Kosovo: Enhancing Telecommunications Education in Kosovo

Last Updated Feb 2008

Request for Applications (RFA): Collaborative Partnerships - Kosovo

Enhancing Telecommunications Education in Kosovo

Date Issued: November 27, 2007

Deadline: February 29, 2008

HED expects to make one (1) award of up to $450,000 for this three-year higher education partnership. The award aims to strengthen the University of Pristina Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences in order to better prepare graduate students to meet workforce demands in the telecommunications area upon graduation, contingent on USAID funding.

For further information regarding this RFA, please contact Charlie Koo (202-243-7680; ckoo@HEDprogram.org).

Background

Collaborative Partnerships

Through the Collaborative Partnerships for economic and social development, USAID's Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade/Office of Education (EGAT/ED) is assisting USAID Missions to mobilize the expertise and resources of U.S. and local higher education institutions to address critical development challenges. The overall goal is to increase the capacity of higher education institutions in developing countries to contribute to development, providing the human and institutional training needed for economic growth, good governance, and social prosperity.

Higher Education for Development

Higher Education for Development (HED) administers a cooperative agreement awarded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to engage higher education institutions in addressing global development challenges. The Leader with Associate Cooperative Agreement signed in September 2005 allows HED to manage competitive awards for USAID Bureaus and Missions. HED identifies expertise within the higher education community through 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). The agreement (AEG-A-00-05-00007-00) is sponsored by USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Office of Education.

U.S. Agency for International Development

USAID’s historic partnership and collaboration with the higher education community has repeatedly demonstrated that institutions of higher education are important engines of development, economic growth, good governance, and healthy societies. The community’s contributions in the areas of training, applied research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and program implementation have been critical to USAID’s foreign assistance goals. USAID has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. More information on USAID is available on our site.

Introduction

Only eight years after a devastating war that was preceded by decades of economic decline, the citizens of Kosovo are seeking political stability and economic opportunity. Strengthening higher education institutions and building a sustainable and strong economy are two formidable challenges facing this part of the Balkans.

The unemployment rate of Kosovar youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years old exceeds 63%. Currently 52% of the population is under the age of 25. One encouraging trend is that many Kosovar university students are now majoring in fields such as computer sciences, information technology and electrical engineering. This enrollment surge supports the preliminary findings of a recent USAID/Kosovo-sponsored assessment, which found a potential for accelerated economic growth in the information technology sector of the economy.

Increasingly, Kosovo’s telecommunications firms will need skilled employees as well as partner firms that can develop and offer technology and value-added services to businesses and the general public. If Kosovo’s economy is to benefit from these emerging opportunities, however, the country needs to educate and train more technically qualified professionals while Kosovo’s telecommunications networks rapidly expand with the assistance of international investors. Soon, most of the country will have access to broadband Internet services with fiber networks in urban areas and state-of-the-art mobile phone services. Such technological innovations require that Kosovar engineering and information technology students quickly acquire highly specialized skills and knowledge to advance this sector of the economy and build employment opportunities.

Currently, there are three major Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Kosovo, all with licenses that allow international Internet access: Ipko Net, Kujtesa and Post and Telecommunications of Kosovo (PTK). All three are expanding, upgrading their networks, and hiring new staff. There are several other smaller ISP’s but these do not have licenses that allow international access to the Internet. Many of these smaller ISP’s focus on particular areas within Kosovo, extending access to the Internet beyond the service areas of the big three by using wireless technology.

There are almost 100 IT firms in Kosovo. Fewer than eight employ as many as 20 employees. Twenty-five to 30 firms employ more than 5 workers, and the rest are one or two-person enterprises. Roughly 25 to 30 percent of the revenues generated in the IT sector comes from IT services. The remainder come from equipment resale, installation and related services. (See USAID’s IT Sector Assessment)

USAID/Kosovo’s goal is to improve employment opportunities and productivity in the information technology sector by increasing the pool of qualified telecommunications graduates from the University of Pristina. Increasing the pool of qualified telecommunications graduates will positively impact employment and productivity in the information technology sector. This growth will have a secondary impact on firms outside this sector as they utilize telecommunications-enabled services to increase their productivity and innovation. Higher education institutions will, therefore, make an important contribution to reducing unemployment and increasing the competitiveness of businesses in Kosovo.

Partnership Description

The primary purpose of this higher education partnership is to strengthen the University of Pristina Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science’s effectiveness in preparing graduate students to meet workforce demands in telecommunications upon graduation. The partnership should increase graduate students’ technical expertise and offer opportunities for experiential learning to apply their knowledge. It should also extend learning opportunities to undergraduate students in telecommunications and computer science related to the needs of the emerging private sector in communication technology. The department has a combined undergraduate and graduate student enrollment of approximately 1,500 high-caliber students.

Telecommunications and computer science are the most popular areas of concentration within the department. The new Dean of the faculty and a teaching staff of 45 support upgrading of the graduate curriculum in telecommunications and the creation of courses for an enriched curriculum that more effectively meets private sector needs. The Dean proposes that course components and materials created for the graduate school, be adapted in the undergraduate curriculum where appropriate.

Partnership Objectives

Faculty of the University of Pristina Electrical Engineering and Computer Science programs will acquire new skills and knowledge in course development, innovative pedagogical techniques and strategies for collaboration with the private sector so that the updated graduate curriculum, graduate and undergraduate courses and experiential learning activities will provide university graduates with skills that align with the needs of the local job market in these fields.
Courses and experiential learning activities will be developed by the partnership to enable graduate students in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to acquire updated technological skills in telecommunications appropriate for employment in the emerging telecommunications industry in Kosovo. Some of these courses will be adapted into the undergraduate curriculum.
Experiential learning opportunities will be developed by the partnership to offer students in telecommunications and computer science classes opportunities to observe, first-hand, current workforce trends in communications technology.
The private sector’s involvement with the University of Pristina’s curriculum development will result in practical training opportunities and a more relevant academic focus responsive to local communication technology needs.

Expected Activities

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science seeks collaboration with a U.S. institution of higher education that will include:

Collaborative review of the graduate curriculum in telecommunications;
Collaborative design of telecommunications courses for graduate students that address skills in telecommunications-enabled computer science and related software applications;
Course elements for use in the undergraduate curriculum in telecommunications adapted from the content developed for the graduate curriculum;
Faculty training in curriculum and course development (e.g., creation of Kosovo-specific case studies, multidisciplinary modules and courses, computer models and simulations) and innovative pedagogy;
Experiential learning opportunities in the private sector for graduate and undergraduate students such as internships, field work, job shadowing or mentoring with local ICT firms; and,
Private sector collaboration with the University of Pristina in partnership planning and activities, for example, the establishment of a curriculum advisory board comprised of academics and representatives from the private sector.

Additionally, the U.S. partner is encouraged to explore alliances with U.S.-based ICT firms or foundations to leverage resources for needed infrastructure and broaden the impact of the program. Cisco and Microsoft, for example, already have instructional academies in Kosovo. Such companies often support education institutions with licenses, online course materials, and other resources. In-kind donations of library materials, computers, software, textbooks, journals, and other resources from the U.S. partners are also encouraged.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

The application must describe a monitoring and reporting plan for the partnership activities and expected outcomes, including an initial baseline assessment of the curriculum needs in telecommunications and computer science at the University of Pristina related to the emerging local job market in communications technology. The monitoring and reporting plan should demonstrate how progress towards objectives will be tracked, and how results of partnership activities will be summarized.

An external evaluation of program impact at the conclusion of the funding period must be included in the M&E plan, and the qualifications of the designated external evaluator described in the application. The M&E plan must include a detailed description of how results will be communicated and reported to USAID/Kosovo through HED.

Contact Information

The primary contact at the University of Pristina is:

Myzafere Limani
Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
Tel.: +381(0) 38 554 8960 ext. 102
Cell: +377 (0) 44 110 570
E-mail: myzafere.limani@fiek.uni-pr.edu

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

Dardane Peja
Development Program Specialist
Tel: 381-38-243-673 ext. 138
E-mail: dpeja@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. U.S. colleges and universities may apply individually, or in partnership with other institutions. HED encourages applications from or with the participation of minority-serving institutions.

Application Review Guidelines

Peer reviewers will use the following criteria to evaluate the applications:

I. Alignment with the Goals of the RFA and Overall Design (10 points)

Demonstrated understanding of the current political, economic, and workforce environment of Kosovo as it will influence the program design; and
Alignment of the partnership activities and outputs with USAID/Kosovo’s goal to improve employment and productivity in the information technology sector by increasing the pool of qualified telecommunications graduates from the University of Pristina.

II. Human and Institutional Capacity Building (40 points)

Strength of the proposed plan to educate faculty about curriculum review and course development;
Strength of the proposed plan to improve faculty skills in innovative and appropriate teaching techniques;
Evidence that the graduate curriculum in telecommunications will be updated with skills and information appropriate to the needs of the workforce;
Appropriateness of proposed courses at the graduate and undergraduate level as components of sound fields of study in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences;
Applicability of course materials and activities to expose graduate and undergraduate students to the requirements of the emerging telecommunications industry;
Demonstrated capability in preparing graduate students for jobs in telecommunications upon graduation;
Appropriateness of proposed experiential learning opportunities for students to meet the needs of the private sector; and
Feasibility of proposed collaborations with the private sector leading to relationships that can continue beyond the partnership award period.

IV. Expertise and Collaboration (20 points)

Relevance of expertise of U.S. partner key personnel in telecommunications and computer science;
Key personnel possess knowledge and experience in Kosovo and/or the Balkan region;
Evidence of institutional commitment (engagement of faculty, students and administrators) among all partners in the United States and Kosovo; and
Extent of planned collaboration with private and public sector stakeholders in program implementation.

V. Cost Sharing and Cost Effectiveness of Overall Budget (20 points)

Cost sharing (recommended at 25% of the award amount), including expected cash or in-kind contribution from all the partners, and other contributions from Kosovo partners; and
Demonstrated cost-effectiveness in the distribution of funds among activities and the equitable distribution of funds among U.S. and Kosovo partners.

VI. Monitoring and Reporting Plan (10 points)

Valid and reliable evidence of a methodology for collecting baseline data and monitoring partnership activities and outcomes; and
Clearly articulated plan for an external evaluation to assess the partnership’s achievement of objectives and impact.

Total Points: 100 points

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) Address the criteria listed in Application Review Guidelines I-VI (see above).

5. The 20-page application must describe a monitoring and reporting plan for the partnership, including an initial baseline assessment, that shows how progress and results will be communicated and reported to USAID through HED.

6. Appendices (Attachments beyond the stated appendices will not be read nor taken into consideration):
* Annual workplan for the funding period (Use HED form).
* Budget forms (Use HED form. Complete all 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 institutions in the United States, in addition to signed letters from the proposed U.S. and overseas partnership directors and letters of support from the overseas partner institution.
* 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), February 29, 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)

Collaborative Partnership: Kosovo
Higher Education for Development
1 Dupont Circle NW, Room1B30
Washington, DC 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 March/April 2008.

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

Health and Accident Insurance

Reporting

Cost Share

The minimum suggested total cost share from all U.S. partners is 25 percent of the requested award amount. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their ability to leverage additional resources from other sources. 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 expected to leverage support from the private sector in addition to the cost sharing provided by their institutions. For example, Cisco and Microsoft already have instructional academies in Kosovo. Such companies often support education institutions with licenses, online course materials, and other resources. 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, under USAID Cooperative Agreement AEG-A-00-05-00007-00. The institution recommended for award will receive a draft version of the sub-agreements to review. The Awardee will be expected to submit a marking plan 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. Click here for information on the USAID HAC insurance program. 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 to September 30 and Oct. 1-March 30;
* 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).