Global Virtual Exchange Grant Program

The MUSC Center for Global Health is pleased to announce a Global Virtual Exchange grant program to support faculty wishing to collaborate with peers at institutions in low and middle-income countries to co-create courses or innovative educational projects or activities (i.e. case discussion, simulations, journal club) for students and/or residents delivered virtually during the 2021-2022 academic year. Grants of $3,000 each will be awarded to up to 10 MUSC faculty members. Global virtual exchanges must include a connection to either credit-bearing courses or educational projects for students or residents. Partnerships must yield tangible benefits for participants at all institutions, and as such, faculty from each one should be involved in project design.

Virtual exchanges offer an important pathway to continue fostering global health education in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. The CGH’s long-term goal is to foster virtual exchanges to create a platform to provide students and trainees with opportunities to build their global health perspectives “at home.. This is an important equity component for global health education, given the large numbers of students and residents unable to pursue in-person opportunities due to financial burden or time constraints.

Proposal Deadline. April 5, 2021, 5:00 pm EST
Earliest anticipated award notification: May 3, 2021
Late applications will not be reviewed.

Eligibility

• Applicants must have primary faculty appointment at MUSC at the time of application. Those in “visiting” or “adjunct status” or those pending appointments are not eligible. Applicants at all levels are eligible and encouraged to apply.
• Virtual exchange courses are required to include the following:
  
  • Collaboration with specified institution in a low-or middle-income country;
  • Peer collaborator to co-design and co-lead the virtual exchange;
  • Must include synchronous sessions. Asynchronous learning is allowed, but the majority of exchanges should be synchronous sessions;
  • Virtual exchanges must take place in the 2021-2022 academic year.
• Virtual exchanges can be incorporated into new or existing courses. Recurring courses or rotations that faculty teach regularly are encouraged, but not required.
• The virtual exchange can be implemented for the entirety of the course or for a minimum of four weeks during the proposed course.
• Faculty collaborators are not required to be teaching in the same disciplinary area.
• Guest lectures by the faculty partners in each other’s classes are encouraged.
• Examples for cross-institutional experiences might include joint student or resident group discussions and discussion boards, joint assignments, clinical case discussions, journal club, group projects or other relevant activities.

Funding Support

Grants are in the amount of $3000 per course or project. Allowable costs include, technology (webcams, audio equipment, software), graduate assistants, student or staff support (to assist in course or project development) and educational resources.

Application Submission

Submit your application via email to Kathleen Ellis at ellisk@musc.edu. The process includes combining the documents below (1-6) into a single PDF.

1. Proposal Provide a two-page proposal summary addressing each of the following items. Use the following headings:
   • Partner institution name, faculty partner (or peer collaborator) name;
   • Briefly describe any history of the relationship between the partnering institutions and faculty collaborators;
   • Describe the existing (or proposed) course or educational activity and explain how the global virtual exchange will enhance student learning.
   • Description of joint activities, including how students and faculty at MUSC and in the partnering institution will engage with one another, online platforms to be used, the number and timing of meetings/activities, and expected outcomes of bringing students from the different programs together.
   • Detail how you and your peer collaborator will facilitate the proposed learning activities within the virtual exchange. Indicate how you will incorporate synchronous sessions throughout the semester.
   • Please share your ideas for managing disparate academic calendars, communicating across time zones, teaching and discussion across language barriers and equitable access to technological platforms and/or internet service.
   • Explain how the proposed virtual exchange will enhance students’ understanding of the subject matter and expand global competencies at both institutions.
   • Detail how student learning, as well as program evaluation, will be assessed.
2. Proposed timeline, including development of course / activity and implementation steps
3. Budget with Justification
4. Letter of support from international partner expressing commitment to co-develop and teach the Global Virtual Exchange during the grant period.
5. Letter of support from MUSC department or division chair confirming commitment for the proposed activity to be taught and scheduled at a time allowing synchronous instruction.
6. Current CV or Biosketch

Review Criteria

A small committee comprised of faculty and staff will review each proposal using the following criteria:

• Established working relationship exists between the MUSC faculty and peer collaborator.
• Clear plan for instruction and a demonstrated commitment to mutual benefits between partnering institutions.
• Detailed plans for student interaction and estimated timelines.
• Includes a plan for project-based learning or team-based projects that require substantial collaborative output.
• Letters of endorsement are strong and convey institutional commitment to global virtual exchange.

Award Details

The award will be made as a single funds transfer to the applicant’s department(s). Funds will be transferred to the department’s business manager 2-3 weeks after award notification. Recipients should contact their business manager to access funds, and department is responsible for ensuring the financial expenditures and reporting carried out under this grant must comply with MUSC’s finance and administration regulations and procedures.

Grant recipients will commit to the following:

• Consult with the CGH prior to implementation of the project;
• Assume all responsibility for obtaining course approvals and classroom space (if applicable); Agree to complete assessment requirements including faculty surveys, student surveys, and submitting a final report;
• Agree to reference the support of the CGH in any subsequent publicity, publications or presentations.

Please direct inquiries related to this funding announcement to: Kathleen Ellis, Executive Director, MUSC Center for Global Health at ellisk@musc.edu.