PDS - U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan, English Language Capacity for STEM Fields Students

Overview

The U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan announces an open competition for U.S. and Kazakh organizations to submit proposals for the 2023-2024 English Language Capacity Building for STEM students, which aims to increase student mobility and access to research opportunities in STEM Fields through improving English language proficiency. The program seeks to provide 60 university students from regions outside of Astana and Almaty with pre-intermediate levels of English at least 250 hours of intensive English language courses to increase their academic language proficiency and readiness for graduate studies or research in STEM fields in the United States.  As a result, the program will enable the selected students to pursue graduate and research opportunities in the United States, including through the Kazakhstan government sponsored Bolashaq scholarship program. The selected in-country service provider will need to identify highly qualified language instructors in the regions who can commit to teaching English to STEM students by integrating American English language learning, STEM resources, and STEM activities in English to prepare STEM students for study in the United States.  

Project Audience(s):

Rural and regional students majoring in STEM and IT fields with excellent academic results, but pre-intermediate level of English, who are interested in continuing their education in the United States through various opportunities including GOK-funded scholarships.    

Project Goal:  
Increase access to STEM graduate and research opportunities in the United States for Kazakh students from rural and regional areas through English language and academic preparation courses.

Project Objectives:

• Objective 1: Improve the English language skills of 60 pre-intermediate English-level STEM students in regional and rural areas who are interested in continuing their studies abroad.
• Objective 2:  Increase STEM students’ awareness about various opportunities to continue their studies in the United States, by inviting U.S. guest speakers, advisers, and graduate or scholarship program representatives.
• Objective 3:  Increase understanding of at least 25-30 program participants on how to apply for study in the United States, through consultations and sessions on STEM-related activities.

The applicant should identify the target participants for the program through an open call for applications at regional universities.  The partner will also identify at least two highly-qualified English language instructors who can commit to improving students' English language level from pre-intermediate to upper-intermediate level at regional cities and conduct classes throughout the year.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

The application should be submitted via email to [email protected]

Length of performance period: September 2023 – December 2024

Number of awards anticipated: 1 award. 

Anticipated program start date:  September 2023