UNIVERSITY LINKAGES

and Egyptian university research activities aimed at solving priority Egyptian development problems and at university capacity building to carry out research in these areas. The Ministry of Education and Scientific Research will implement the project through the Supreme Council of Universities (SCU). Collaborative activities will be selected and funded under a competitive grants commission approach. All Egyptian universities belonging to the SCU are eligible for funding as are all U.S. universities recognized by the SCU. In Phase I, a Foreign Relations Coordination Unit will be established to formulate and operate the grant award process with the assistance of a long-term U.S. contractor. Both direct problem-solving and institution building activities will be eligible for funding. As defined by this project, a development problem is a GOE-determined priority area (generally expected to include the agriculture, rural development, population, health, education, and human resources sectors) in which economic, technical, or social change is desired and where a practical resolution may be reasonably expected given the level of funding. Institution building activities include faculty improvement, research, curriculum revision, and outreach programs. A small trial grants program will be initiated to test preliminary grant cycle concepts. Collaborative efforts will begin in Phase II, where project activities will be carried out under two types of university linkages -- "maxi-" and "mini-linkages". Maxi-linkages will be comprehensive, long-term multi-activity U.S.-Egyptian university linkages focused on a single problem area. Mini-linkages will be low-cost, single/multiple activity linkages, focused on one aspect of a single problem area. Problem solving activities may encompass joint reseach, seminars, and consultative work. Institution building activities may include faculty exchange, joint seminars, one-way U.S. advisory roles, and U.S. graduate study for Egyptians. Participation in the project by minority U.S. colleges will be encouraged.