30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Evaluation of the Professional Fellows Program, 13225-13226 [2020-04599]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[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]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P