Countering CCP Influence in Panama's Unviersities
Year-long public diplomacy programming to engage Panamanian university students, faculty, administrators, and researchers with U.S. institutions, experts, companies, and exchange alumni as an alternative to CCP influence.
⚑ Eligibility section not provided in the notice excerpt; applicant classes cannot be confirmed. · Public diplomacy / exchange-style program for overseas universities, not research funding. · Likely requires local implementation and partnership with Embassy-linked initiatives (EducationUSA, American Spaces, RELO).
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 32 weak | outside portfolio topics; signature methods: community engaged, policy analysis; social/behavioral work is minor; funds training education, not research (capped); eligibility unclear — verify in the NOFO |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 20 weak | prototyping/demonstration stage |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 20 weak | technical depth: minor; funds training education (capped) |
Description
Panama’s universities have become an increasingly important arena for strategic competition. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has expanded its influence through Confucius Institutes, academic exchanges, research partnerships, scholarships, and sustained engagement with students, faculty, and university leadership. These influence operations foster distrust of the United States and promote CCP narratives at a critical time in the U.S.-Panama relationship.
Embassy Panama seeks to expand the U.S. presence on university campuses by creating sustained opportunities for students, faculty, administrators, and researchers to engage directly with American institutions, experts, companies, and exchange alumni. Through English-language programming, AI and emerging technology workshops, entrepreneurship initiatives, visiting speakers, research collaborations, and public discussions on academic freedom and research integrity, the program will demonstrate the advantages of partnering with the United States while providing a credible alternative to CCP-sponsored programming.
Working alongside EducationUSA, American Spaces, the Regional English Language Office, and existing Embassy initiatives, the project will complement existing exchange and advising programs by focusing on institutional engagement and public diplomacy. The Embassy seeks a year-long initiative that establishes enduring U.S.-Panama academic partnerships, expands American visibility across Panamanian campuses, and directly advances U.S. efforts to counter CCP influence in higher education.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Cecilia B Serrut Grantor <pancultural@state.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.