Funding for International Initiatives

The Global Engagement Office (GEO) offers funding for faculty and staff traveling abroad or locally conducted projects that promise meaningful institutional advancement of global engagement goals at UNC Greensboro.

There are two types of awards: Kohler Awards and International Travel Funds (ITF). Links to information on each award, including applications deadlines, are provided on this page. Faculty interested in research collaborations in Germany specifically, may also apply for awards through the Baden-Württemberg (BW) – UNC System partnership.

Kohler Awards

The Kohler Endowment is dedicated to the support of comprehensive internationalization efforts at UNC Greensboro. The endowment was created with generous support of Mrs. Phyllis Penn Kohler and her husband, U.S. Ambassador Foy D. Kohler. The Office of Global Engagement allocates annually a set amount of money from the Kohler Fund for awards to faculty and staff global engagement activities. 

Learn More about Kohler Awards

International Travel Funds (ITF)

The Provost’s Office created the International Travel Fund to support faculty to attend international conferences, present their work to an international audience, and interact with colleagues from other countries. These professional conferences must be outside of North America.

Learn More about ITF

Kohler Awards

The Global Engagement Office (GEO) Discretionary Funds Committee comprised of faculty members from all academic colleges on campus reviews applications and makes recommendations for Kohler awards. The Committee meets four times per year, and proposals must be submitted by the deadlines to be reviewed.  

Deadlines for the 2024 – 2025 Academic Year

FALL –  SEPTEMBER 15th & OCTOBER 15th, 2024 
SPRING –  JANUARY 15th & MARCH 15TH, 2025 
Submit Your Application

The application allows you to provide your contact information, a summary of your project, upload up to two supporting documents. and route your application to your supervisor for approval. 

RESEARCH WITH ADDITIONAL INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL FUNDING 

Faculty submitting an application to the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) for a New Faculty Grant, a Summer Research Grant, a Regular Faculty Research Grant, or a Research Assignment may be eligible for a Kohler grant if their project contains an international component. Faculty who receive support for an international project from an external source (a fellowship, grant or award) may also apply for supplemental Kohler Funds. The maximum award is $1000. 
 

SPECIAL PROJECTS 

This award is to support international projects such as distinguished lectureships, faculty community dialogues, guest speaker series, country- or area specific seminars, business outreach programs, etc.  Examples of Kohler supported Special Projects include a symposium on contemporary Poland; a colloquium featuring an address by the Finnish Ambassador to the United States; and a Latin American Arts Festival. There is no set dollar limit for the budget request. 
 

STUDENT PROGRAMS 

Kohler support is available for international programs conducted on campus by and/or for UNCG students. Applications can be submitted by student groups, faculty members on behalf of students, or a mixture of both. Student programs that have received funding in the past include UNCG Model United Nations Club, language circles, and International House Programs. Strong preference will be given to projects that have matching support from Student Government or other funding agencies. As proposals in this category may range from the modest to the ambitious, there is no set dollar limit for the budget request. 
 

INTERNATIONALIZING THE CURRICULUM 

Faculty members (individually or in groups) are invited to apply for Kohler Fund support for projects that introduce new international content into existing courses. Preference will be given to proposals that incorporate International Virtual Learning (IVL) or Collaborative Online International Learning components (COIL).  

International Travel Funds (ITF)

    Award Amounts

    Successful applications may be awarded up to $600 per trip. Because of limited funding and high demand, faculty members may receive only one ITF grant per academic year, and they are ineligible to receive a grant more than two years in a row. Grants are restricted to full-time faculty members. Only complete applications that are submitted before travel will be considered. 

    Funding Priorities

    • Deliver a major, invited paper or presentation in the applicant’s field of Research or Creative Activity 
    • Present a paper as part of a panel presentation 
    • Organize and chair a panel discussion 
    • Serve as a discussant on a panel 

    Additionally, funding may be available to those attending a conference as an elected officer or board member of an international organization or presenting in a poster session or round table discussion. 
     
    NOTE: A joint presentation is only eligible for one ITF award. 

    How to Apply

    Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and awards are made at the discretion of the Associate Provost and upon funding availability.  

    Access the Application Here

    Other Funding Resources for International Initiatives

    Foust Building

    College of Arts & Sciences Office of Research (OOR)

    Provides up to $1,000 in matching funds for tenured or tenure-track faculty to travel internationally for research or conference presentations.

    Office of Research and Engagement

    Provides supplemental travel funds to support the presentation of faculty research, scholarship, or creative activity; to serve as chairpersons; to participate as panelists; or to contribute in other appropriate manners at scholarly meetings in the USA, Mexico, or Canada.

    URSCO

    The Global Engagement Office also supports faculty and students applying through the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Office (URSCO) for scholarly projects that have an international component. 

    For questions or if you have ideas on international initiatives that do not fit in any of these categories, please contact Dr. Maria Anastasiou at [email protected].

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