VLIR-UOS is inviting applications for 30 short research stays scholarships for researchers/academics from Latin-America, Africa and Asia at a university or university college in Flanders (Belgium). The SRS scholarships are available for those researchers wishing to prepare a research proposal (in preparation of a PhD (pre-doc) or a postdoc research, or broader to prepare a concept proposal for possible (new), tangible partnerships or new projects within existing partnerships. The short research stay should start before the 31st of March 2014 and can last up to 90 days. Proposals for SRS-scholarships can be submitted until 25 October 2013.
Study Subject (s): The short research stay should aim either at the exploration of new research paths in relation to the VLIR-UOS country strategies, or at the harvest of research results of ongoing or finished VLIR-UOS projects.
Course Level: This is a call for researchers/academics who wish to spend a short research stay (SRS), 90 days at most, at a university or university college in Flanders (Belgium). The SRS scholarships are therefore available for researchers wishing to prepare a research proposal (in preparation of a PhD (pre-doc) or a postdoc research), or broader to prepare a concept proposal for possible (new), tangible partnerships or new projects within existing partnerships.
Scholarship Provider: VLIR-UOS
Scholarship can be taken at: Belgium
Eligibility:
- Every applicant must comply with the general requirements as stated in the sections concerning ‘target group’ and ‘targeted output’.
- The applicant has obtained at least a Master’s degree before applying for the short research stay.
- The applicant does not receive any scholarship at the start of the SRS scholarship. Specifically for applicants of partner universities within ongoing IUC, OI, SI, and PRDC projects, the call is only open for people affiliated with departments which are not involved in the projects.
- The candidates shall not be staying in Belgium or Europe at the start of the SRS. People wishing to prolong their stay in Belgium are hence not eligible.
- An applicant can apply for the VLIR-UOS SRS scholarship (or the former PhD+ scholarship) more than once, only if a different output is targeted. In other words, one should finalize the targeted output (a PhD, a research proposal ready for submission, a scientific article or research paper) within the timeframe of one short research stay in order to be eligible for a next SRS call.
- The proposal for SRS must meet the layout and submission requirements as described in the section concerning the mode of application.
Scholarship Open for International Students: Applicants shall be nationals from broader country list (54 countries) used in the granting of individual VLIR-UOS scholarships: Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Nepal, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. Latin America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam and Uruguay.
Scholarship Description: This is a call for researchers / academics from Latin-America, Africa and Asia who wish to spend a short research stay (SRS), 90 days at most, at a university or university college in Flanders (Belgium). VLIR-UOS provides 30 SRS scholarships in total for a stay of 90 days at most. In case we receive many successful applications for shorter periods of stay than 90 days, the total amount of scholarships can increase. The short research stay should aim either at the exploration of new research paths in relation to the VLIR-UOS country strategies, or at the harvest of research results of ongoing or finished VLIR-UOS projects (IUC, OI/TEAM, SI, PRDC, ICP, ITP, STI, …). The country strategies identify main themes for all future interventions in the cooperation with a specific country. In countries with a strategy, it is to be expected that any project proposal does take into account the recommendations that have been defined in all of these country strategies. In doing so, VLIR-UOS can further elaborate a country specific intervention map thus offering higher visibility of actions and results, improved donor coordination (synergy, harmonisation and alignment), improved promotion of Flemish Higher Education and increased societal impact.
Number of award(s): VLIR-UOS provides 30 SRS scholarships in total for a stay of 90 days at most.
Duration of award(s): The short research stay should start before the 31st of March 2014, and can last 90 days at most.
What does it cover? Per selected candidate, VLIR-UOS will provide a short term allowance per day for the total duration of the period of stay (90 days at most), according to the Allowances and Guidelines for Scholarships 2013. One airline return ticket in economy class is reimbursed, as well as indirect travel costs, insurance and accommodation costs, as stipulated in the Scholarship guidelines. No conference participation will be reimbursed. An awarded SRS scholarship does not imply any guarantee towards other funding. Payments to the scholar are not directly made by VLIR-UOS. VLIR-UOS transfers all funds concerned to the respective Flemish Associations, who are responsible for paying the allowances, bench fees and insurance.
Selection Criteria: The proposals will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- The relevance of this short research stay in terms of its applicability for the development of or the social change within the scholar’s home country as well as to the institution with which the applicant is affiliated;
- The feasibility of the proposal in terms of delivering the desired output;
- The personal motivation of the candidate, indicating the added value of spending additional time in Belgium instead of in the home country;
- The support by the supervisor affiliated with a Flemish university or university college, as stated in his/her support letter.
If one of these selection criteria is negatively assessed, the proposal cannot be funded. In case of an ex aequo, priority can be given to female candidates or proposals within the domain of human sciences or, in case of exploration proposals, to proposals in the priority countries of VLIRUOS.
Notification:
Notification of the final selection results to the ICOS: 20 November 2013
Notification of the selection results to the candidates: End of November 2013
How to Apply: The applicant submits the proposal in electronic version to the International Coordinator for Development Cooperation (ICOS) of the University Association with which the professor or lecturer is affiliated, before October 25, 2013. A proposal for SRS includes the following:
- The application form for the short research stay
- A brief curriculum vitae of the applicant
- A support letter by a professor or lecturer at a Flemish university or university college
Scholarship Application Deadline: Proposals for SRS-scholarships can be submitted by 25 October 2013 at 9 a.m.
