Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative

Brief Synopsis from Sponsor: The Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative (Exchange) aims to inspire young leaders from the United States and India to work together to advance civil rights, social justice, and inclusion locally, nationally, and globally by exploring the history and legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Exchange will seek to develop participants’ leadership skills and equip them with the tools and networks to support these endeavors. Approximately 20 undergraduate and graduate students ages 18-25, ten (10) from the United States and ten (10) from India, will participate in the program. The program will draw on the long history of friendship and shared interests between the United States and India, and will provide participants with opportunities for interaction with diverse groups of Americans and Indians. The Exchange will also include opportunities for continued follow-on engagement once participants return to their respective countries.

The Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative should be approximately six weeks in length (inclusive of travel days); participants should begin the Exchange with a one-week virtual program component that will set the foundation and prepare participants for a four-week academic and experiential program that includes approximately two weeks in the United States and two weeks in India. The U.S.-based component should consist of a rigorous academic residency that should preferably take place at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campus and should be complemented by off-campus site visits that will reinforce academic sessions. The India-based experiential learning component should take place directly before or after the U.S.-based academic residency and should include educational travel to relevant communities and historical sites around India that highlight and explore the program theme. The Exchange should also include a multi-day closing forum that connects Exchange participants with experts, professionals, and civic leaders from the United States and India. This event should be planned in coordination with the ECA program office and the U.S. Embassy in India.

Please read full opportunity linked above before submitting your application.

Sponsor Funding: Upper:  $400,000USD

Be aware: Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. UofL will decide which to submit via internal review.

Anyone interested in submitting for this program must first submit an internal application to , with copy to the applicable research dean, by 5 p.m. on the date listed above, including the following materials:

  • A summary of the proposal (maximum two pages);
  • A paragraph describing why you would be the most competitive candidate for this program;
  • Your current curriculum vitae;
  • A cover page that contains:
    • The name of this funding opportunity and title of your proposal;
    • Your name, position, and UofL office contact information;
    • Collaborator names, positions, and institutions (if applicable).

Reviewers will judge proposals as they would in any peer review process, so PIs are urged to put forward competitive internal proposals. Along with typical criteria, reviewers will evaluate internal proposals based on their fit with the sponsor’s articulated goals and criteria as well as the UofL strategic goals.

The above internal application materials should be submitted via email as a single .PDF file to by the internal deadline listed above.

If you have any questions, please
Email:
Director of Research Development and Support
Research Development & Strategic Initiatives
Office of the EVP – Research & Innovation
300 E. Market Street, Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40202-1959