University Partnerships Program for Turkey and Armenia | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the University Partnerships Program for Turkey and Armenia?

It is a U.S. Department of State-funded grant competition announced by the Offices of Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassies in Ankara and Yerevan. The program supports practical, sustained partnerships among U.S., Turkish, and Armenian higher education institutions to strengthen mutual understanding and improve educational practice.

What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The core aim is to build durable university-to-university partnerships that improve educational practice and contribute to longer-term relationship building. A defining program requirement is that proposed activities must directly or indirectly make enduring contributions to the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia.

How does the program expect partnerships to work in practice?

The opportunity is built around an "Educational Partnerships Program" model. Projects are carried out through exchange visits of faculty, students, and university administrators, supporting study, teaching, research, and outreach activities that connect institutions with similar missions and help establish lasting working relationships.

Does the program fund degree programs for students?

No. The solicitation specifically notes that the program is not intended to fund undergraduate or graduate degree programs. Instead, it focuses on institutional cooperation, professional development, and applied academic collaboration designed to continue beyond the grant period.

What kinds of exchange visits are supported?

The program supports exchange visits involving faculty, students, and university administrators, with activities tied to study, teaching, research, and outreach. The exchanges are intended to strengthen institutional linkages and support collaborative work between partner institutions.

What does the requirement about Turkey-Armenia normalization mean for proposals?

Proposals must be designed so the partnership itself, the shared work, and the professional networks created through the project produce sustained, constructive engagement between Turkish and Armenian counterparts, contributing in an enduring way to normalization objectives.

Are there suggested project themes or focus areas?

Yes. The announcement provides illustrative themes such as English language teaching, secondary or post-secondary educational administration, business administration, regional development, and tourism and hospitality management.

Are proposals limited to the listed themes?

No. The solicitation indicates that proposals are not limited to the illustrative fields, as long as they credibly advance the program's overarching objectives related to normalization and civil society.

Is leveraging Fulbright or other State Department exchange ties encouraged?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages applicants to leverage existing U.S. government-sponsored academic ties, especially those connected to Fulbright and other State Department exchange programs.

Which institutions are especially encouraged to apply?

Universities in the United States, Turkey, and Armenia that have previously hosted Fulbright or other State Department grantees or alumni are particularly encouraged to propose projects that build on those individuals' work and expand their impact at the institutional level.

What is the estimated funding level for the opportunity?

The solicitation references an approximate total funding level of $470,000 (contingent on funding) with an anticipated single award, while other listed fields reference an estimated total funding amount and an award ceiling of up to $570,000.

How many awards were anticipated?

The announcement indicates an anticipated single award.

What is the funding source and fiscal year for the grant?

The opportunity is described as a grant award using FY 2010 funds.

When were activities expected to start and end?

The anticipated start date for activities was around September 1, 2010. The planned project length was 28 months, with an expected completion date of December 31, 2012.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants were expected to contribute resources to complement the federal funding, consistent with the solicitation rules.

Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?

Eligibility centers on U.S. higher education institutions, including public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education. Independent school districts are also listed among eligible applicants.

What types of foreign partner organizations can participate?

Foreign partners can include recognized post-secondary institutions (state-supported or independent), research institutes, relevant educational authorities, and other public or private non-profit organizations with education-related missions aligned with the project.

Can consortia apply (e.g., universities plus other education bodies)?

Yes. The structure described allows partnerships or consortia that combine universities with other mission-aligned educational bodies, as long as the partnership advances the stated objectives.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is PRMTR 10 GR 001 EUR 022510.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posted date is listed as March 8, 2010, and the closing date is listed as June 1, 2010. The opportunity was later archived.

How strict was the submission process?

The submission rules were described as unusually strict due to heightened security measures at the time. Shipping and delivery requirements affected eligibility, including constraints on delivery methods and timing.

How were applications required to be delivered?

Applications had to be shipped by the deadline using a nationally recognized overnight delivery service with trackable systems (examples given include DHL, FedEx, UPS, or USPS Express Mail).

What happened if an application was shipped on time but arrived late?

Proposals sent on or before the deadline but received more than seven days later were deemed ineligible.

What happened if an application was shipped after the deadline?

Anything shipped after the deadline was automatically ineligible.

Were in-person delivery, local courier delivery, or fax submissions allowed?

No. Local courier delivery and in-person delivery were not permitted, and faxed submissions were not accepted.

Where did the lead U.S. institution send the hard-copy application?

The lead U.S. institution was instructed to send the original plus five copies to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara at the address listed in the announcement.

Was electronic submission allowed?

Applicants could submit electronically to UniversityPartners@state.gov, but hard-copy submission was still required.

Were there additional electronic copy requirements after the deadline?

Yes. Supplemental electronic copies of key narrative sections and specific attachments were due within a week after the proposal deadline, according to the announcement.

Who was the listed point of contact for access issues?

The primary point of contact listed for access issues was Didem Ozbag, Outreach Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, with a phone number provided in the announcement.

Which U.S. entities announced the competition?

The competition was announced by the Offices of Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassies in Ankara and Yerevan.

What makes this opportunity different from typical education grants?

Based on the description provided, it is framed as a single, relatively large partnership grant with an explicit public diplomacy purpose: creating people-to-people and institution-to-institution ties that outlast the grant and measurably support Turkey-Armenia normalization through higher education collaboration.