July 30, 2022

US Department of State Grants Upto $1.5m For Study Abroad Programs

T The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recently announced the grants for the 2022 Increase and Diversify Education Abroad programme, which incorporates initiatives to incentivise more American students to study abroad. Awardees are spread across 32 states and Puerto Rico, and they include 10 community colleges and 18 institutions that serve minorities. It represents a significant increase over the 26 schools that received funding last year, including nine institutions that serve minorities and five community colleges.

According to a press release from Study Abroad, the government-funded initiatives will support the goals of US foreign policy. In a letter to US international educators, the agency stated, "This year, we are committed to continuing our robust support for US colleges and universities as they build and diversify their study abroad capacity."

…these outstanding institutions will develop study abroad programming in all world regions and thematic areas important to the US, such as climate, democracy and human rights, and economic development and entrepreneurship…

According to Ethan Rosenzweig, the deputy assistant secretary for Academic Programs at ECA, the chosen US colleges and universities "reflect the diversity of the American higher education system."

At his press briefing, he said that "these outstanding institutions will develop study abroad programs in all world regions and thematic areas important to the US, such as climate, democracy and human rights, and economic development and entrepreneurship." This year, the Biden administration is proud to have doubled the number of IDEAS grants that we awarded. "We are committed to continuing our robust support for US colleges and universities as they build and diversify their study abroad capacity," he further added.

Sources also say that, additionally, funding will support the creation of new international partnerships and programs; faculty development in programme design and implementation; the development of virtual and hybrid exchanges; and resources to "engage diverse student groups in study abroad."

Bennett College, Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, Albany State University in Georgia, West Virginia University, and Xavier University of Louisiana are among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities receiving funding.

Posted in News and tagged News, USA, US Department of State, Study Abroad, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Foreign Policy, Black Colleges and Universities
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