Call for Program Proposals

The Institute sponsors and coordinates major academic conferences, research workshops, lectures, film series, exhibitions, and theatrical and music performances. Through our comprehensive range of activities, the Institute forms an intellectual and programmatic link between NYU New York and NYU Abu Dhabi. Program Organizers originate from both campuses and work together, as well as with local and regional organizations to bridge and create knowledge communities.

Outline of the Review Process

The Institute's Advisory Committee reviews all proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Regional Collaborative Seminars. Proposals for exhibitions will be reviewed by an arts subcommittee. Proposals for Institute public programs such as Lectures, Conversations with Authors, and Panel Discussions are solicited by or submitted to the Institute by NYUAD faculty or students. These programs will normally not be reviewed by the Institute’s Advisory Committee. Definitions of all program categories are provided in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Following procedures outlined in the MOU, program proposers are required to submit a Commitment Memorandum to the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee’s review of the memorandum, if favorable, will then guide the Institute’s Steering Committee in determining how the Institute will ultimately move forward on a proposal. During the approval process, either committee may decline the opportunity to consider the proposal further or recommend resubmission in a subsequent application period. The Chair of the Advisory Committee will provide the proposer with rationale in writing for the Committees’ decision. If a proposal is denied, the proposer may resubmit it only once more within a one-year period following its initial submission.

Program proposers are advised to read the entire MOU documentation before submitting a formal proposal.

Eligibility

To be eligible to submit a proposal for a Conference, Workshop, or Regional Collaborative Seminar, program proposers must be full-time NYU faculty (from any of the global sites) who play an active and leading role in research and scholarship

Selection Criteria

Workshop, Conference, and Regional Collaborative Seminar proposals will be reviewed on the following criteria:

Highest quality of scholarly or creative content;
Clarity and significance of the scholarly question(s) central to the proposal, framed in the context of the state of research of the respective discipline(s);
The proposed outcome of the program, seen also in relationship to NYUAD’s and the Institute’s mission;
The potential of the program to stimulate active interest and partnerships among UAE-based scholars and institutions;
Its potential to enrich and complement NYUAD’s curriculum; and
Prospects for creating a strong, sustainable intellectual community associated with NYUAD.

Deadlines for Proposals

Proposals are reviewed four times a year: in September, December, March, and May. To be considered in a particular month, proposals completed according to MOU guidelines must be received by the 15th of the month prior: August 15, November 15, February 15, and April 15. Notification will follow no later than the 15th of the following month.

Advisory Committee

Committee members are drawn from across the disciplines and schools of NYUNY and NYUAD, and are appointed by the Institute. The Committee will evaluate submitted proposals on the basis of the selection criteria and will recommend proposals for approval, with suggested modifications as appropriate, to the NYUAD Institute Steering Committee. Timing of the implementation of approved proposals will depend on the programming needs of the Institute.