The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is continuing its efforts to help build up the future workforce by partnering with universities across the country. On Tuesday, April 18, USAID’s Deputy Administrator for Management and Resources Paloma Adams-Allen came to Fayetteville to seal the agency’s sixth agreement under their Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Partnership Initiative.

The Initiative which launched in October 2020, aims to broaden awareness and access to USAID programs and initiatives and identify opportunities for students and faculty to engage in U.S. foreign assistance and USAID’s work.

As a result of the new partnership between USAID and FSU, USAID and FSU will develop the pilot of an Acquisition Career Workforce Professional Program, a program for which the Agency has made an initial investment of $1 million which will be released over the next two years.

The program will give FSU students opportunities for internships, professional development, and certification that will position them for careers with USAID and the federal workforce. This agreement represents the first funded USAID MOU with an HBCU though, according to the University,  other HBCUs have signed less comprehensive collaboration agreements.

The partnership represents a major step forward in USAID’s collaboration with HBCUs. Fayetteville State University was selected because of the preeminent standing of its Broadwell College of Business and Economics (BCBE) — with the online MBA program ranked 1st by US News and World Report among the nation’s HBCUs. FSU’s diverse student population and varied program offerings were also significant in its selection.

“Our entire agency has been thinking about this question of how do we make sure that we're justice, you know, that we're pushing forward and diversity but in a meaningful way. And in the Management Bureau, one of our colleagues is an alum of this incredible University,” shared Adams-Allen. “And so he said, ‘You know what, we should think about Fayetteville State University.’ And as I understand it, they went through a pretty rigorous insert typical of the Management Bureau, they did an analysis of all the MSIs out there and looking at HBCUs in particular, and assessed which ones had sort of the strongest business programs  to align with the work of USAID’s funding.”

Chancellor  Darrell T. Allison said  this is an exciting opportunity with great potential for both students and faculty.

“We see a wonderful opportunity that when USAID finishes, and we're complete in two years, we'll be able to look at it in terms of metrics. What's been the return on investment of a million dollars and I hope that this will be a partnership that will be ongoing for years to come. I know that it is critically important to us that our students get not just a diploma but that they're gainfully employed and some of the high demand jobs, high paying jobs in the 21st century where families are questioning higher-ed worth it. Here at Fayetteville State University, they'll say it is,” shared Allison.

USAID provides foreign assistance that enhances international economic development among key developing countries and responds to urgent global humanitarian needs. The Agency’s Bureau for Management coordinates this global activity. The agreement between FSU and USAID is specifically with the Bureau for Management, and initiates a broad set of activities to improve student preparation for working at USAID, including:

• Acquisition Workforce Development Pilot through which FSU students will be prepared to enter federal careers in contracts and purchasing
  Faculty support for potential curriculum enhancements
  Potential faculty engagement in research and consulting projects to help improve USAID operations
  Student information sessions and webinars available to students from all majors
  Webinar events for USAID staff to interact directly with FSU students and staff to discuss global career opportunities
  Potential internships for students interested in management and operations at USAID beginning in the Fall 2023

The Partnership Initiative is open to all MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.