Entries open for IDEAS Grant Competition (United States)

The Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning. The IDEAS Program expands and bolsters American student mobility in support of U.S. foreign policy goals by providing institutional grants to U.S. colleges and universities and by offering virtual and/or in-person capacity building activities for grant recipients and the larger U.S. study abroad community. The expansion of study abroad at U.S. higher education institutions increases mutual understanding between American students and their international counterparts; develops American students’ international networks and knowledge, particularly as related to U.S. foreign policy priorities; and enhances American students’ readiness for careers that benefit both their local communities and the United States at large.

Goals

• The goals of the IDEAS Program are to:
  • Create or expand U.S. colleges and universities’ capacity to administer study abroad programs that are primarily for U.S. undergraduate students and align with U.S. foreign policy goals;
  • Increase the number of U.S. undergraduate students studying or interning abroad for academic credit, with an emphasis on expanding both the students and institutions taking part in study abroad and the destinations to which they travel; and
  • Collect, develop, and share best practices for creating and/or expanding study abroad opportunities for U.S. students with the broader U.S. higher education community through trainings and other capacity building initiatives.

Themes

• Civil Society, Journalism, and Education
  • Example programming could focus on the role civil society, journalism, and/or education play in shaping public knowledge and governance.
• Climate, Energy, and the Environment
  • Example programming could focus on agriculture and rural development, climate, conserving nature, food security, natural resource management, ocean and polar affairs, and renewable energy.
• Democracy and Human Rights
  • Example programming could focus on governance, human trafficking, immigration, refugees, and women’s empowerment.
• Economic Development and Entrepreneurship
  • Example programming could focus on business, closing skills gaps in local communities, human resources, infrastructure, resource development, and trade.
• Global Health
  • Example programming could focus on combatting drugs, contagious and infectious diseases, COVID-19 recovery, nursing, and public health policy and management.
• Technology and Innovation
  • Example programming could focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, critical and emerging technologies, digital engagement and policies, engineering, and technology cooperation.

Funding Information

• The 2025 grant competition will award approximately 35 grants of up to $35,000 each to accredited colleges and universities.

Eligible Projects

• Examples of the types of projects that applicants may propose include, but are not limited to:
  • Create a faculty-led study abroad program;
  • Create internship/experiential learning program(s);
  • Develop study abroad resources or materials;
  • Form or further develop partnerships with universities in a wide variety of international locations, particularly destinations that are underrepresented in study abroad;
  • Support the development of a new study abroad position or office at the college or university;
  • Embed global, international, or intercultural exchange elements into courses in order to internationalize curricula;
  • Develop hybrid and/or virtual exchange models and programs. If proposing virtual programming, applicants must specify how it will complement in-person exchange programs and campus internationalization goals.
  • Work with a new or established consortium of colleges and/or universities.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for consideration, proposals must meet the following eligibility criteria:
  • The grant competition is open to accredited U.S. colleges and universities physically based in the United States or its territories with a broad range of capacity to administer study abroad programs. This includes institutions that currently have limited or no experience administering study abroad programs as well as those with established programs;
  • Proposals must support primarily U.S. undergraduate student mobility abroad, although graduate student participation in programs is allowed. Proposals do not need to support the creation or expansion of a specific study abroad program. The IDEAS Program welcomes innovative ideas for how to build (or rebuild) study abroad capacity on campus or nationally, for example, through the creation of study abroad resources addressing outreach needs on an applicant’s campus or the development of virtual activities to complement in-person exchanges;
  • Funding may not be used to support direct outbound or inbound student costs, including but not limited to scholarships, travel, passports, tuition, or meals for U.S. or foreign students. Funds may be used to support U.S. faculty and/or staff travel overseas as well as travel for foreign faculty and/or staff to come to the United States to support program development. Group travel or program costs such as ground transportation, room rental, or cultural visit or tour fees that include both faculty and student participants are allowable. These group costs should be limited to no more than 5% of the total budget. All grant-funded travel must comply with the Fly America Act;
  • While an institution as a whole may submit more than one proposal, individual units within an institution (i.e., schools, colleges, offices) may submit only one application each. If an institution is organized into a single school or college, it may only submit one proposal. Individual campuses within wider university systems will be considered separate institutions.
    • Example 1: The School of Business of X University and the School of Nursing at the same X University may each submit separate proposals.
    • Example 2: Within the School of Business of X University, the Marketing Department and Finance Department may only submit one proposal total.
    • Example 3: The School of Business of X University – City A and the School of Business of X University – City B may each submit separate proposals.
  • IDEAS grants can support the development of in-person U.S. study abroad programming in foreign locations with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 1, 2, or 3. Development of in-person programming in foreign locations with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 4 is not permitted.
    • In the event that a proposal is selected for an IDEAS grant and the destination changes to a Level 4, the recipient may be required to change their program location or other planned program activities to align with U.S. Department of State travel policies.
    • The IDEAS Program reserves the right to request program changes for specific countries or areas if deemed necessary during any stage of the application, selection process, or program period. Final awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the security situation in-country. Furthermore, grant funded overseas travel and in-person activities abroad may be suspended in consultation with the U.S. Embassy in-country during the course of the program.
  • IDEAS grants can support the development of virtual U.S. study abroad programming in all foreign locations, regardless of their U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory level.

For more information, visit United States Department of State.