As part of the effort to promote the internationalization of Portuguese higher education institutions, FLAD launches on Tuesday the UP Higher Education Program, a funding line so that they can develop partnership projects with Institutions in the United States with a view to cooperation and the internationalization of Portuguese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The importance of the internationalization of Portuguese Higher Education Institutions is a central issue in FLAD’s performance, which has been developing a set of projects and initiatives to promote the exchange of knowledge, development of partnerships and the opening of this important market to Portuguese universities. Among other initiatives, FLAD has been operating since 2014 the SiPN – Study in Portugal Network, a program for the exchange of American students to Portuguese universities.

“The creation of active partnerships with American Higher Education Institutions is important for Portuguese institutions to gain the visibility they deserve. We hope that these partnerships will also pave the way for innovation and experimentation with new teaching approaches.” – FLAD Administrator Michael Baum.

The UP Higher Education Program will provide a funding line so that Portuguese Higher Education Institutions can develop their projects with a view to the internationalization of their own institutions, learning best practices and curricular cooperation, among others.

The selected projects may receive up to a maximum of 30,000€ in funding for projects that include, in a combined or isolated way, for example:

  • Cooperation and/or curricular articulation (e.g. development of double or joint diplomas; financial support for the development of new consortia between Portugal and the USA; etc.);
  • Adoption and use of technology (e.g. International Collaborative Learning Online – COIL, virtual mobility, etc.);
  • Training and development of teachers and staff (e.g. short stays for immersion training);
  • Joint research (e.g. joint projects, multilateral networks);
  • Talent acquisition (e.g. joint appointments).

Portuguese Higher Education Institutions that wish to apply for this program may submit projects that include purposes not listed above, but it is important that they are joint initiatives that demonstrate potential for mutual involvement and commitment, with a view to common objectives for internationalization in the medium/long term. Objectives should be explicit and easy to measure.

Who can apply:

  • Proposals for any level of higher education – bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate, executive training, or others will be considered;
  • These proposals may be submitted in isolation or in combination;
  • Program is available for any area of knowledge;
  • Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges, Research Centres or Higher Schools may submit applications involving two or more universities (consortia) on both sides of the Atlantic;
  • The proposals of the institutions of the interior of the country, or of the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, will have a positive increase in the analysis of their candidacy.

Calendar:

  • The competition will be open between June 2 and October 9, 2022;
  • Applicants will be notified of the results by 27 October 2022;
  • Support will be made available during 2022 for initiatives to start during the academic year 2022/23;
  • In exceptional cases, depending on the nature of the initiative, a phased of support may be considered.

Eligibility Criteria and Application Process

  • Applications must be submitted by Portuguese Higher Education Institutions;
  • Applications can be submitted in English or Portuguese;
  • Each application submitted, individually or in consortium format, mus be associated with a Project Director/Principal Investigator representing the HEI(s) involved in Portugal, and the indication of a reference contact point in the HEI(s) involved in the USA, must be associated with the application.

The following documentation must be attached to each application:

  • Letter of support from the Portuguese HEI involved;
  • Letter of support from the U.S. HEI involved;
  • Description of the joint action and its objectives;
  • Schedule;
  • Budget reflecting the investment of the different parties involved;
  • Other documents supporting the application.

Applications must be submitted by filling out the online form available at the following link: https://flad.secure.force.com/CandidaturaMain?language=en

Financing:

  • Up to 30,000€ per selected project;
  • The selected proposals may be supported in their entirety, or in a lower value than requested;
  • FLAD may, if it pleases, not select any application;
  • FLAD does not support overheads, so the estimated budgeted investment figures should reflect these costs as institutional co-financing of the HEIs involved.

The information provided in this article does not dispense with the attentive consultation of the notice of this contest, which can be found in this link.

For further questions or clarifications please contact: ricardo.pereira@flad.pt