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Global Engagement Institute

Special Funding Opportunity for Spring 2024

The Global Engagement Institute is on hiatus for the 2023-24 academic year and will return with an updated curriculum for the 2024-25 academic year. The new program for GEI will be announced in 2024 with calls for proposals to follow.

Special Funding Opportunity for Spring 2024: In lieu of the GEI, the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) welcomes applications from faculty and professional staff with research responsibilities directly related to the conference theme and subthemes to participate in the 2024 University Global Partnership Network (UGPN) annual conference at the University of Surrey in Guildford, Surrey, UK from May 13-15, 2024.

Two women and a man sitting on a table having a discussion.

About UGPN

The University Global Partnership Network (UGPN) provides a foundation for international collaboration that enables academics and students from some of the world’s top universities to work together on issues of global importance.The UGPN is comprised of three universities – NC State, the University of São Paulo, Brazil and the University of Surrey, UK. The network promotes sustainable world-class research, education and knowledge transfer through conferences, a Research Collaboration Fund, collaborative online learning through the UGPN Academy, as well as student and staff mobility.

The annual conference brings together representatives from member institutions to explore a common research theme through presentations and workshops.  The overall theme for the 2024 UGPN conference is “Securing a Sustainable Society: New Approaches and Inclusive Practices.”

The subthemes for the 2024 conference are as follows:

Research Workshop 1: Planetary Health

  • One health, one medicine
  • Lifelong health and healthy aging
  • Sustainable food security, nutrition, and food cultures
  • Bioeconomy and natural resource governance
  • Planetary health and global governance

Research Workshop 2: Technology for an Inclusive Society

  • Environmental engineering for inclusive development
  • Renewable energy and sustainable energy transitions
  • AI applications for health and wellbeing
  • Technology and global governance

Additional details will be posted soon on the UGPN events page.

Overview of Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity will support up to 8 selected participants to attend the UGPN conference and explore areas of mutual interest in research and scholarship. Participants will also gain insight into NC State’s global partnerships and pathways for developing international research.  

Applicants should be prepared to identify how their research interests align with the themes of the conference and how knowledge of global partnerships may benefit their scholarship or professional development. 

In advance of the conference, the Office of Global Engagement will host two preparatory sessions in Spring 2024. These meetings will

  • provide an overview of the UGPN, 
  • highlight collaborative research projects between UGPN institutions,
  • offer insight into the strategic planning process for international partnership development, and 
  • prepare participants for effective networking at the UGPN conference. 

Selected participants will receive $3,000 to offset the cost of travel and registration for the UGPN conference, with the understanding that home academic departments (or other sources) will provide matching funds to help cover conference travel costs.

Eligibility

  • Full-time, permanent NC State faculty (all tracks) and professional staff with research responsibilities directly related to the conference theme and subthemes are eligible to apply for this opportunity. 
  • Applications must be submitted using official NCSU email accounts.
  • Participants must attend both Spring 2024 preparatory sessions to be eligible for travel funding.
  • Funds awarded must be used for travel to the 2024 UGPN conference.
  • Applications must be accompanied by a letter of support from the department head or chair.
  • Applicants must verify that $3,000 in matching funds are available from their home department (or another source) to support travel.
  • Priority will be given to faculty and professional staff with research responsibilities directly related to the conference theme and subthemes who have not previously participated in UGPN conferences or activities.

Timeline

  • Announcement of award opportunity: December 6th, 2023
  • Deadline for applications: January 31st, 2024, 11:59 pm EST
  • Announcement of selected applicants: February 8th, 2024
  • Preparatory session one: Friday, March 1, 2024,  9:00 – 10:30 am
  • Preparatory session two: Friday, March 29, 2024  1:30 – 3:00 pm
  • Depart from U.S.: Participants should plan to depart the U.S. no later than Saturday, May 11, 2024, to allow for travel time to the conference site in Surrey.
  • Arrival in Surrey and evening welcome reception: Sunday, May 12, 2024
  • UGPN Conference: Monday, May 13 – Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The conference will conclude on May 15th after lunch.

Contact

Office of Global Engagement
Email: ncstateglobal@ncsu.edu or (919) 515-3201