[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61673-61674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24638]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 10933]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Evaluation of 
the Professional Fellows Program

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are 
requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals 
and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for 
public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 
January 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by the following methods:
     Web: persons with access to the internet may comment on 
this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the 
document by entering ``Docket Number: DOS-2019-0038'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents, to Natalie Donahue, Chief of Evaluation, Bureau 
of Educational and Cultural Affairs, who may be reached on (202) 632- 
6193 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Evaluation of the 
Professional Fellows Program (PFP).
     OMB Control Number: None.
     Type of Request: New Collection.
     Originating Office: Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/
P/V).
     Form Number: No form.
     Respondents: Contacts at institutions and organizations 
that hosted and interacted with foreign Fellows; families that hosted 
PFP fellows in their homes.
     Estimated Number of Professional Contact Survey 
Respondents: 1,526.
     Estimated Number of Professional Contact Survey Responses: 
300.
     Average Time per Professional Contact Survey Response: 20 
minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time for Professional Contact 
Survey: 100 hours.
     Estimated Number of Professional Contact Interviews: 40.
     Estimated Number of Number of Professional Contact 
Interview Responses: 40.
     Average Time per Professional Contact Interview: 40 
minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time for Professional Contact 
Interviews: 26.7 hours.
     Estimated Number of Host Family Survey Respondents: 855.
     Estimated Number of Host Family Survey Responses: 86.
     Average Time per Host Family Survey Response: 15 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time for Host Family Survey 
Response: 21.5 hours.
     Estimated Number of Homestay Host Interviews: 40.
     Estimated Number of Homestay Host Interview Responses: 40.
     Average Time per Homestay Host Interview: 30 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time for Homestay Host Interviews: 
20 hours.
     Total Estimated Burden Time (All Instruments for U.S 
Audiences): 168 hours.
     Frequency: Once.
     Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The PFP is a two-way, global exchange program for mid-level 
emerging leaders from select foreign countries. The PFP is managed by 
the Professional Fellows Division of the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs. Foreign fellows come to the United States for a five- 
to six-week

[[Page 61674]]

fellowship, including a minimum four-week tailored placement in a 
relevant professional organization (NGO's, business, government, etc.) 
and an end of program conference in Washington, DC. While in the Unites 
States, the foreign fellows volunteer in their local community, stay 
with local families, and create follow-on project plans to implement 
back in their home country. A select number of U.S. counterparts travel 
overseas on an outbound program that is approximately two weeks in 
length to directly support foreign fellows' follow-on projects. This 
program is funded pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
Exchanges Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451-2464).
    To fully evaluate the effectiveness and impacts of the program, the 
U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(ECA) intends to collect data to include the perspectives of:
     The foreign fellows who participated in the PFP between 
2013 and 2018;
     U.S. professionals who interacted the foreign fellows 
during their exchange in the United States; and
     U.S. families who hosted the foreign fellows during their 
stay.
    In order to do so, ECA contracted with GDIT to administer surveys 
and conduct face-to-face interviews with the stakeholders listed above.

Methodology

    Data will be collected with a focus on answering how the program is 
advancing DoS strategic policy priorities, how well the program is 
meeting its goals and how alumni have operationalized skills and 
knowledge learned during their exchange experience to promote mutual 
understanding, create positive change, and build collaborative 
networks.
    The evaluation will employ a mixed-methods data collection 
strategy, including face-to face interviews and online surveys. Online 
surveys will be administered to all foreign fellows, U.S. professionals 
and U.S. homestay hosts. To collect more in depth responses, face-to-
face interviews will be conducted with a subset of foreign fellows, 
foreign colleagues, U.S. professional contacts and U.S. homestay hosts. 
The combination of methods will allow GDIT to generate a quantitative 
profile of the program and at the same time, capture rich qualitative 
data.

Nini Forino,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2019-24638 Filed 11-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P