The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has opened competition for its Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad and Group Projects Abroad programs, (previously threatened for elimination by the Trump Administration), and also unveiled ​a new program, Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship for High School Career and Technical Education Students.

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad awards provide fellowship opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. This round has two optional competitive preference priorities that provide applicants with additional points: 1) Focus on Less Commonly Taught Languages – foreign languages other than French, German, or Spanish; and 2) Thematic Focus on Academic Fields – science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, education (comparative or international), international development, political science, public health, or economics. Applications are due July 2, 2018. Approximately 91 fellowship awards are available, ranging from $15,000 to $60,000, to support fellowships lasting 6 to 12 months.  See the Federal Register notice and the program website for more information.

The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad program provides grant to promote, improve, and develop modern foreign languages and area studies at varying levels of education. The program provides opportunities for faculty, teachers, and undergraduate and graduate students to conduct individual and group projects overseas to carry out research and study in the fields of modern foreign languages and area studies. GRC recommends addressing the four optional competitive preference priorities (see the solicitation for details), which provide applicants with additional points. Short-term (up to 18 months, up to $100,000) and Long-term (up to 24 months, up to $250,000) awards are available. Applications for both types are due July 5, 2018. See the Federal Register notice and the program website for more information.

The Pathways to STEM Apprenticeship for High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Students is designed to support state efforts to expand and improve the transition of high school CTE students to postsecondary education and employment through apprenticeships. While the lead applicants must be a state board or agency, all projects must include at least one postsecondary partner and at least one employer. This competition has one absolute priority that must be addressed by all applicants: Promoting STEM Education, With a Particular Focus on Computer Science. Approximately five awards of up to $750,000 each are available to support projects lasting up to 36 months. More information is available in the Federal Register notice and on the ED Perkins Collaborative Resource Network website, which also has details on how to take part in a pre-application webinar, which will be held June 5, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. ET.​