[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 45 (Friday, March 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13225-13226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04599]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 11065]
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Evaluation of
the Professional Fellows Program
ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of
proposed collection of information.
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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the information
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for approval. 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
30 days for public comment.
DATES: Submit comments directly to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) up to April 6, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the Department of State Desk Officer in
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). You may submit comments by the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. You must include the
DS form number, information collection title, and the OMB control
number in the subject line of your message.
Fax: 202-395-5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department
of State.
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)
[[Page 13226]]
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 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 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 Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 24512464).
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 and U.S. 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. reciprocal
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. reciprocal fellows,
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.
Aleisha Woodward,
Deputy Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-04599 Filed 3-5-20; 8:45 am]
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