U.S. Department of State University Partnerships Initiative
What is the University Partnerships Initiative?
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs launched the University Partnerships Initiative (UPI) in 2019. The United States is committed to supporting higher education links that expose African students, faculty, and administrators to the diversity and innovation on American campuses, while fostering increased institutional collaboration between U.S. and African universities. The goal of UPI is to strengthen collaboration between U.S. and African universities while harnessing the enormous opportunity posed by Africa. Expanding existing links and promoting new partnerships at the university level will strengthen Africa's educational institutions and create reciprocal learning opportunities for American universities.
With a strong history of international partnership and collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is thrilled to be an inaugural awardee of a UPI grant in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda. The new University Partnerships and Exchange (UPEX) Rwanda Program launched in January 2021.
Nebraska is also thrilled to partner with the U.S. Embassy in Senegal on another UPI grant focused on STEM education. Applications for the Fostering Pedagogical Best Practices in STEM: An Evidence-Based Professional Development program opened in May 2021.
