U.S. Saudi Academic Partnerships Program (Saudi Arabia)

Objectives

• The Saudi Ministry of Education (MOE) has undertaken an ambitious effort to strengthen partnerships between U.S. and Saudi HEIs, including in STEM, the arts, space, energy, and health care, among other topics. This program will facilitate such linkages by establishing an international academic partnership program that would connect Saudi and U.S. HEIs, selected by the U.S. Embassy and the MOE with the guidance of the award recipient (the Recipient); provide tools to facilitate active bilateral educational exchange and research partnerships; and bring a delegation from the U.S. HEIs to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran for engagements with the MOE and Saudi HEIs.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $175,000
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $150,000 to a maximum of $175,000
• Length of performance period: 8 to 12 months

Activities

• A successful proposal will include the following activities:
  • Recruitment and Selection – The Recipient should demonstrate how it will work closely with the U.S. Embassy and the MOE to identify and recruit ten to twelve U.S. HEIs for participation in the program.
  • Virtual Sessions – The Recipient will provide information to the U.S. HEIs on the Saudi educational context and opportunities for partnerships via virtual informational sessions. The goal of these session will be to provide the necessary context for sustainable international academic partnerships and the two-way exchange of students, scholars, and researchers.  Topics could include implementing strategic partnerships in the Saudi context, faculty engagement, developing a consolidated partnership strategy, and higher education within the Kingdom.  Sessions after the delegation visit related to implementation best practices could also be a component of the program.
  • Delegation Trip to Saudi Arabia – the Recipient will organize a delegation for senior leadership of the selected U.S. HEIs to travel to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran for approximately one week.  Grant funds would be used to cover costs of international travel (if not self-funded by the participants); travel within Saudi Arabia, lodging, per diem, visa fees, and ground transport.  The Recipient would also work closely with the U.S. Embassy and MOE to design a series of engagements, including a two-day workshop on international partnerships; site visits to the MOE and Saudi HEIs; and a reception for about 100 participants to be held on U.S. Embassy property.

Participants and Audiences

• The participants from U.E. HEIs should be at a senior level (e.g., presidents, provosts, rectors, vice rectors/provosts, or heads of international affairs departments).

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
  • Public and private educational institutions.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia.