International Understanding Grants
Sponsored by NCSS International Assembly & Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education
Introduction
The International Assembly (IA) was founded upon a commitment to build international understanding and to share the activities and scholarship of global social studies educators. The Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) was created by the National Council for the Social Studies to support research and classroom application projects that improve social studies education and promote engaged, effective citizens.
In that spirit, IA and FASSE will award up to three International Understanding Grants (IUG). The total of the three grants will not exceed $5,000. The purpose of the grants is to support collaborative projects that demonstrate potential to enhance international relationships and global perspectives in social studies education. Funded projects will hold promise for enhancing international and cross-cultural understanding, e.g., through global or international education, human rights education, a focus on global issues, global citizenship, etc.
General Information
Eligible Applicants
Members of NCSS from all geographic locations are encouraged to submit proposals. The primary grantee must be a member of NCSS.
Contexts for Projects
Project activities should involve social studies learners in two or more nations. Proposals can address a range of educational levels and settings, from K-12 to collegiate levels, in school or community settings.
Grant Period
The grants will be awarded in June, 2011. Grant activities can begin any time thereafter. While it is anticipated that funds will support projects that will be completed within one calendar year from their inception, longer term projects will be considered with interim rather than final reports expected at yearly intervals until the project is completed.
Application Deadline
April 1, 2011
Required Proposal Information
All proposals must be submitted online.
- Contact Information: Name/s of applicant/s, NCSS member number/s. Primary applicant’s e-mail, fax, telephone number and alternative contact address. Name, title, and address of institution/fiscal agent.
- Title of Project Description of Project: up to 1200 words, including specific objectives and evaluation criteria upon which to determine the project’s success.
- Resume/s: up to 300 words per grant applicant.
- Contact information for two or more supportive professional colleagues.
- Timeline of activities.
- Budget and explanations. Applicants should explain how existing resources or in-kind contributions will be used to maximize the grant’s impact. Costs for personnel, travel, and supplies should be balanced. The grant funds may not be used to cover indirect costs or to purchase major equipment such as computers.
Criteria for Review
Proposals for the IUG will be reviewed by the IUG Committee, composed of representatives of IA and FASSE. Projects will be assessed based on:
- feasibility of completing project within budget and timeframe (5 points)
- number of and impact on learners involved (3 points)
- evidence of collaboration (2 points)
- optimal use of new and existing resources (3 points)
- quality of written proposal (2 points)
- potential to enhance international relationships and global perspectives in social studies education (3 points)
- plans for local dissemination of the project within the nations involved (2 points)
- quality of evaluation process (2 points)
Terms of the Grant
When the project to be funded has been identified NCSS will transfer 50% of the awarded amount to an account at the primary grantee’s educational institution. The primary grantee is responsible for submitting an interim report at the end of the first six months of the project at which time the IUG Committee may recommend adjustments to the project. When the interim report is approved and any recommended adjustments have been discussed, the remaining 50% will be forwarded to the primary grantee’s educational institution with the stipulation that the grantees will write a final report to the International Assembly board and FASSE board. Grantees will be expected to post electronic documentation of their projects on the NCSS website. Grantees are encouraged to present their projects at an IA/FASSE session at the 2012 NCSS conference.