International Foreign Language Education (IFLE): International Research and Studies Program - Research, Studies and Surveys; and Specialized Instructional Materials

Overview

Purpose of Program: The IRS program provides grants to public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals, to conduct research, studies, or surveys, or to develop specialized instructional materials, to improve and strengthen instruction and enrollment in modern foreign languages and related area studies. Research and studies may include, but are not limited to - 

(a) Studies and surveys to determine needs for increased or improved instruction in modern foreign languages, area studies, or other international fields, including the demand for foreign language, area studies, and other international specialists in government, education, and the private sector;

(b) Research on more effective methods of providing instruction and achieving competency in foreign languages, area studies, or other international fields;

(c) Research on applying performance tests and standards across all areas of foreign language instruction and classroom use;

(d) Developing and publishing specialized materials for use in foreign language, area studies, and other international fields or for training foreign language, area studies, and other international specialists;

(e) Studies and surveys to assess the use of graduates of programs supported under title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) by governmental, educational, and private-sector organizations and other studies assessing the outcomes and effectiveness of supported programs;

(f) Comparative studies of the effectiveness of strategies to provide international capabilities at institutions of higher education;

(g) Evaluations of the extent to which programs assisted under title VI of the HEA that address national needs would not otherwise be offered;

(h) Studies and surveys of the use of technologies in foreign language, area studies, and international studies programs;

(i) Studies and evaluations of effective practices in the dissemination of international information, materials, research, teaching strategies, and testing techniques throughout the educational community, including elementary and secondary schools;

(j) Evaluations of the extent to which programs assisted under title VI of the HEA reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views and generate debate on world regions and international affairs;

(k) Systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of data that contribute to achieving the purposes of title VI, part A of the HEA; and

(l) Support for programs or activities to make data collected, analyzed, or disseminated under this part publicly available and easy to understand.

In this competition, applicants may request support for either a Research, Studies, or Surveys Project or a Specialized Instructional Materials Project. Applicants must clearly identify the type of IRS project for which funding is requested

This notice contains one absolute priority and one competitive preference priority. 
Absolute Priority: Research, Studies, or Survey Projects or Specialized Instructional Materials Projects must include one or more of the following allowable activities:
Research, Studies, or Survey Projects:

(i) Studies and surveys to determine the need for increased or improved instruction in modern foreign languages and area studies and other international fields needed to provide full understanding of the places in which those languages are commonly used; 

(ii) research and studies on more effective methods of instruction and achieving competency in modern foreign languages, area studies, or other international fields or to evaluate competency in those foreign languages, area studies, or other international fields; 

(iii) studies and surveys to assess the use of graduates of programs supported under title VI of the HEA by governmental, educational, and private sector organizations, and other studies assessing the outcomes and effectiveness of supported programs; 

(iv) studies and surveys of the uses of technology in foreign language, area studies, and international studies programs; or

(v) systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of data that contribute to achieving the purposes of title VI, part A of the HEA. 

Specialized Instructional Materials Projects: Development and publication of specialized materials for use by students and teachers of modern foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields or for use in providing such instruction and evaluation or for training individuals to provide such instruction and evaluation.

Competitive Preference Priority: Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities. Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project will be implemented by or in partnership with one or more of the following entities: 
(1) Community colleges

(2) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice)

(3) Tribal Colleges and Universities 

(4) Minority-serving institutions 
We award an additional 5 points to an application that meets this priority.

Estimated Range of Awards: 
Research, Studies, or Survey Projects: $72,000–$102,000 for each budget period of 12 months. 
Specialized Instructional Materials Projects: $43,000–$60,000 for each budget period of 12 months. 

Estimated Average Size of Awards: 
Research, Studies, or Survey Projects: $85,000 for each budget period of 12 months. 
Specialized Instructional Materials Projects: $50,000 for each budget period of 12 months. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 
Research, Studies, or Survey Projects: 10. 
Specialized Instructional Materials Projects: 10. 

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Pre-Application Webinar: The Department will hold a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed information regarding the webinar, including date and time, will be provided on the website for the IRS program.