Strategic Internationalization Grant

Applications for the 2026 TIEF Grants are now open. Applications are due May 31, 2026.

The Strategic Internationalization Grant supports new institutional efforts that will build greater campus internationalization over time.

Applications which focus on the following themes will be given priority, but other proposals are welcome:

• Integrating global learning into the curriculum and co-curriculum.
• Tangibly fostering a vibrant and inclusive culture for domestic and international students, staff, and faculty.
• International partnerships that bring measurable outcomes or benefit to students, programs, or the university.

Applications are likely to be rated more highly when they bring internationalization efforts to campus, have positive impacts on underrepresented students and/or fields of study, reach a substantial number of students, faculty, or staff, and have clear timelines and outcomes.

Download the application rubric for this grant here.

Successful proposals will include:

• Strategic alignment — clear articulation of how the project supports the institution’s overall internationalization goals and priorities.
• UN SDG Alignment — a strong connection to two or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the details of which can be found here.
• Approach — demonstrates an effective plan to achieve desired outcomes; scalability and sustainability of the initiative.
• Scale of impact — number of community and stakeholder beneficiaries and impact over time.
• Innovation — applies funds toward groundbreaking, unique, and otherwise outside-the-box ideas, partnerships, and collaborations; and advances internationalization in emerging fields of study.
• Impactful use of funds — establishes measurable and scalable outcomes and/or direct tangible impacts from funds expended; demonstrates efficient/appropriate/wise use of funds.

Applications that primarily benefit a single person, or that are not sustainable or scalable, are discouraged. Any proposed funds directed to individual students or faculty in the form of stipends, offsets, travel grants, honoraria, overtime, etc., must be transparently described in the application.

TIEC reserves the right to deny items in the budget that it deems as an improper use of funds. Note: TIEC does not allow indirect costs for any TIEF grant.

Eligibility

• All Texas TIEC member institution faculty and staff are eligible to apply.
• Only one award per institution (if multiple proposals submitted)

Evaluation

• Relevance — Proposals should be relevant to your university’s internationalization strategy and address strategic priorities within your institution.
• Feasibility — Proposals must demonstrate the feasibility of the program/project during the grant period.
• Sustainability — Proposals must demonstrate a plan for the scope and impact of the programs/projects beyond the grant period.
• UN SDG Alignment — Proposals must include a strong connection to two or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• Financial — Proposals must provide a detailed budget of the funding requested. Direct and/or in-kind cost sharing is strongly encouraged. A line-item budget and justification must be submitted with the proposal.

Requirements

• Recipients must initiate the timeline/show initial objectives met within the first twelve months.
• Successful recipients are expected to provide a summary (up to 4 pages) of project outcomes and any proposed next steps within one month of completion.
• Recipient bios and project summaries will be featured on the TIEC website.
• TIEC believes in creating space for members to share achievements among their peers. As such, recipients agree to present their programs and outcomes for a TIEC-organized webinar or Operating Council meeting should the opportunity arise.