Establishment of an Academic Partnership in Journalism Studies with the Faculty of Law at Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia | SMK800 23 PAS006

Opportunity Information: Apply for SMK800 23 PAS006

This grant opportunity, titled "Establishment of an Academic Partnership in Journalism Studies with the Faculty of Law at Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia" (Funding Opportunity Number SMK800 23 PAS006), is a U.S. Department of State program administered by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia. It is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement in the education category (CFDA 19.900). The program planned to make a single award, with funding up to $250,000, and originally closed on June 30, 2023 (created April 20, 2023). Eligible applicants include U.S. public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.

At its core, the opportunity seeks proposals that build a structured academic partnership between an applying university (typically a U.S. institution) and the Iustinianus Primus Faculty of Law at Saints Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM) in Skopje, specifically supporting the Faculty of Law's journalism studies. The intent is to modernize and strengthen journalism education in North Macedonia by making journalism more appealing to prospective students while also improving the practical skills and ethical grounding needed for a healthier media environment. The program description emphasizes that journalism education should connect directly to real-world practice and democratic norms, including stronger media literacy, investigative research and reporting abilities, ethical media operations, and principled engagement in democratic processes.

A major theme of the grant is shifting journalism studies toward hands-on training and higher student engagement, rather than a primarily theoretical approach. Proposals are expected to be tailored to the education and research goals of both the applicant and the North Macedonian partner faculty, and they should be innovative while still being cost-effective. Practical experience is not treated as an optional add-on; it is a central requirement. The opportunity also highlights the value of exchange experiences, suggesting that students and faculty should have meaningful chances to learn from counterparts and professional environments across institutions, including U.S. partners.

The partnership is expected to address four specific priority areas. First, it should create strategic partnerships with external experts in journalism and/or with media outlets, which can bring professional standards, mentorship, and industry relevance into the classroom. Second, it should support the creation of a journalism lab. This is framed as a clinical, applied learning environment where students can earn academic credit through practical engagement tied to existing courses, effectively creating a structured extracurricular-to-curricular bridge. Third, the project should enrich the journalism library, strengthening access to learning resources that support up-to-date teaching, research, and student work. Fourth, it should establish exchange programs for professors and students, reinforcing skills transfer, professional development, and longer-term institutional relationships.

The Faculty of Law at UKIM plans to rely on existing staff to initiate the clinical Journalism Lab, using the partnership to build out the model, capacity, and integration with coursework. Beyond the initial lab and curriculum improvements, the Faculty has also signaled strong interest in moving toward a double or joint degree program in journalism once partnerships with U.S. universities are finalized. In practical terms, this suggests that proposals that lay groundwork for sustained institutional cooperation, aligned curricula, and mutually recognized academic pathways could fit well with the Faculty's longer-range goals, as long as the plan remains feasible within the grant's scope and budget.

A competitive proposal, as described in the opportunity, would directly respond to the Faculty of Law at UKIM's needs through a coherent set of activities: curriculum development that increases practical training, collaborative research components that advance journalism studies and local media understanding, professional development for UKIM faculty delivered by U.S. counterparts, and faculty exchange that supports sustained instructional improvement. Secondary partners are allowed and may include independent research institutes, relevant government organizations, or private non-profit organizations, as long as their involvement supports the educational objectives of the project and strengthens outcomes for journalism training and the broader media ecosystem.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Establishment of an Academic Partnership in Journalism Studies with the Faculty of Law at Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 20, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for SMK800 23 PAS006

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