Partners
For decades, Virginia Tech has created, conveyed, and applied knowledge to address global problems and challenges. CIRED, which is part of Outreach and International Affairs, is a university-wide center that links Virginia Tech to the world. It seeks funding and global partnerships to support the university’s international research, teaching, and development mission.
Key to CIRED’s mission is an emphasis on improving standards of living and livelihoods of people in developing countries through research and technological innovation; engagement with outside partners and local stakeholders; and training students to be the next generation of problem solvers. We believe that through our research, partnerships, and capacity building, we help solve problems that affect all of us.
Working with CIRED
Partnerships
CIRED collaborates with host country universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, governments, community organizations, and local businesses to build relationships that lead to long-term partnerships. The result is a vast network that covers decades and many regions.
International research
CIRED offers faculty members the opportunity to conduct innovative research and apply the resulting knowledge and technology to local and global challenges, thereby enhancing their scholarship.
Proposal development
CIRED has a dedicated proposal development team with extensive experience - from tracking funding opportunities and capturing proposal strategy information to pre-proposal development and final proposal preparation. In developing proposals, CIRED works closely with university units, faculty, and staff members, as well as with a wide range of external partners.
Project management
CIRED has highly skilled administrative, programmatic, and financial staff with decades of experience managing grant projects in developing countries. With CIRED serving as the primary point of contact to donors and providing administrative oversight on large and complex projects, faculty can focus on the scientific and technical aspects of projects. CIRED has a solid track record supporting projects in areas such as legal or regulatory compliance; donor reporting (performance and financial); procurement; logistics; establishing project management units and managing in-country staff; and liaising with project counterparts and partners. Current donors include the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and UNICEF.
Proposal credit
Faculty members can receive grant and proposal credit that counts toward promotion and tenure.
Project implementation
Project funds can provide short-term technical assistance opportunities for faculty.
Salary savings
CIRED project funding can be applied to faculty members’ salaries.
Shared overhead
CIRED shares project overhead with colleges, which can make further distribution decisions.
Students
CIRED provides opportunities for student research and graduate assistantships.