FY 2026 U.S. Leadership in Education, Advanced Manufacturing, and Digital Skills (U.S. LEADS) Program

The U.S. Leadership in Education, Advanced Manufacturing, and Digital Skills (U.S. LEADS) Program, administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), is a new international exchange initiative commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. This program aims to reinforce the United States’ global leadership in workforce innovation, particularly in the fields of advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital skills. As part of the Freedom 250 initiative, the program seeks to strengthen U.S. diplomatic and economic ties by establishing education-industry partnerships that benefit both domestic communities and key foreign allies. The initiative uses the model of U.S. community colleges as a foundational example of scalable vocational and technical education, emphasizing their role in workforce development and global competitiveness. The program targets approximately 100 foreign participants—senior higher education officials, commerce leaders, and policymakers from countries strategically important to U.S. industry and supply chains. It includes a major summit in Washington, D.C., followed by four regional, two-week exchanges across U.S. cities recognized for their strong community college-industry collaborations. The summit, scheduled between December 2026 and March 2027, will focus on America’s transition from the Industrial to the Digital Revolution and will bring together participants with U.S. government, academic, and industry leaders. The regional exchanges will provide hands-on exposure to vocational education best practices, site visits to advanced training centers, and opportunities for direct dialogue with U.S. educational and industrial stakeholders. Program funding totals approximately $2,500,000, with the expectation of issuing a single cooperative agreement. The award period will range from 18 to 36 months, beginning on or around July 1, 2026. Allowable costs include travel, lodging, educational materials, programming logistics, and monitoring and evaluation. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate cost-sharing but no specific match requirement is mandated. Up to 20% of the total budget may be allocated for the D.C. summit, and no more than 25% should be dedicated to follow-on activities. These follow-on activities are expected to support alumni in implementing concrete initiatives inspired by their participation, potentially including reciprocal travel to participating countries. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and public or private higher education institutions with at least four years of experience in conducting international exchange programs. Proposals must include a variety of standard federal forms and documents (SF-424, narrative, budget, etc.) and must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov. Only one submission per organization will be reviewed. All organizations must be registered with SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Additional compliance with federal and ECA-specific communication, evaluation, and branding requirements is mandatory, including adherence to the MODE Framework for monitoring and evaluation. Applications are due by May 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Once submitted, applications will undergo eligibility and merit review, with final award decisions made by ECA’s Assistant Secretary. Successful applicants will be expected to coordinate closely with ECA, U.S. embassies, and Fulbright commissions throughout all phases of implementation, from recruitment and program design to monitoring, alumni engagement, and performance reporting. The initiative emphasizes lasting partnerships, measurable policy impact, and increased U.S. competitiveness through international collaboration in education and technology.

Highlight U.S. industry partnerships, alignment with U.S. foreign policy goals, and robust monitoring plans.