Promoting Internationalization of Indian Universities Through U.S. collaborations | ND NOFO 20 109

Opportunity Information: Apply for ND NOFO 20 109

This U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to India) grant opportunity, titled "Promoting Internationalization of Indian Universities Through U.S. collaborations" (Funding Opportunity Number: ND NOFO 20 109), is designed to strengthen ties between Indian and American higher education institutions by exposing Indian university leaders to U.S. best practices in internationalization and by creating structured opportunities to build real, working partnerships. The program is centered on helping Indian higher education administrators from a mix of public and private institutions learn how U.S. universities approach global engagement, and then use that knowledge to develop practical collaborations with U.S. counterparts. The mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expects to be actively involved in shaping and supporting the work rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.

At the heart of the project is participation in a major U.S. higher education internationalization forum, particularly the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) annual conference, scheduled in Washington, DC in February 2021. The logic is straightforward: conferences like AIEA are not just training events, but high-value meeting grounds where institutions can negotiate, compare strategies, and move from general interest to concrete partnership planning. The opportunity frames AIEA and similar advocacy or leadership associations as platforms where Indian and U.S. universities can align priorities and launch joint initiatives.

The collaborations the program is trying to stimulate are explicitly broad and outcomes-oriented. Examples named in the announcement include joint academic programs such as joint Ph.D. degrees, study abroad and mobility programs, research collaborations, and even the hiring of early-career U.S. postdoctoral scholars by Indian institutions. In other words, the goal is not limited to signing memoranda of understanding, but to push institutions toward activities that change academic offerings, increase two-way scholarly exchange, and generate sustained research and teaching partnerships.

The selected grantee would work closely with Public Affairs Section (PAS) India, with PAS New Delhi taking the lead, to identify and assemble a cohort of Indian higher education leaders drawn from all U.S. consulate regions in India. The cohort is intended to include both experienced administrators who have participated in similar international platforms before and newer participants who have a strong plan and a clear understanding of how they will use the conference to advance institutional goals. A key feature of the design is a competitive application process for candidate selection: prospective participants are expected to explain how they will benefit, who they intend to connect with at the event, and how they will translate conference participation into actionable next steps. Preference is implied for applicants who go beyond passive attendance and present a coherent plan for targeted networking, partnership discussions, and follow-on activities, potentially including visits to U.S. universities or research labs to deepen prospective collaborations.

The program also makes a clear case that U.S.-India higher education partnerships have both diplomatic and economic value. On the relationship side, it emphasizes people-to-people ties demonstrated through direct connections between scholars and academic leaders in both countries. On the economic side, it points to collaborations that could increase Indian student participation in U.S.-based academic experiences (such as completing part of a degree or other requirements in the United States) and create opportunities for U.S. universities to provide advisory or consultancy services to Indian institutions as they expand international programs and align with global standards.

In terms of basic award details, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in the education area (CFDA 19.040), with an award ceiling of $100,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The notice was created on April 3, 2020, with an original closing date of May 26, 2020. Overall, the grant is structured to fund a highly curated, strategically planned engagement that uses the AIEA conference as a launchpad for measurable U.S.-India university partnerships rather than as a standalone professional development trip.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting Internationalization of Indian Universities Through U.S. collaborations" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 03, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 26, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for ND NOFO 20 109

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