Establishment of Industry Advisory Board at Southern Technical University in Iraq | NEAAC ACBURGR 17 013

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The grant is intended to support the establishment of an Industry Advisory Board (IAB) at Southern Technical University (STU) in Basrah, Iraq. The core goal is to strengthen how STU prepares students for the workforce by building a formal, practical connection between the university and industry, and using that connection to drive updates to academic programs, training methods, and standards.

2) What is being created or funded under this opportunity?

The central deliverable is an advisory structure (the Industry Advisory Board) made up of relevant private sector and institutional stakeholders. The IAB is meant to be an operational mechanism that influences curriculum reform, modernization, and applied learning at STU, rather than a purely symbolic committee.

3) Where will the project take place?

The activity is focused on Southern Technical University (STU) in Basrah, Iraq.

4) Which U.S. government office is offering this grant?

This discretionary grant opportunity was announced by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC).

5) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NEAAC ACBURGR 17 013.

6) What type of funding instrument is this?

The funding instrument is a grant.

7) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed is $200,000.

8) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 19.600.

9) What problem is the IAB meant to address at STU?

The IAB is designed to improve how effectively STU prepares students for real jobs by formalizing industry input into what is taught, how it is taught, and how closely training aligns with workforce needs and international standards. The emphasis is on modernizing curriculum and increasing applied, hands-on learning.

10) What role is the IAB expected to play in curriculum reform?

The IAB is intended to have a practical role in reforming and modernizing STU's core curriculum. This includes encouraging the adoption of more advanced technologies, aligning coursework and training with recognized international standards, and increasing the amount of applied learning available to students.

11) Is the Industry Advisory Board intended to be purely advisory, or is it meant to drive change?

Based on the opportunity description, the IAB is explicitly not meant to be symbolic. It is meant to influence curriculum updates, training methods, standards, and the job relevance of student skills.

12) How does the opportunity connect education to workforce development?

The project sits at the intersection of education and workforce development by building structured industry engagement that helps ensure the university's programs and training pipelines reflect actual labor market needs and lead more directly to employment pathways.

13) What does the opportunity say about linking the university to employers?

A major function of the IAB is to serve as an intermediary between STU and the labor market. The opportunity emphasizes building durable links between STU graduates and administration and private sector employers, industry organizations, international oil companies, and government officials.

14) Which industries or sectors are particularly relevant to this grant?

The opportunity is broadly about education and workforce development, and it is also relevant to energy and natural resources due to the specific mention of international oil companies and the focus on technical industries in Basrah and the region.

15) Who can apply (eligibility)?

Eligibility is broad. It includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses), small businesses, and other eligible applicant types.

16) Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses), as well as small businesses.

17) Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?

No. The eligibility description includes nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status.

18) Are universities eligible to apply?

Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicant types.

19) What is the application deadline shown in the opportunity notice?

The original application closing date listed was August 31, 2017.

20) When was the opportunity notice created?

The notice was created on August 2, 2017.

21) What is meant by "institutionalizing structured industry engagement" in this opportunity?

In this context, it means creating a formal, durable advisory mechanism (the IAB) that embeds industry involvement into STU's ongoing decision-making around curriculum modernization, training approaches, standards alignment, and employment linkages.

22) What kinds of stakeholders are expected to be involved in the Industry Advisory Board?

The IAB is intended to include relevant private sector and institutional stakeholders. The opportunity specifically references private sector employers, industry organizations, international oil companies, and government officials as part of the broader ecosystem the IAB should connect with STU.

23) What outcomes is the grant trying to improve for students?

The described focus is on increasing job readiness and employability by ensuring student training is aligned with labor market needs, international standards, and more applied, hands-on learning, supported by stronger connections to employers.

24) Which part of the Department of State is identified as the administering office?

The administering office is identified as Assistance Coordination under NEA/AC.