Request for Applications (RFAs): Executive Master's in Business Administration in Egypt

Date Issued: May 19, 2008
Deadline: August 22, 2008

HED is offering one (1) award, of up to $1.5 million, for a two-year higher education partnership with the Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce (AUFC) in Egypt to strengthen its Executive Master’s in Business Administration (EMBA) program that is designed to attract working professionals with five to six years of experience.  The partners will review curriculum, enhance development of the faculty, and implement a program to educate one cohort of EMBA students. The partners will also develop marketing strategies and a business plan for the EMBA, and foster links to public and private entities in Egypt and the U.S. for program innovation and support.

For clarification or questions regarding this RFA, please contact Lisa Leander at (202) 243-7680 or lleander@hedprogram.org.

Background
Context
Partnership Description
Eligibility
Application Criteria
Application Format, Submission and Review
Terms of the Solicitation

Background

Higher Education for Development and U.S. Agency for International Development

Higher Education for Development (HED) mobilizes the expertise and resources of the higher education community to address global development challenges. HED accomplishes this by administering a cooperative agreement (AEG-A-00-05-00007-00) sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Leader with Associate Cooperative Agreement, signed in September 2005, allows HED to manage a competitive awards process to access expertise within the higher education community in coordination with the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC).

Funding by USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Office of Education (EGAT/ED), as well as USAID’s functional and regional Bureaus and worldwide Missions, supports higher education partnerships to advance global development, economic growth, good governance, and healthy societies. These partnerships provide training, applied research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and program implementation, which are critical to promote USAID’s foreign assistance goals. More information on USAID and its role in economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide over the past 40 years is available on our website.  The funding for this partnership award is provided through Associate Cooperative Agreement 263-A-00-08-00027-00 between the American Council on Education (ACE) and USAID/Egypt.

Context

The Egyptian business community has undergone many reforms to change centrally managed industries into more market-based, efficient, and globally-focused businesses.  As a result, Egypt has expanded foreign direct investment and built partnership relations with major multi-national corporations.  At the same time, there are few opportunities for professional or executive business education that resembles the U.S. model of a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA).  The development of a graduate level, executive business administration degree program will leverage efficient and effective use of Egyptian talents and resources in the globally competitive world of commerce. 
 
Universities in Egypt face a number of challenges in developing new programs.  There has been a rapid increase in undergraduate enrollments over the past decade at public universities in Egypt combined with a decreased government investment in higher education.  The massive numbers of undergraduate students and the drastically reduced national budget have resulted in decreasing quality in higher education.   A further challenge has been to keep faculty skills and knowledge current and provide faculty development related to curriculum, pedagogical methods, and academic research. 

The Faculty of Commerce at Alexandria University in Egypt faces similar constraints to those noted above, but has continued to strive for innovation in developing new initiatives.  The Faculty of Commerce launched an EMBA program in 2004.  Designed for the continuing education of business professionals, the Alexandria University EMBA Program is the first to be accredited by the Higher Council of Universities of Egypt.  The program aims to strengthen business acumen, managerial skills and leadership competencies of top and middle managers and support the capacity for business leadership development. 

The EMBA facility at the Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce reflects a significant investment by the university, with two renovated, technology enabled class rooms a conference room with state-of-the-art videoconferencing and spacious lounges for discussions and studies. The Faculty of Commerce building faces the internationally known Biblioteca Alexandrina, making access to the library’s conference facilities another advantage to the program. 

Partnership Description

The goal of the partnership is to build on the current foundation to achieve an EMBA program at Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce that is recognized for excellence and able to attract top ranked executives and managers.  The strengthened business skills of Alexandria University EMBA graduates will enhance economic development in Egypt and the region. 

Through the collaboration of a U.S. higher education institution with the Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce, this partnership will review the current EMBA program, address program improvements, and develop a business plan for long-term sustainability.  The partnership should establish a mechanism within Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce for continuous strengthening of faculty skills and curriculum development, as well as fundraising for long-term program financing after the completion of the award.

HED expects to make the partnership award in September 2008, for activities to begin October 1, 2008. 

Four objectives for the proposed partnership are as follows:

• A description of the EMBA program, developed by the collaborating faculties will result in guidelines for the Executive MBA design, implementation and delivery.
• As a result of the partnership, an updated EMBA curriculum appropriate for the needs of Egyptian business professionals will be developed and implemented at Alexandria University.
• The partnership will develop a sustainable business plan for the EMBA program at Alexandria University to address sources of revenue, marketing, staffing, faculty development, outreach to the business community, curriculum and student recruitment and retention.
• The knowledge and skills of the EMBA faculty will be upgraded and strengthened as a result of this partnership.

Applicants should describe their qualifications and include the following in their applications:

Program Description

Applicants are encouraged to include substantial involvement of U.S. faculty in program implementation.  For example, U.S. faculty might serve as co-teachers, mentors, guest lecturers and collaborators on research and academic publications.  Innovative program delivery involving a wide range of academic and other experts is important for this partnership.  Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce has access to state-of-the-art learning technology. 

The Program Description should include (but is not limited to):

• Elements of an appropriate EMBA program for Alexandria University.
• Description of collaborative process to develop EMBA curriculum and courses relevant to the Alexandria business community.
• Suggested staffing plan and qualifications of proposed EMBA key personnel.
• Proposed implementation plan for program delivery (note: period of performance for this partnership award is two years).

Sustainability Planning

The partnership will develop a business plan to support sustainability.  The business plan will address how the quality of the program might be established, maintained, and funded into the future, given the realities of the Egyptian market.  The partnership will assist Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce in institutionalizing the fundraising and outreach components of the business plan. In the spirit of sustainability, applicants should plan for low cost, ongoing collaborative activities at the U.S. partner institution such as joint research, video and teleconferencing, website sharing, publications, and/or courses in Middle Eastern economics and business.

The Sustainability Planning section should include (but is not limited to):

• Description of the collaborative process among partners to develop a business plan.
• Description of long-term faculty development activities.
• Description of key elements of the business plan.
• Description of proposed engagement of the private sector in the sustainability of the EMBA program.

Partnership Management

This partnership supports the EMBA program established in 2004 at Alexandria University Faculty of Commerce, which is targeted at working professionals with five to six years of experience.  Applications should include a detailed overview of the program and fiscal management plan between the U.S. and Egyptian partners.

The Partnership Management section should include (but is not limited to):

• A needs assessment that describes:
      i. businesses/employers/executives requirements
      ii. current curriculum
• Qualifications of key U.S. personnel.
• Lead U.S. partner plan for the partnership management and fiscal administration of award.

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

The Monitoring and Evaluation Plan should include (but is not limited to):

• Description of a monitoring and reporting plan to address the partnership activities and outcomes as described in the objectives.
• Demonstration of how progress towards objectives will be tracked, and how results of partnership activities will be summarized.

Partners will collaborate with HED to design and implement an external evaluation of this partnership at the conclusion of the funding period.

Contact Information

The primary point of contact for further information on this collaborative partnership is:

Ismail I. Gomaa
Professor of Accounting and Dean of the Faculty of Commerce
Alexandria University
Bus: +20 (3) 481555
Mobile: +20 (12) 7389929
E-mail: ismail@igomaa.com

The following USAID/Egypt staff members may be contacted for further information on this collaborative partnership:

Joseph Ryan
Associate Mission Director for Policy and Private Sector
joryan@usaid.gov
Tel.: +20 (2) 5226601
Fax: +20 (2) 5164589

Amal Mowafi
Project Management Specialist Policy & Private Sector
Tel: +20 (2) 25226687
Email: amowafy@usaid.gov

Eligibility

HED welcomes applications from the member institutions of ACE, AACC, AASCU, AAU, NAICU, and NASULGC, and from other regionally accredited, degree granting, U.S. higher education institutions (2 & 4-year colleges and universities). U.S. colleges and universities may apply individually, or in partnership with each other. HED encourages applications from or with the participation of minority-serving institutions.

Criteria for the Evaluation of Applications

I. Alignment of Outcomes with Objectives of the Partnership (10 points)

• Clearly defined outcomes appropriate for achieving the objectives for faculty development, curriculum improvements and business planning.

II. Executive MBA Program Description (25 points)

• Adequate description of program elements.
• Evidence of a collaborative plan for assessing and designing curricula  and course descriptions.
• Comprehensive plan for EMBA program staffing.
• Evidence of innovative approaches to program implementation and delivery.
• Specific descriptions of human capacity building both in the U.S. and on the Alexandria campus.

III. Sustainability Planning (25 points)

• Plan for collaboration with business and the private sectors.
• Appropriate business plan key components.
• Overall business plan feasibility.
• Proposed faculty development appropriate for sustainability
• Evidence of institutional commitment of both partners for sustainability

IV. Partnership Management (20 points)

• Evidence of a baseline assessment of needs of employers and current curriculum.
• Expertise and relevant experience of U.S. partner institution.
• Relevant qualifications of key U.S. personnel.
• Appropriate plan for the management and fiscal administration of award by the lead U.S. partner.

V. Cost-Effectiveness and Cost Share of Overall Budget (10 points)

• Demonstrated cost-effectiveness in program design, and equitable distribution of funds between U.S. and host country partners.
• Cost sharing (recommended at 25% of the award amount), including expected cash or in-kind contribution from all the partners.

VI. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Plan (10  points)

• Evidence of valid and reliable methodology for collecting baseline data.
• Clear and feasible plan to monitor partnership activities and reporting outcomes as described in partnership objectives.

Total points: 100

Application Format, Submission and Review

Application Format
How to Submit an Application
Peer Review

Application Format

Please provide the contents of the application in the following order:

1. Title Page (Please complete HED form in full and obtain signatures of authorized officials.)

2. Table of Contents

3. Abstract (not to exceed 3 typed, double-spaced pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins).
The abstract should contain a summary of the narrative, workplan and budget.

4. Narrative (not to exceed 20 typed, double-spaced pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins)
As indicated in the Partnership Description section, applicants should describe their qualifications and provide statements of interest including the following: Program Description, Sustainability Planning, Partnership Management and Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

5. Appendices:
    * Annual workplan for the funding period (Use HED form).
    * Budget forms (Use HED form. Complete all FIVE tabs).
    * Résumés of the proposed U.S. institution director(s) and host institution personnel, not to exceed 2 one-sided pages per person.
    * Signed letters of support from the presidents, chancellors, or other chief executive officers of the cooperating institution in the United States.
* Signed letters of support from appropriate university leaders of the overseas partner institution as well as partnership directors. University leaders from the overseas partner may include deans, rectors, or university presidents.
    * Signed letter from appropriate official at applicant institution verifying that all costs cited conform to established institutional policies and practices.

How to Submit an Application

Applications must be received at HED by 5:00PM, Eastern Time (ET), August 22, 2008. Faxed or electronically transmitted applications will not be accepted. All elements of the application must be received by the deadline. HED recognizes that original, signed cover letters and letters of support from overseas partners may be subject to delays due to factors beyond the applicant’s control. Only in these exceptional cases, faxed or scanned copies of the application title page and letters that include all necessary signatures may be submitted in the application, provided signed originals are received at HED within seven (7) calendar days of the deadline.

Applicants should submit the original application plus seven (7) hard copies of the complete application package containing title page, table of contents, abstract, narrative, and appendices (all on loose-leaf paper, clipped together: no three-ring binders, staples, or plastic bindings), and a diskette or CD (with files saved as Microsoft Word/Excel for PC) containing the entire application, including all budget forms, budget narrative, and other appendices.

Applications should be sent to: (*NOTE: This is a NEW address)

Egypt: Executive Master's in Business Administration
Higher Education for Development
1 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 420
Washington, D.C. 20036-1193

Once an application has been received, there is to be no contact with the HED program office until the completion of the peer review process in order to ensure fairness to all parties concerned.

Peer Review

Applications will be reviewed by expert panelists, which include representatives from higher education, international development, and USAID.  Awards will be made on the basis of reviewers’ recommendations of merit, and USAID. Peer review of applications is slated for early September.

Letters of communication from members of the U.S. Congress in support of an application are discouraged as these may be thought to prejudice the peer-review process. Such letters will not be forwarded to peer reviewers.

Notification about awards is expected following the completion of peer review. Upon final announcement of awards, the person named in the application as partnership director may submit a written request for copies of the peer reviewers’ scores for the application. No personal reviews will be granted, and no comparative score tabulations will be shared.

Terms of the Solicitation

Cost Share
Execution of Awards
Post Award Briefings
TraiNet Requirements
Health and Accident Insurance
Reporting

Cost Share

The minimum suggested total cost share from all U.S. partners is 25 percent of the award amount.

Reported cost share must be auditable. Non-auditable contributions may not be used to meet the minimum, but can be indicated separately and attached to the budget detail form.

Higher education institutions are encouraged to leverage support from the private sector in addition to the cost sharing provided by their institutions. Applicants should itemize all cost sharing and in-kind contributions.

Cash and in-kind contributions will be accepted as part of the applicant’s cost sharing when such contributions are: (a) verifiable from the applicant’s records; (b) not included as contributions for any other federally-assisted program; (c) reasonable for the accomplishment of partnership objectives; and (d) not paid by the federal government under another grant.

In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to: waivers of tuition and fees for students participating in academic exchanges; donation of library and classroom materials to the partner; ICT infrastructure and Internet Service Provider subscription subsidy for the partner and exchange students; faculty salaries; travel and/or per diem for faculty and administrators to participate in professional exchange and development programs; and indirect costs.

Execution of Awards

Awards will be executed as sub-agreements between the designated U.S. university, college, community college, or consortium, and the American Council on Education (ACE), through the Higher Education for Development (HED) office, through USAID/Egypt Associate Cooperative Agreement 263-A-00-08-00027-00. The institution recommended for award will receive a draft version of the sub-agreements to review. The award recipient will be expected to submit a marking plan related to USAID branding as part of the sub-agreement that clearly indicates the support provided by USAID for activities conducted under the award.

Please note that no award nor cost share funds may be expended prior to a fully executed (i.e., signed by both parties) sub-agreement between ACE and the designated U.S. institution unless pre-award expenses have been approved as a part of the negotiation of the sub-award. Activities are expected to commence immediately after the sub-agreement is executed.

Award funds will be disbursed to the designated U.S. university, college, community college, or consortium, based on the applicant’s implementation of the work plan, stated budget, and submission to HED of financial, tax, and narrative progress reports. It is the designated U.S. institution’s responsibility to provide disbursements (reimbursements) for its collaborating partner(s) in accordance with the agreed-upon activity schedule and budget.

Post Award Briefings

Partnership directors, and/or their designees, are required to participate in two post-award briefings. The first briefing, conducted in a virtual format, will review reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements. The second briefing via a conference call will address general requirements of the award.

TraiNet Requirements

To comply with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of State, and USAID regulations regarding tracking and monitoring of Exchange Visitors, foreign nationals whose costs are paid, fully or partially, directly or indirectly using USAID program funds for training, non-training, and invitational travel, must enter the U.S. on a J-1 visa (non-immigrant Exchange Visitor visa) processed under one of USAID’s two program numbers, unless otherwise waived according to the procedure in ADS 252.3. J-2 visa applications for family members are not supported per USAID policy.

USAID expects that all DS-2019 documents (paperwork needed for J visas) and in-country or third country training be processed through the USAID Training, Results and Information Network (TraiNet) system. Institutions may not directly access the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to issue DS-2019 documents internally. Information regarding USAID’s J-1 visa requirements may be found online at the Participant Training website. Administrators must adhere to the regulations detailed under TraiNet, Visa Compliance System (VCS), the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) 252-Visa Compliance for Exchange Visitors, and 253-Training for Development. U.S. institutions should allow up to 12 weeks for the processing of visas when planning activities in the United States.

TraiNet management requires a significant commitment of staff time and applicants are encouraged to take this into consideration when developing the program budget.

USAID Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) Insurance Program

The U.S. institution is responsible for enrolling each participant traveling to the United States or a third country in the official USAID Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) insurance program. Participants entering the United States on J-1 visas are required to obtain HAC from the official USAID vendor. Institutions may not use award funds to cover their own institutional HAC insurance. More information on the USAID HAC insurance program is available online. The cost of HAC for participants must be included in the budget.

Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit to HED:

• Financial reports are due quarterly to record expenditures for the following periods: Jan. 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-Sept. 30, and Oct. 1-Dec. 31;

• Semi-annual narrative progress reports for the following reporting periods may be sent via e-mail: April 1-September 30 and Oct. 1-March 31;

• Both financial reports and semi-annual progress reports are due within one-month after the corresponding reporting period closes: Jan. 31, April 30, July 31, and Oct. 31;

• A final narrative report (due 30 days after the conclusion of program activities); and,

• Final financial reports (due no later than 90 days after the sub-agreement closing date).