RFI 72026322R00004 - USAID Partnerships for Educational Progress - 03.28.2022.pdf

Request for Information: 72026322R00004 USAID Partnerships for Educational Progress

Issuance Date: 3/28/2022 Response Due Date: 4/27/2022 Response Email Addresses: nhindy@usaid.gov and jamilewis@usaid.gov

The United States Agency for International Development in Cairo, Egypt (USAID/Egypt) is contemplating a new five-year activity to provide support to the higher education sector that will strengthen the quality and global competitiveness of public higher education institutions (HEIs) through partnerships, training, customized capacity building, private sector linkages and enhanced student and faculty services.

This Request for Information (RFI) intends to provide public information to parties interested in USAID/Egypt’s programs and collect information, comments, and recommendations.

This RFI is issued solely for informational and planning purposes - it does not constitute a request for proposal or application, nor promise to issue a future solicitation. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to procure any supply or service. Further, USAID/Egypt is not seeking proposals or applications at this time. Interested parties are advised that the U.S.

Government will not pay for any costs associated with responding to this RFI. Responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any organization in any subsequent procurement.

If a future solicitation is issued, it will be announced on one of two U.S. Government sites (www.grants.gov or www.sam.gov) depending on the type of instrument selected. All interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from any response to this announcement.

Please find attached the results framework for a potential higher education activity, including the activity goal, expected results, and illustrative activities. USAID is seeking information that can improve the activity and increase the chances of its success. USAID welcomes general feedback, questions, suggestions, and comments that partners may have in response. USAID appreciates your feedback on some or all of the following questions:

University Management and Administrator Capacity Strengthening

1. What resources are currently available for university management and administrators of public universities in Egypt to enhance their skill sets?

2. What processes or procedures could help streamline administrative challenges and enhance efficiency in public universities?

mailto:nhindy@usaid.gov mailto:jamilewis@usaid.gov http://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/

Private Sector Linkages

3. How can Egyptian public universities better engage with the private sector to influence curriculum development, academic requirements, course offerings, and promote scientific research and innovation, etc?

Curriculum and Pedagogy Improvements

4. What challenges or barriers are present when considering updating university curriculum, courses, or introducing new courses (both in-person and online learning)? What are current good practices or innovative approaches being applied to address these challenges?

5. How can USAID build on resources that currently exist to help faculty improve their curriculum and pedagogical approaches to ensure that it is student-centered and market-driven?

6. What services are currently missing or in need of strengthening that best prepare students for the workforce?

Research and Innovation

7. What are some of the main challenges facing researchers and graduate students at public universities? What are possible solutions to these challenges?

Interest & Suggestions

8. Are you interested in applying to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) if/when it is released?

9. What are some additional suggestions for facilitating effectiveness of this activity? What are some factors that may constrain implementation?

Please send all responses to this RFI via email to Nevine Hindy and Jamie Lewis at the emails and date indicated above with the subject [Response to RFI - 72026322R00004]. Please limit responses to five (5) pages and include your organization’s name, address, point of contact, and email address. You will receive a confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response, but will not receive feedback on any comments or suggestions.

Thank you for your assistance and valuable feedback to USAID/Egypt.

Sincerely, /s/

Justin Gunnoe Contracting/Agreement Officer USAID/Egypt

Attachment: 1 - USAID/Egypt USAID Partnerships for Educational Progress Preliminary Activity Overview

Attachment: 1 - USAID/Egypt USAID Partnerships for Educational Progress Preliminary Activity Overview

Activity Goal

Through partnerships with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), higher education institutions, and the private sector, the USAID Partnerships for Education Progress activity will transform Egypt’s public universities into world-class centers of learning that prepare and connect Egyptian students to the workforce. This activity will holistically strengthen Egypt’s public higher education system from policy formulation and implementation, through higher education delivery, to workforce entry.

The activity will provide technical assistance and capacity strengthening to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), its supporting technical units and councils, and other public entities to increase their ability to offer relevant and quality higher education opportunities to all Egyptians. The activity will also partner with public higher education institutions (HEIs) and individuals affiliated with those HEIs (i.e. administration, faculty, and staff) to ensure that students have access to market-relevant, inclusive, high quality, modern degree programs and support services that result in smooth transitions to employment.

Partnership between higher education and the private sector will support market-relevant higher education, promote work-based learning opportunities, and strengthen research partnerships.

Activity Results

The activity goal will be achieved through the accomplishment of the following three interrelated results. Each result will be guided by U.S. Government and Government of Egypt priorities and various cross-cutting themes.

Result 1 - Public universities have the systems, structures, and management capacity to deliver high-quality education.

Intermediate Result 1.1. The MOHESR has the knowledge, resources, and capacity to effectively lead and manage a high-quality and accessible higher education system.

Illustrative Activities

● Organizational Capacity Assessments with MOHESR and supporting technical units and councils to identify gaps and opportunities.

● Capacity strengthening and customized technical support to members of the MOHESR, relevant councils, and technical units associated with the MOHESR, particularly for policy reform.

● MOHESR linkages to private sector subject matter experts.

Intermediate Result 1.2. Public universities are effectively managed by strong administrators.

Illustrative Activities

● Needs assessments to identify gaps or areas for growth in HEI management and administration.

● Data management systems strengthening for effective decision making and knowledge sharing.

● Short-term technical assistance and training on administration and management.

● Specialized study tours to regional or US HEIs.

Result 2 - Public universities deliver high-quality, inclusive, market-relevant education that facilitates graduate employability.

Intermediate Result 2.1. Curriculum is relevant, industry-driven, and informed by partnerships between U.S. and Egyptian HEIs and private sector engagement.

Illustrative Activities

● Curriculum development and execution capacity building for HEI faculty.

● New or improved undergraduate or postgraduate degree programs that are critical for

Egypt’s economic growth.

● Curricular updates to make university education more relevant to the needs of industry and government.

● Opportunities for faculty to interact with and learn from the private sector.

Intermediate Result 2.2. Faculty members utilize modern student-centered teaching practices and strategies.

Illustrative Activities

● Needs assessment to identify gaps in current pedagogical approaches and resources.

● Introduction of digitized and distance learning resources.

● Tailored professional development and experiential training including eLearning pedagogy and interactive teaching methods, practices, and systems.

Intermediate Result 2.3. Students have easy access to applied and market-relevant experiences that maximize employment outcomes.

Illustrative Activities

● Establishment of internships/practicum agreements between HEIs and the private sector.

● Enhanced entrepreneurship opportunities, such as the introduction of grand challenges, hackathons, and other competitions, for graduate and undergraduate students.

Result 3 - Public university campuses provide a modern, competitive environment equipped with new technologies and scientific resources.

Illustrative Activities

● Needs assessment of HEI technological capabilities, facilities and resources, including digitization of materials, distance learning, student access to media/technology and quality of HEI’s scientific research laboratories.

● Establishment or enhancement of campus media labs, digital libraries, and computer labs to support faculty and students with distance learning.

● Upgrading of university faculty resource centers.

● Updating of public university research laboratories and equipment to support modern research techniques and better serve the needs of the private and public sectors.