Virtual Exchange Grant

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

Virtual exchange activities should:

• Use best practices in virtual exchange design and student engagement to connect students from each institution through technology.
• Support regular course objectives while also enabling students to examine topics from varied cultural and societal perspectives.  
• Use technology—synchronously or asynchronously—to support the goals of student learning.
• Include a strong connection to two or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• The virtual exchange component of a proposed course should last a minimum of four weeks.

Because of the complexity and nature of virtual exchange programs, this grant allows recipients up to six months for joint planning and course design prior to classroom implementation.

‍Download the application rubric here.

Fund Information

TIEC operating council members, typically staff based in their institution’s international or global partnerships office, have access to a directory of contacts across the consortium, and TIEC is available to help facilitate introductions during the proposal development process. This support is available to both Texas-based members and international affiliate institutions seeking to build new relationships within the TIEC network.

The funds will be disbursed as an overload payment in compensation for time developing and implementing virtual exchange activities (all funds for this grant will be provided in the form of a check from TIEC). If a course is co-taught within one institution, the award for that institution may be split between the faculty members. As stated above, the award is intended to be shared among faculty at the partner institutions, but a single institution’s share may also be divided among more than one faculty member, as appropriate.

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

Eligibility

• Courses can be at the undergraduate or graduate level.
• Courses must be three or more credits.
• The course must be taught within two semesters of the award date and continue after the grant's duration.
• Only TIEC member institution faculty and staff are eligible to apply.  
  

Evaluation

• Is the virtual exchange activity clearly described, and will it effectively connect students from the two institutions?
• Will the virtual exchange activity support course learning objectives while also enabling students to examine topics from different cultural and societal perspectives?
• Does the virtual exchange activity provide for experiential education and virtual collaboration among the students?
• If graduate student support is requested, are the student’s responsibilities reasonable and specific?

Requirements

• Selected participants will be required to complete TIEC’s Virtual Exchange Academy (4 weeks, 4 hours per week).
• Recipients must initiate the timeline/show initial objectives met.
• 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 at a TIEC-organized webinar or Operating Council meeting should the opportunity arise.