Purpose
To support the Hesse – Wisconsin Sister State relationship and the development of new linkages between higher education institutions in each state, the Universities of Wisconsin has allocated funds to be awarded at UW–Madison as seed money towards new or enhanced international collaborations. Proposed activities should be designed to advance a proposal for a larger grant or a self-sustaining project.
Eligibility
The lead applicant must be a UW–Madison faculty or academic staff member with a 50% or greater appointment. Applications must have support from at least one faculty/staff member at an institution that is part of the Hessen university partner network:
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
- Goethe Universität Frankfurt
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- Universität Kassel
- Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
- Hessen State University of Art and Design
Supported Activities
The grant may be used to support the following kinds of activities. Priority will be given to projects that are likely to lead to ongoing collaboration with Hessen institutions and that include at least two of the following focus areas: research, teaching, student/faculty mobility, or K-14 outreach. Examples in these areas include:
- Initiation of a new or new phase of a research project with Hessen colleagues
- Joint development of a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course that could be offered to students at UW-Madison and a Hessen institution.
- Development of a faculty-led study abroad program in Hesse and/or for students from a Hessen university to come to the US.
- Creation of curriculum resources on a relevant area of study for students in Germany and the U.S.
Funds may be used for travel, research expenses, and short-term housing to host visitors from Hessen institutions. The funds cannot be used for tuition payments or remission, salaries, or long-term housing.
Application Process
Please submit a two-page description of the proposed activity (single spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins). The proposal should include the following categories and should be clearly related to one or more of the four focus areas described above:
- Project overview
- Project objectives
- Proposed activities (specifying research, teaching, student/faculty mobility, and/or K-14 outreach)
- Deliverables and intended outcomes
As appendices, please include:
- A one-page budget, not to exceed $5,000, along with a description of any additional support the project is likely to receive from another UW-Madison unit or another institution.
- A one-page description of each team members, including their role and expertise.
- A two-page CV or bio brief for the UW-Madison project leads.
The entire document should be no more than six pages and submitted by the deadline as a single pdf document to externalrelations@international.wisc.edu with a subject headline “Hesse-Wisconsin Partnership Proposal [submitter’s LAST name].”
Timeline and Process
Completed applications must be submitted by October 15, 2025 at 12 P.M. CST. The selection decision will be made by a sub-committee convened by the International Division with the Vice Provost and Dean of the International Division making the final selection. Decisions will be made by November 14, 2025, and funds must be used by June 30, 2026, and extensions will be permitted on a case-by-case basis. Expenses must be approved by the International Division Dean’s Office prior to the commencement of activity. All expenditures are subject to UW rules and policy.
For further information, please contact Associate Director of International Strategy & Partnerships Maria Vishnevsky (externalrelations@international.wisc.edu).