Worldwide Universities Network through its Research Development Fund (RDF) is offering research grants to foster international collaborative research. The RDF offers grants of up £15,000 (average £10,000) from an overall fund in 2013. The RDF is open only to academic staff (faculty members) at WUN member universities. Programs must engage at least three WUN member universities and should span at least two countries. The collaboration can include non-WUN universities and external partners but must have an active core of WUN member universities. The application deadline is 1 November 2013.
Study Subject(s): The grants support research collaborations in the following WUN Global Challenges: Responding to Climate Change, Public Health: non-communicable disease (NCD), Global Higher Education and Research and Understanding Cultures.
Course Level: Grants are awarded for international collaborative research at WUN member institutions: Maastricht University,(Netherlands), Nanjing University (China), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), The Pennsylvania State University (USA), The State University of Campinas (Brazil), The University of Alberta (Canada), The University of Auckland (New Zealand), The University of Bergen (Norway), The University of Bristol (UK), The University of Cape Town (South Africa), The University of Leeds(UK), The University of Rochester (New York), The University of Sheffield (UK), The University of Southampton (UK), The University of Sydney (Australia), The University of Western Australia (Australia), The University of Wisconsin Madison (USA), The University of York (UK) and Zhejiang University(China).
Scholarship Provider: Worldwide Universities Network
Scholarship can be taken at: Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, USA, Brazil, Canada, Norway, UK, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia (Programs must engage at least three WUN member universities and should span at least two countries.)
User Review
( votes)Eligibility: –The RDF is open only to academic staff (faculty members) at WUN member universities. Applications must first be approved for submission through an internal review process at the principal investigator’s university and submitted to WUN through the local WUN Coordinator.
-Programs must engage at least three WUN member universities and should span at least two countries. The collaboration can include non-WUN universities and external partners but must have an active core of WUN member universities. In the spirit of the network, activities organised through the programs should be open to all WUN members, it is a priority for WUN to engage newer members in the RDF.
-Applications must demonstrate matching cash and in-kind support by the partner institutions to equal or greater value of the amount requested.
Scholarship Open for International Students: The RDF is open only to academic staff (faculty members) at WUN member universities: (Maastricht University,(Netherlands), Nanjing University (China), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), The Pennsylvania State University (USA), The State University of Campinas (Brazil), The University of Alberta (Canada), The University of Auckland (New Zealand), The University of Bergen (Norway), The University of Bristol (UK), The University of Cape Town (South Africa), The University of Leeds(UK), The University of Rochester (New York), The University of Sheffield (UK), The University of Southampton (UK), The University of Sydney (Australia), The University of Western Australia (Australia), The University of Wisconsin Madison (USA), The University of York (UK) and Zhejiang University(China).
Scholarship Description: The Worldwide Universities Network is a global alliance of research intensive universities. Central to WUN’s mission is the fostering of international collaborative research. In particular, WUN is committed to the development of interdisciplinary research collaborations addressing recognisable global challenges.
Number of award(s): Not Known
Duration of award(s): Awarded funding should be expended within 12 months. Any unspent funds at the conclusion of the 12-month award period may be recalled by WUN.
What does it cover? The RDF offers grants of up £15,000(average £10,000) from an overall fund in 2013 of over £145,000 to foster partnership in the network, including new members, and support research collaborations. RDF funds may cover the costs of exploratory research initiatives, targeted workshops, faculty exchanges and the formation of collaborative networks, among other activities.
Selection Criteria: Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
– Objectives – the program is of high academic quality and addresses a novel research problem or takes an existing WUN research program in a significantly new direction. The program is likely to have significant impact, is interdisciplinary and is international in scope. Weight: 20%.
– Relevance to WUN Goals – the program aligns with WUN strategic objectives [Weight: 10%] and addresses a WUN Global Challenge [Weight:10%]. Weight: 20%.
– Sustainability – the program will build long-term international relationships based on genuine commitment by the research partners, and provides a plan for attracting continuing external funding. Weight: 30%.
– Teamwork – the program involves a team of researchers across a range of relevant disciplines and regions. Programs that include early-career researchers and PhD students are particularly encouraged and an outline of how this integration will be achieved should be provided. Weight: 10%.
– Outcomes – the program results in external funding and academic publications and/or policy options. Weight: 20%.
Notification: The outcomes of the WUN Research Development Fund will be disseminated before 10 January 2014.
How to Apply: Applications along with all accompanying documents must be submitted by the WUN Coordinator by email to rdf-at-wun.ac.uk. Applications will need to be accompanied by:
– Letters of support from WUN partner universities confirming matching support, using the template provided.
– Letters of support from external (WUN+) partners, where funding is pledged.
– Program budget outlining key areas of expenditure (1 page maximum).
– CVs of principal investigators (1 page maximum each)
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 1st November 2013.
