Access 2020: Training for Access Administrators from India and Afghanistan

Description

Background The Regional English Language Office (RELO) is part of the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy and is based at the American Center in New Delhi. RELO provides academic expertise, advisory and consultative assistance for English language teaching and learning throughout the country. RELO also has materials and resources to help teachers and learners. RELO also engages in virtual programming through the E-teacher Scholarship Program, which consists of various 8-10 week, graduate-level online courses for select, small-group (25 maximum) English language educators led by reputable U.S. universities, companies, and individuals. RELO promotes American English live 60-minute biweekly webinars focusing on teaching tips and ideas, and free massive open online courses (MOOCs) that our Washington office creates. English is one of the two official languages of India, and is widely seen as a prerequisite to economic success. And yet, only 10% of the population speaks English fluently. The English Access Microscholarship Program (Access), one of flagship initiatives of the Office of English Language Programs, has been in India since 2005. As one of the largest Access program sites in the world, India partners with over 20 local providers (8-10 each year) to implement the program for nearly 1,000 students in multiple locations across India. The program lifecycle is guided by specific regulations pertaining to program content, reporting procedures, and financial oversight. The Access program procedures and guidelines have undergone a major shift this year to accommodate more robust practices, stringent reporting and demonstration of impact. The new proposal process is complex to ascertain the suitability of the applicant partner organization and understand the rationale behind their proposed budget. Most applicant organizations, old as well as new partners, aren’t familiar with these formats and require training to navigate through these new procedures, better understand expectations from our office, and network with their peers to create a strong community of practice. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State funded a regional training in India for 60 Access administrators from India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2016. It was felt that the program implementers needed to be trained not to just introduce new ideas and formats but to reinforce expectations from the global office. Proposed Project This funding opportunity seeks to bring together 45 Indian and Afghan Access administrators from ongoing programs along with representatives from potential partner organizations for a three and a half-day (3½-day) training program in India. This training will help the participants to get familiarized with new procedures, learn intricacies of the new application process, understand the strict financial regulations, and enhance their capacities to deliver the program as per required expectations. The prime objective of this PAS Delhi funded program is not just to strengthen the Access program implementation, but to emphasize the need to build in better evaluation procedures and alumni engagement strategies to gauge the program impact. (Please refer to the full announcement available under 'related documents' tab)

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