The Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge is a virtual exchange initiative that supports career readiness in the U.S. and Jordan. Community college and university students from the U.S. and technical college and university students from Iraq and Jordan team up to solve global challenges facing the business sector across industries. The program improves global citizenship, strengthens problem-solving skills, and develops enduring connections, while enhancing students’ job skills through online collaboration. 

Graduate students or professionals, (in some cases undergraduate students, or former directors), in the United States have the opportunity to apply to coach binational teams.  

The Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge is supported by the Stevens Initiative, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and administered by the Aspen Institute.  

About the Stevens Initiative

The Stevens Initiative is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together to collaborate and connect through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative invests in virtual exchange programs between the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); shares research, resources, and promising practices to improve impact; and advocates for broader adoption. Through its 86 grants, the Stevens Initiative will expand its reach by summer 2023 to nearly 75,000 young people in 17 MENA countries and the Palestinian Territories, and in 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, one tribal community, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. Learn more: http://www.stevensinitiative.org/

Coaching Responsibilities

The participating coach will:

• Monitor and coach up to three binational teams;  
• Communicate with facilitator partners and binational teams weekly in successful completion of student registration and curriculum milestones, serving as the primary point of contact for team management;  
• Support and/or facilitate binational calls as needed;  
• Communicate weekly with IREX staff regarding the status of each team related to activities and milestones;  
• Participate in virtual or in person professional development training;  
• Attend the Virtual Global Business Expo if the team you are coaching is a finalist team.  

Upon completion of the challenge, coaches will:

• Earn a professional certificate with professional development credentials;  
• Receive an honorarium;
• Gain access to a network of global educators.  

Eligibility Requirements

• Current graduate student or professional in the United States. (In some cases, undergraduates will be considered, i.e. formal director.) 

*Please note, applications that do not meet this eligibility requirement will not be forwarded to the selection committee.  

IREX reserves the right to verify all of the information included in the application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible.  

IREX does not discriminate against grant applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law. The Global Solutions Program promotes inclusion and diversity in learning. Facilitators with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.  

Timeline

Application Deadline: November 25, 2022

Coach Training: January 2023

Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge: February – April 2023

How to Apply to the Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge

Consult the list of eligibility requirements and then use the following button to apply.

APPLY NOW

Application Deadlines

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications must be submitted online.

• Spring 2023 Cohort: November 25, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST. 

Applicants will be notified of selection status the week of December 5, 2022.

Contact

For more information, contact globalsolutions@irex.org.