Departmental Development Projects

The Academic Fellowship Program strives to contribute to the ongoing reform of higher education across the region. Besides fellowships for Returning and International Scholars, AFP funds Departmental Development Projects with the main goal of further assisting and strengthening the teaching and research capabilities of AFP partner departments.

Acknowledging the value of their experience and innovative ideas, the International Higher Education Support Program invites AFP partner departments to submit project proposals which facilitate the implementation of AFP strategy and partner department reform agenda. The focus of AFP input is on long-term programs (course, curriculum, and faculty and library development).  AFP strongly encourages joint proposals to support cooperation between International and Returning Scholars, departmental faculty members, and other resource faculty.

AFP encourages original projects that logically complement and strengthen the regular departmental development activities already undertaken by AFP Returning and International Scholars.

AFP will not fund preparation and/or publication of textbooks or monographs, fees for enrollment in external training programs, or organization of conferences. AFP will not, as a rule, contribute to the development of institutional infrastructure or provide remuneration to institutional staff for performing part of their regular professional responsibilities.

To Apply

In designing project proposals, AFP partner departments are encouraged first to contact their Region Managers to ensure that the proposed project complements current departmental reform plans, other AFP activities in the target department, and the overall AFP/HESP strategy.

Applications will be accepted from all current AFP partner departments. In order to apply for funding, partner departments should initially send a brief concept proposal to their Region Manager to determine if the topic and the proposed activity match AFP priorities.

The concept proposal should clearly and concisely present the general concept of the proposed project and include all of the following areas: project title, name of partner department and university, project implementation period, name(s) and e-mail address(es) of project coordinator(s), statement of needs (rationale), project objectives, brief outline of activities, implementation schedule, participants, and anticipated outcomes.  The concept proposal should not exceed 2 pages.  In drafting concept proposals, partner departments are encouraged to be as specific as possible and relate the proposed activities to existing plans for curriculum/faculty development at the department.

If the concept proposal is approved, AFP will invite the department to submit a full Project Narrative Proposal Form and a Project Budget Proposal Form, which should be sent to the Region Manager.

Selection Process

Taking into account input from the Region Managers, a selection committee in the AFP Budapest Office will review and select the concept proposals, and later the full proposals, on a rolling basis until June 30, 2010.  The results will be announced within 45 days of receipt of the proposals.

Partner departments are encouraged to apply as early as possible in the academic year to be able to secure funds. A Project Report Sheet and a Financial Report must be completed for each project and submitted to the AFP Budapest Office within 30 days of the project’s termination date, but no later than August 31, 2010.