guidelines, enabling environments, the roles of university leadership, teachers, and students, and the role of technology.
• Develop workshop content – The grantee would be responsible for putting together the workshop content/schedule.
• South Asia Zoom video conference – The grantee will organize a 90 minute South Asia regional Zoom digital video conference at the American Center in New Delhi connecting  the American expert/s with audiences in 2-3 South Asian countries (Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or others).  The grantee will use the existing network of the Regional Public Engagement office (REPS) of Embassy New Delhi for the Zoom engagement with partner organizations/Embassies in South Asia.  This Zoom program will be part of the “Virtual Diplomacy – South Asian Voices,” engagement of the Cultural Affairs office New Delhi. The U.S. Embassies in the above countries would invite appropriate audiences for this virtual engagement.
• Create an online educators’ platform on the grantee website – designed to share best practices and provide networking opportunities in the area of academic integrity.
• Media Amplification – Develop and implement a robust media plan using TV (especially vernacular TV), radio and print media to increase awareness about the importance of academic integrity. In addition, develop and implement a strong social media campaign on academic integrity.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: The grantee should devise a monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the outputs and outcomes of specific activities (use pre and post program surveys).

Award Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $70,000
• Award Ceiling: $70,000

Expected Outcomes

• Information sharing by American and Indian educatorson the issue of academic integrity.
• More aware and sensitized faculty, higher education administrators and students.
• Taking the message of best practices in academic integrity beyond India to educators and students in South Asia.
• An online platform on the grantee’s website for sharing best practices and providing networking opportunities on Academic Integrity beyond the grant period.
• Amplification of the message of academic integrity through TV, radio, print and social media.
• Each workshop should result in a practical and workable academic integrity action plan for the participating HEI’s, including steps to the taken to improve academic integrity on their campuses, such as developing honor codes, honor councils, and educating their students in the principles of academic integrity.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility is open to all non-profit, non-governmental organizations. Individuals are not eligible for an award under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.

How to Apply

All application materials must be submitted electronically via given website.

For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=317637