U.S. Mission to Venezuela, Curriculum and University Partnerships (CUP)

Overview

The Public Diplomacy section of the Venezuela Affairs Unit announces an open competition for U.S. Institutes of Higher Education (HEIs) or U.S. not-for-profit organizations to submit applications for the Curriculum and University Partnerships (CUP). We seek proposals that build the curriculum development capacity of faculty at Venezuelan academic institutions through collaborative online curriculum-design partnerships that cultivate university partnerships between these institutions and their U.S. counterparts. 

This program will focus on building collaborative curriculum development opportunities at Venezuelan universities, building curriculum design capacity; connecting Venezuelan academics with their U.S. counterparts and catalyzing university partnerships. This program supports the VAU’s higher education engagement goals to expand partnerships between U.S. and Venezuelan higher education institutions. This approach acknowledges that fortifying existing links and promoting new U.S.-Venezuelan partnerships at the university level will make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous. 

We seek proposals that will utilize COIL1 and other online collaboration tools to develop up to six new curricula projects at Venezuelan universities and establish the building blocks of international partnerships among program participants and their U.S. counterparts. 

Theory of Change: If universities in Venezuela increase their ability to collaborate and enhance their curriculum development capacity; and if these universities develop a campus-wide culture of international collaboration, then Venezuela will be better positioned to build comprehensive university partnerships with U.S. counterparts. 

Key Deliverables: The 18-month CUP grant seeks to accomplish the program’s goals through the following deliverables: 

1. Online Engagement and Mentoring Sessions on the main components of a successful university curriculum development process, including (but not limited to), 1) Needs Assessment; 2) Goal Setting; 3) Curriculum Design; 4) Implementation; and 5) Evaluation/Revision (as needed). In addition, these online sessions should include a wide range of topics that focus on how to foster a culture of learning and international collaboration, including: 

• Value and importance of integrated and multi-disciplinary teaching and learning, including leadership support for a campus-wide strategic vision; 
• Case studies of successful U.S. university curriculum development and implementation initiatives that led to achieving international standards, improved student outcomes and institutionalized support; 
• International education and partnership strategies; 
• Additional topics could include curricula review strategies, student/faculty/administration stakeholder engagement; private-sector/practitioner integrations, critical thinking/problem-solving capacities; and 
• Other key areas that support this effort. 

2. International Partnership Facilitation/Professional Networking Activities that support new academic collaborations and university partnerships (or enhance existing partnerships) between Venezuelan academic leaders and their U.S. counterparts. The grantee will recruit and introduce potential U.S. university counterparts to facilitate these curriculum partnerships. This will include working with the Venezuelan participants to shape and design their curriculum projects and develop their initial partnership strategies. 
   
   
3. Curriculum Design through COIL will be implemented and mentored by the grantee through online support, regular consultations, and other professional oversight as appropriate. 
   
   
4. In-Person Curriculum Workshop for up to 12 Venezuelan university academics and administrators from six Venezuelan universities and six U.S. counterparts. The grantee will organize a Colombia-based academic conference to build on the online capacity-building sessions and physically bring together international partners for each of the six curriculum projects. The workshop can include travel and participation costs for U.S. experts and collaborative partners to travel to Bogota, Colombia, for this program. [NOTE: Review DOS travel restrictions for this country.]
   
   
5. Implementation and Assessment support for program participants to guide the implementation of these curricula projects and the assessment and revision process as necessary. 
   
   NOTE: Proposals that present a broad group of U.S. universities and innovative/creative online networking strategies efforts will be prioritized.

Project Performance Period: Project should be completed in 18 months or less