BU Research Blog

Category / international

May 22, 2017

HE policy update w/e 19th May 2017

Global engagement, innovation, international, policy, Research news, Student Engagement jforster

This week we have a focus on the manifestos but some other interesting things first:

Data protection within data analytics – The Information Commissioner has opened a formal investigation to assess the potential risk to data protection when using data analytics for political purposes. It will consider the practices deployed during the UK’s EU Referendum campaign and potentially also in other campaigns. As the data is transnational the investigation will explore how companies operating internationally deploy such practices with impact or handling of data in the UK. The priority is to uphold the rights of individuals and ensure that political campaigners and companies providing services to political parties operate within UK law. The timing of the investigation alongside the election campaigning is coincidental.

Have you submitted evidence to a select committee? – Parliament is currently reaching out to researchers who have submitted evidence to any select committee in the past. They aim to understand more about researchers needs to redesign the parliamentary website making it easier to use. They are investigating:

Individual’s interest in UK Parliament select committees
Individual’s experience of submitting evidence to UK Parliament select committees
What’s difficult or confusing in relation to UK Parliament select committees

If you have submitted select committee evidence and wish to provide feedback you can schedule a discussion regarding your experience by emailing outreach@parliament.uk or calling 020 7219 1650.

General Election 2017 – You can read our summary of each manifesto’s commitments to HE, Apprenticeships/Technical Education, Schools Policy, Industrial Strategy and Migration here.

On migration in particular, Politics Home reports on the Frontbench rebellion – every senior minister in Theresa May’s Cabinet is said to be opposed to her aim of reducing net migration. George Osborne calls the policy “economically illiterate”. Also covered by The Telegraph.

On the conservative manifesto and HE, HEPI have a blog by Nick Hillman “Forward, together or more of the same”, with a link to this Education Policy Institute paper by Professor Alison Wolf (2016) “Remaking Tertiary Education”.

Labour:

Will reintroduce maintenance grants for university students.
Will abolish university tuition fees.
Health training:
- Will re-introduce bursaries and funding for health-related degrees.
- Will continue to support all training routes for social workers, including initial social work training provided within or accredited by a higher education institution.
- Will invest in the training, education and development of doctors, throughout their careers.
Will seek to remain part of Horizon 2020
Will immediately guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals living in Britain and secure reciprocal rights for UK citizens living in EU countrie Guaranteeing the rights of EU staff working in health and care services gets a specific mention.
Will end freedom of movement when the UK leaves the European Union
Will introduce a new migration system based on economic needs, balancing controls and existing entitlements. This may include employer sponsorship, work permits, visa regulations or a tailored mix. International students will not be included in immigration statistics.
Will create an innovation nation – ODEC target of 3% of GDP spent on research and development by 2030. Also a separate commitment to grow business by “commuting extra research investment”
Will identify strategic industries and establish councils to oversee the security and growth of each sector
Will appoint a Digital Ambassador to work with industry to encourage investment in technology firms, and provide support for start-ups to scale up
Will improve diversity in the film industry
Will introduce a £1 billion Cultural Capital Fund to upgrade existing cultural and creative infrastructure to be ready for the digital age.
Commits to supporting tourism and will reinstate the cross-Whitehall ministerial group on tourism.
Ban unpaid internships.

Conservative:

The manifesto tackles the ‘five giant challenges’ which are:

a strong economy (the industrial strategy working for everyone),
Brexit,
social mobility/enduring inequality of opportunity,
an ageing society, and
fast changing technology.

Universities to sponsor local schools and open opportunities to local people – it will be a condition for universities hoping to charge maximum tuition fees to become involved in academy sponsorship or the founding of free schools
Launch a major review of funding across the whole of tertiary education (college, university and vocational courses)
Encourage clusters of public services, private businesses and, where appropriate, universities supported by moving civil/public servants (including the senior posts) out of the south-east to other UK cities.
University investment funds – universities will lead the expansion of Research & Development capacity. The Conservatives plan to help universities make a success of their discoveries through larger, aggregated investment funds – replicating the success of similar university funds in the US. “We want universities to enjoy the commercial fruits of their research, through funds that are large enough to list, thereby giving British investors a chance to share in their success.”
Encourage the world to visit, study and do business in the UK through the GREAT Britain campaign and Visit Britain.
Deliver autumn statement promises for investment in research and development, and further growth to meet the current OECD average for investment in R&D (2.4% of GDP) within ten years, with a longer-term goal of 3%.
Increase the number of scientists working in the UK and enable leading scientists from around the world to work here.
Bursaries for prospective teachers to attract top graduates into teaching
For new teachers ‘offer forgiveness’ on student loan repayments while actively teaching
Toughen the visa requirements for students – and include overseas students in the immigration statistics
Take recommendation from Migration Advisory Committee on aligning the visa system with the industrial strategy. Potentially reserving significant numbers of visas for significant sectors, e.g. digital technology, without increasing net migration overall
Immediately redress economic skills shortage needs, ensuring the immigration system works for these sections, positioned within a longer term skills development policy for the future
Double the Immigration Skills Charge levied on companies employing migrant workers to £2,000 a year by end of next parliament – reinvesting the revenue generated for higher level skills training for UK workers
Reduce annual net migration to the tens of thousands
Introduce the right to lifelong learning in digital skills (akin to the literacy & numeracy programme).
Make further use of the creative industries tax credits scheme, in order to promote and grow the online media industry

Plus many things already proposed by the last government in various recent green/white papers and consultations on education and schools, technical education and the industrial strategy– e.g. T-levels, institutes of technology, apprenticeships, grammar schools, maths schools, R&D focus through industrial strategy funding,.

Liberal Democrats:

The Lib Dems have already confirmed they will not form part of a coalition if June’s election results in a hung parliament.

Commitment to a second Europe referendum, with an option to stay in the EU.
Reinstate university maintenance grants for the poorest students, including student nurse bursaries
Establish a review of higher education finance in the next parliament, with an eye to reform based on consideration of access, participation and quality impact evidence.
No more retrospective raising of repayment rates, or selling-off of student loans to private companies.
Ensure that all universities work to widen participation across the sector, prioritising work with students in schools and colleges. Requirement for transparency of admissions selection criteria.
Establish a system for credit transfer and recognition of prior learning and qualifications
Reinstate quality assurance for universities applying for degree awarding powers. (p31)
Create individual learning accounts for funding mature adult and part-time learning and training (likely to be primarily within FE sector).
Fast-track exceptional graduates into children’s social work and mental health social work
Press for the UK to unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU nationals in the UK. Simplify registration process for EU nationals to obtain permanent residence and UK citizenship. Obtain the same rights for UK citizens living in European Union countries
A manifesto commitment to retain access to Horizon 2020 and Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions fund. Guarantee to underwrite funding for EU-funded projects (e.g. Horizon 2020) where income is cancelled through Brexit. Campaign against reduction in investment in UK universities and for their right to apply for EU funds on equal terms (Brexit).
Protect the science budget, including the recent £2bn increase, by raising it at least in line with inflation. Double innovation and research spending across the economy in the long term.
Scrap the planned expansion of grammar schools, opposing any new selective schools and passing democratic control and funding for admissions and new schools back to local authorities.
Establish a new online Family University (collaboration with BBC and Open University).
Devolve power to ensure local autonomy “with real financial muscle” to tackle the regional divide, including devolving decision-making for the key economic development levers of transport, housing and skills.
Develop a new retail and business strategy and national skills strategy for key sectors
Create more ‘catapult’ innovation and technology centres..

May 18, 2017

Congratulations to Dr. Pramod Regmi now Visiting Faculty at Datta Meghe Inst. Med. Sci. [India]

BU research, Featured academics, Festival of Learning, Global engagement, international, Research communication, Research news Edwin van Teijlingen

Congratulations to Dr. Pramod Regmi on his appointment as Visiting Research Fellow in International Health at Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences which is part of Deemed University in Maharashtra, India. Dr. Regmi is currently Post-Doctoral Researcher and Early Career Researcher in the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinal Health (CMMPH).

Over the past year FHSS has submitted several grant applications with academics based at Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences. Moreover, we are running a joint BU-Datta Neghe project in Maharashtra on the health and well-being of Nepali migrant workers in India. This collaborative migration project was highlighted in the recent Festival of Learning India presentations in New Delhi. Dr. Regmi has published several papers on Nepali migrant workers and their health and well-being.

Well done!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
CMMPH

May 16, 2017

Newton Fund latest calls

Funding opportunities, international Emily Cieciura

The British Council have announced that the latest calls available under the Newton Fund are now open or forthcoming:

6 September 2017	12pm BST	NEW! MALAYSIA – UK-Malaysia Urban Innovation Challenge (Innovate UK)
APPLICATIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS		TURKEY – Fellowships for UK Researchers (British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society)
Forthcoming		FORTHCOMING: CHINA – UK-China Joint Research and Innovation Partnership Fund PhD Placement Programme (British Council)
Forthcoming		FORTHCOMING: INDIA – Bio-technological solutions for reducing industrial waste (BBSRC, EPSRC)
Forthcoming		FORTHCOMING: CHINA – UK-China Agri-Tech (BBSRC)
Forthcoming		FORTHCOMING: INDIA – Ganga Delta – Bay of Bengal Interactions (NERC)
Forthcoming		FORTHCOMING: INDONESIA – Wallacea understanding biodiversity and evolutionary responses to environmental change (NERC)
Forthcoming		FORTHCOMING: SOUTH EAST ASIA – Increasing resilience to hydrometeorological hazards (NERC)

<\br>

If you are interested in applying to any of these calls then please contact your RKEO Funding Development Officer, in the first instance.

May 15, 2017

FP9 Event: Science|Business

EU, Global engagement, innovation, international, Knowledge Exchange Emily Cieciura

New world order: Science, technology & trade

Shaping the next Framework Programme

The world is changing fast. Will technology trade barriers rise? Will relations among Europe, the US, China, Russia and other powers be upended? Will research priorities change – for climate, energy, health, defence? All of these questions will force new strategies for companies, universities and governments around the world.

The annual Science|Business Network conference will focus on how international relations in science, technology and trade could be transformed – and how these changes will, in turn, affect the EU’s next flagship R&D effort, Framework Programme 9.

Registration is open.

For more information please see the Science|Business website and their other events in 2017

May 11, 2017

Resolving and transforming conflict

BU research, Global engagement, international, Knowledge Exchange, Women's Academic Network Jonathan Parker

Everyone experiences conflict in life. How we deal about it is different, however. Various forms of conflict and strategies of facing them was the topic of a recent workshop organised by Professor Gabriel Schäfer, from University of Applied Sciences, Bremen in Germany. Her talk and workshop on conflict and conflict resolution has been organised over three days by Professsor Jonathan Parker of the Department of Social Sciences and Social Work.

Professor Schäfer argued that conflict resolution happens in different ways because conflict is related to aggression and as human beings we have different ways of expressing our aggression. What we need to remember in resolving the conflicts is to acknowledge that firstly our individual personalities are different (some face conflict and some want to let it go), and secondly there are cultural differences that may cause these conflicts go deeper. As it happens, relationships between couples from different cultures break up more often than those where partners have shared history, background and cultural attributes. However, in the workshop, we tried and tested different strategies that help us to not to diminish but to manage these personal and cultural differences.

Professor Schäfer presented three excellent workshops to staff and students on professionally qualifying and pure academic programmes. At a time of heightened tensions across the world learning effective ways of dealing with conflict is, of course, very important. It is central to working and living in our increasingly diverse and multi-cultural world and allows us to disagree, argue and resolve differences in constructive rather than destructive ways.

Dr Masi Fathi and Prof Jonathan Parker

May 8, 2017

HE Policy update w/e 5th May 2017

EU, Global engagement, international, policy, Research news, Student Engagement jforster

GE2017: The Prime Minister, Theresa May, used her dissolution speech to focus on the challenge of Brexit in the face of hard lining from Brussels.

The release dates of the parties’ manifestos have not been officially announced, however they are expected:

Conservatives – during week commencing 8 May
Labour – Monday 15 May
Lib Dems – “within a fortnight” (so by 18 May)
Green Party – unconfirmed
UKIP – end of May

Conservatives: The Conservatives have closed ranks during the manifesto preparation period with Theresa May directly overseeing manifesto policy whilst on the campaign trail. There has been little in the way of leaked policy and the Conservatives campaigning to date has barely featured the HE agenda (unsurprising given that the Bill has passed and there has been so much discussion in recent months).

Conservative manifesto pledges that are already announced focus on foreign aid, an energy price cap, a promise to help ‘ordinary working families’ and leading Britain successfully through Brexit.
Also expected are commitments on grammar schools, encouraging a selective stream within comprehensive schools, addressing the social care funding crisis, and Britain’s industrial innovation and competitiveness.
It is expected that the manifesto will support apprenticeships aiming to create 3 million apprenticeships funded by benefit cuts and enforce that NEETS (young people out of work, education or training for six months) will have to do unpaid community work to get benefits (this is c.50,000 18 to 21-year-olds).

Jo Johnson has been active and continues to reiterate the key policies from the last Parliament.

While the Conservatives continue to include students within net migration figures Johnson informed THE that vice-chancellors should concentrate their attention elsewhere: “I think the sector should focus on selling the positive message, which is that…there is no better country in the world in which to study than the UK… [Otherwise] we risk creating exactly the situation which we’re trying to avoid, which is deterring students from coming to study here – by endlessly saying that we’re closed for business. We’re not. We’re open for business, and there’s no limit on the number who can come and study here.”
The THE article also sees Jo Johnson nod to the debate about students as consumers. He states the Office for Students will put “the student interest and the interests of the taxpayer underwriting the system and the interests of employers getting graduates at the other end of it really at the heart of everything that it does… In that sense, we’re moving towards a system in which we have a classic regulated market… since tuition fees replaced direct public funding as the primary source of higher education funding …students are effectively taking on the liabilities as consumers”

Jo Johnson’s response to two parliamentary questions reiterates the already known research commitment:

“The Government is fully committed to maintaining the UK’s world-leading science, research and higher education base” (parliamentary question)
“The Autumn Statement 2016 announcement of an extra £2 billion a year in research and development by 2020-21 underlines the place of science and innovation at the heart of this Government’s industrial strategy” (parliamentary question)

Labour: Labour have shared more of their forthcoming manifesto than the Conservatives, and education, across all ages, is a central tenet of Labour’s campaigning.

Labour has committed to restore university maintenance grants and the FE Educational Maintenance Allowance. However, they have sidestepped recent questions on HE fees prior to their manifesto release.
Previously both Corbyn and John McDonnell stated they wished to abolish tuition fees. Interestingly, a recent HEPI poll highlighted only 35% of students believe Labour would follow through on fee abolition and reintroduction of grants if they gained power.
Labour have also stated they will refuse to grant business rate relief to independent schools unless they can show a “meaningful impact” on state schools through a new School Partnership Standard, for example by lending teaching staff or assisting in university admissions procedures.
Corbyn also focuses on the mental health of young people, social care funding and the NHS.
On immigration the BBC report Labour plan ‘smarter targets to reduce low-skilled migration but ensure university students and high-skilled workers are not deterred’. Regarding apprenticeships Labour aim to equal the numbers of young people on apprenticeships as currently go to university, by 2025.

Jeremy Corbyn in a speech to the National Association of Head Teachers:

“Labour is making our children’s education one of the cornerstones of our General Election campaign… Labour will introduce a National Education Service, ensuring excellent learning opportunities for all from early years to adult education …we set out in no uncertain terms our opposition to the expansion of grammar schools in this country…The task is clear: we must build an education system that suits the needs of our children and the opportunities they will have in the jobs market of tomorrow…. We are also committed to restoring maintenance grants for university students so that no one is held back from realising their ambitions and so that every schoolchild knows that the options of further and higher Education are available to them. We must not be ashamed to value education, for education’s own sake.”

Lib Dems: The Lib Dems are committed to and push for national debate on the key issues, yet seem to feature less in media coverage. While they have currently not declared their position on students and immigration status they do state: “We reject the isolationist and intolerant policies of the Tory Brexit government, and will fight to make Britain a more open and tolerant player on the global stage.” On apprenticeships they plan to create a million more jobs, with higher pay for the lowest paid apprentices.

UKIP: UKIP policy aims to scrap tuition fees for students from poorer backgrounds who take degree courses in the sciences, technology, maths or engineering. It places greater emphasis on vocational education through a new Apprenticeship Qualification Option. Lastly, they would permit universities to charge same amount for EU students as non-EU students

Green Party: The Green party is expected to campaign for free education, a higher universal living wage and increased investment in mental health services. So far they have declared a student-friendly set of policies including abolishing tuition fees and bringing back maintenance grants.

Brexit: Brexit is the key topic for GE2017. Last week’s Education Select Committee report into Brexit and HE highlights the pivotal issues for HE as:

Regional Growth Fund negotiations
Horizon 2020 and research frameworks
Erasmus+ programme
EU staff residency rights and an easier non-Tier 2 route for academics from around the world
EU student visa free access

Student voting: In the news this week is HEPI’s poll of 1,000 full time undergraduate students on their voting preferences.

The poll demonstrates considerable support for the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn, yet, of those planning to vote, a majority will consider voting tactically
93% of students say they are registered to vote. Most students expect to vote at home rather than at university
the most important issues to students are the EU and the NHS
students have not forgiven the Liberal Democrats for breaking their promise on tuition fees (in the past Lib Dems were the most popular party for students)
students are distrustful of the Labour leadership’s support for abolishing tuition fees and bringing back maintenance grants

“Labour, Coalition and Conservative Governments have all backed tuition fees in recent times. The challenge for Labour is whether to include the end of fees and the return of grants in their manifesto when half of students regard such pledges as worthless.” (Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI)

Universities UK have published their priorities for the general election. They ask all political parties to continue to support universities by adopting policies to facilitate and enhance their economic, social and cultural benefits alongside their global competitiveness and post-Brexit impact.

The five priorities are:

Securing an effective post-Brexit settlement for universities
1. Confirm rights to reside and work for EU national currently within the sector; minimal barriers for EU staff and students in post-Brexit immigration
2. Horizon 2020 continued participation
3. Influence and access to 9^th Framework Programme
4. Continued access to Erasmus+ and other mobility programmes
Supporting universities in their role as anchors for growth in local economies
1. Increase Higher Education Innovation Fund investment to min £250 million pa
2. Develop collaborative institutes (local collaboration between universities, FE and schools particularly focusing on high-level technical education skills)
3. Replace the European Structural Investment Funds
4. Sustainable funding for growing higher-level apprenticeships demand
5. Improved careers support for young people
Increasing funding for science, research and innovation to match our competitors
1. Real terms increase in research funding (aim – 3% of GDP), ring fenced.
2. Enhance support and funding for international research collaboration through a cross-government strategy
3. Maintain 0.7% commitment for research, innovation and capacity building projects for developing countries
Supporting world-leading teaching, student experience, and improving outcomes
1. Students access good quality information, including TEF
2. Maintain real terms funding for high-cost subjects, e.g. STEM
3. Social mobility supported through data coherence between schools and universities
4. Funding to improve student mental health
An effective immigration system
1. Simplified and improved visa regimes
2. Robust, reliable, published data on the number of international students and overstaying
3. Reclassify so international students are not considered long-term migrants
4. Invest in an international student growth strategy supporting international marketing, mobility and partnerships
5. Enhance opportunities for qualified international graduates to stay in the UK
6. Consistently communicate a welcoming message to international students and staff

Other policy news

The Lords Science and Technology Committee wrote to Greg Clark to urge for clarity within a strong Industrial Strategy rather than the current green paper, which “resembles a portfolio of tactics rather than a coherent strategy”. The letter frequently references the role of universities in the delivery of a good industrial strategy.

“The strategy should set out pathways of practical steps to a more productive, environmentally sustainable, regionally disperse economy in the UK, building on existing research excellence at every opportunity. The Green Paper provides some long term aspirations but lacks detail on how to reach them and on how success will be measured.”
The letter continues:
“The Committee was particularly surprised to see little emphasis, and no coherent approach, to tax and regulation for industry and science. These dimensions, together with the availability of “patient” finance and appropriate skills, are key elements of the relationship between government, businesses and universities. … The government must create a new partnership with industry and universities in order for the industrial strategy to be effective. This cannot be a partnership with only the usual suspects from industry. This partnership must also include new and emerging sectors.”
It also calls on government to address the VAT disincentive which, when universities and business co-locate, leaves the university with a large tax bill.

The Sutton Trust have published their 2017 Mobility Manifesto

Finally, on 27 April the Lords rejected the motion to regret the change to student loans from NHS bursaries for nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students. The motion was disagreed by 38 votes. (Content: 121; Not Content 159)

May 5, 2017

Writing workshops in Nepal

BU research, Featured academics, Global engagement, international, open access, Publishing, Research communication, Training, Uncategorized, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Yesterday and today we offered sessions on academic writing and publishing at two different higher education institutions in Kathmandu. Yesterday we run a session for staff and postgraduate students at Tribhuvan University, in the Department of Health, Physical & Population Education. Staff in the Department of Health, Physical & Population Education are our Nepali key collaborators in a THET-funded project aiming to improve mental health training in community-based maternity care providers in the south of Nepal.

Today’s workshop was held at Manmahon Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS). BU’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences has been running joint research projects with MMIHS for the past three or four years. The sessions are jointly run with BU’s Visiting Professor Padam Simkhada, who is based at Liverpool John Moores University. These workshops are capacity-building among academics and students in Nepal.

Our sessions are based on our experience in academic writing as well as that of acting as peer reviewers and journal editors. Our sessions are also linked to some of the papers we have published ourselves on the process of academic writing. [1-8] Most of these publications on publishing are in Open Access journals. Hence papers are freely available anybody in Nepal, and elsewhere in the world, of course.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

Hall, J., Hundley, V., van Teijlingen, E. (2015) The journal editor: friend or foe? Women & Birth 28(2): e26-e29.
Hundley, V, van Teijlingen, E, Simkhada, P (2013) Academic authorship: who, why and in what order? Health Renaissance 11 (2):98-101 www.healthrenaissance.org.np/uploads/Download/vol-11-2/Page_99_101_Editorial.pdf
Pitchforth, E, Porter M, Teijlingen van E, Keenan Forrest, K.. (2005) Writing up & presenting qualitative research in family planning & reproductive health care, J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 31(2): 132-135.
Simkhada P, van Teijlingen E, Hundley V. (2013) Writing an academic paper for publication, Health Renaissance 11 (1):1-5. www.healthrenaissance.org.np/uploads/Pp_1_5_Guest_Editorial.pdf
van Teijlingen, E., Ireland, J., Hundley, V., Simkhada, P., Sathian, B. (2014) Finding the right title for your article: Advice for academic authors, Nepal J Epidemiol 4(1): 344-347.
van Teijlingen, E., Hundley, V., Bick, D. (2014) Who should be an author on your academic paper? Midwifery 30: 385-386.
Teijlingen van, E, Simkhada, PP, Rizyal A (2012) Submitting a paper to an academic peer-reviewed journal, where to start? (Guest Editorial) Health Renaissance 10 (1): 1-4.
Teijlingen van, E, Simkhada. PP, Simkhada, B, Ireland J. (2012) The long & winding road to publication, Nepal J Epidemiol 2(4): 213-215 http://nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/7093/6388

May 3, 2017

Training workshop for nurses in Nepal

BU research, Featured academics, Global engagement, international, Knowledge Exchange, Publishing, Research communication, Training, Uncategorized, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

On Monday May 1st, the Bank Holiday Monday, we were invited to give three separate training sessions for the Nepal Nursing Council and (hosted by) the Nursing Association of Nepal. The three separate topics were (a) maternal mental health and its relevance to nursing in Nepal; (b) conducting focus group research in nursing; and (c) publishing for nurses in international journals. The international team presenting these three sessions comprised Dr. Andrew Lee from the University of Sheffield (photo top), Dr. Bibha Simkhada (photo bottom) from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) who is also Visiting Faculty in BU’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences. Further members of the teaching team comprised LJMU Prof. Padam Simkhada and also BU Visiting Professor and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen in the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health (CMMPH).

The presentations were well received and the practical part of the focus group training generated a lively discussion. In their teaching the presenters used a range of papers they had published in the three areas: maternal mental health based on a recently funded THET project, [1-3] writing for publication, [4-11] and focus group research. [12-14] The session was concluded with the inevitable certificate of attendance.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

References:

Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen E., Winter, RC., Fanning, C., Dhungel, A., Marahatta SB. (2015) Why are so many Nepali women killing themselves? Review of key issues Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 1(4): 43-49. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JMMIHS/article/view/12001
Simkhada, B., Sharma, G., Pradhan, S., van Teijlingen, E., Ireland, J., Simkhada, P., Devkota, B. & the THET team. (2016) Needs assessment of mental health training for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives: a cross-sectional survey, Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 2(1): 20-26. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JMMIHS/article/view/15793/12738
Simkhada, P.P., van Teijlingen, E., Marahatta, S.B. (2015) Mental health services in Nepal: Is it too late? (editorial) Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 1(4): 1-2.
van Teijlingen, E., Hundley, V. (2002) Getting your paper to the right journal: a case study of an academic paper, Journal of Advanced Nursing 37(6): 506-511.
Pitchforth, E, Porter, M, van Teijlingen, ER, Forrest Keenan K. (2005) Writing up and presenting qualitative research in family planning & reproductive health care, Journal of Family Planning & Reproductive Health Care 31(2): 132-35. http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/31/2/132.full.pdf+html
van Teijlingen E., Simkhada. P.P., Simkhada, B., Ireland, J. (2012) The long & winding road to publication, Nepal Journal Epidemiology 2(4): 213-215 http://nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/7093/6388
Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E., Hundley, V. (2013) Writing an academic paper for publication, Health Renaissance 11(1): 1-5. www.healthrenaissance.org.np/uploads/Pp_1_5_Guest_Editorial.pdf
Hundley, V., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P. (2013) Academic authorship: who, why and in what order? Health Renaissance 11(2): 98-101 www.healthrenaissance.org.np/uploads/Download/vol-11-2/Page_99_101_Editorial.pdf
van Teijlingen, E., Ireland, J., Hundley, V., Simkhada, P., Sathian, B. (2014) Finding the right title for your article: Advice for academic authors, Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 4(1): 344-347. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/10138/8265
van Teijlingen, E., Hundley, V., Bick, D. (2014) Who should be an author on your academic paper? Midwifery 30: 385-386.
Hall, J., Hundley, V., van Teijlingen, E. (2015) The journal editor: friend or foe? Women & Birth 28(2): e26-e29.
Collard, S., van Teijlingen, E. (2016) Online focus group: New approaches to an ‘old’ research method, Health Prospect 15(3):4-7. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/HPROSPECT/article/view/16327/13256
van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P., Stephen, J. (2013) Doing focus groups in the health field: Some lessons from Nepal, Health Prospect 12(1): 15-17. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/HPROSPECT/article/view/8722/7111
van Teijlingen E., Pitchforth, E. (2006) Focus Group Research in Family Planning & Reproductive Health Care, Journal of Family Planning & Reproductive Health Care 32(1): 30-32.

May 2, 2017

COST Action news – your opportunity to join up!

EU, Funding opportunities, Global engagement, international Emily Cieciura

From wearable robots to black holes: get to know the 25 COST networks that kicked off this spring

Throughout March and April, events took place for over 600 researchers and specialists from all over the continent, involved in 25 new networks. The 25 kick-offs were a chance for them to meet and set out their networks’ goals and priorities. The Actions will receive an estimated EUR 13 million for the usual timeframe of 4 years, helping them put their research networking activities into practice.

All the Actions include researchers and specialists from a broad range of scientific fields. Almost half of the network leaders (48%) indicated their research covered at least two main OECD fields of science and technology. Roughly half of the Actions (44%) mainly touch on natural sciences and medical and health sciences, while 24% are working in the field of engineering and technology and social sciences. The other Actions cover Agricultural sciences (16%) and humanities (4%).

Some of the topics include:

– personalised therapies for teenagers with mental disorders

– MRI biomarkers for diagnosing and treating chronic kidney disease

– wearable robots augmenting human motor functions

– crowdsourcing for language learning

– imaging techniques used in forensic science

– gravitational waves and black holes

Many of the above are relevant to researchers at BU.

The networks are growing, so if you are interested in playing an active role in an Action’s core group, find out more.

If you would like to simply participate in an Action’s networking activities, have a look at the COST networking tools first:

Contact your preferred Action’s Chair for details on how to sign up for such activities in the coming months.

See the whole list of new 25 COST Actions here (scroll down to see the links on this page)

If you are already involved in a COST Action, please contact Emily Cieciura, RKEO’s Research Faciltiator: EU & International, so that we can share your experience.

May 2, 2017

HE policy update w/e 28th April 2017

EU, Global engagement, international, policy, Research communication, Research news jforster

The Higher Education and Research Bill – now the Higher Education and Research Act 2017– was finally passed on Thursday. As expected, the House of Commons rejected the Lords amendments, including those relating to the TEF and international students. The government did propose a number of amendments to address some of the issues raised in the Lords, and having been approved in the Commons, these were approved by the Lords, after some discussion.

Although the Lords amendment removing the link between TEF and fees was rejected, the new amendment postpones the differentiated fee arrangements (which would have taken effect in 2019/20, using TEF year 3 ratings) until at least 2020/21.
Another amendment has changed the approval process for inflation raised increases to fees, which will now need approval by both Houses of Parliament (instead of the current “negative” procedure).
TEF year 2 will be subject to a formal and independent review, which will go beyond the “lessons learned” exercise that had been announced before. This will include a review of the ratings and the public interest benefit of the TEF – so may result in substantial changes.
The Office for Students (OfS) can require cooperation between higher education providers and electoral officers a condition of registration – this was to address the amendment inserted by the Lords.

The OfS must take advice from the designated quality assurance body when awarding degree awarding powers (DAPs) and must notify the Secretary of State when granting DAPs to institutions that haven’t previously had a validation agreement with another higher education provider or the OfS.
When authorising use of ‘university’ title, the Secretary of State and OfS must consult with the representative bodies of higher education providers and students.
The grounds for appealing a registration decision by the OfS have been broadened to address a rather woolly amendment in the Lords about appealing decisions because they were “wrong”.
The new transparency duties will now include information that will be “helpful” for prospective international students.

Universities UK and GuildHE wrote a joint letter which generally supported the amendments and the Bill.

Teaching Excellence Framework: So despite hopes that the Lords amendments might result in more sweeping changes to the TEF, we will need to wait until the review, and an opportunity to provide feedback in the summer once the year 2 results have been published.

No more announcements have been made about subject level TEF which was due to be piloted over 2 years – starting with year 3, with submissions due in January 2018. With the general election holding up the year 2 results, timing for the review and guidance for year 3 will be very tight.

Subject to approval in each year, it seems likely now that all universities in the TEF will be able to raise fees by inflation in 2018/19 and 2019/20. It is important to remember that any university that does not qualify for TEF or chooses not to participate will have its fees capped at £9000 – the rises from previous years cannot be banked.

It was originally proposed that year 2 ratings (now due in June 2017) would last for three years – so unless there is a radical overhaul and everyone is required to resubmit in year 3, it seems likely that in year 3 participation may be restricted to those universities who choose to resubmit in the hope of increasing their ratings. So it will be interesting to see what happens to the pilot for subject level, whether more than one model is tested and whether participation is optional.

Universities UK published a blog clarifying the impact on fees after some sensational headlines linked to the Bill.

EU and International Students: The biggest issue in the Bill for UUK and GuildHE, and the issue most debated in the Lords on Thursday was international students. The long awaited consultation won’t happen now until after the election, we’ll see how quickly it will happen then – and what is said in the manifesto.

The House of Commons Education select committee report on the impact of Brexit on HE which recommended an immigration system that facilitates the needs of higher education, including a specialist route for academics other than Tier 2.

UUK have published a report on International Research Collaboration After the UK Leaves the European Union.

Benefits of Research Collaboration:

Cross-nation collaboration increases citations and combined talents produce more innovative and useful outcome.
The paper emphasises that the researchers themselves need to drive the collaboration. Sectors have different needs and Britain needs to collaborate with the countries with the richest talent and expertise. Funding needs to be well-structured and flexible to allow this.
The paper says that the government should seek to access and influence the 9^th Framework Programme (the Horizon successor), alongside new funding sources to incentivise collaborations with high-quality research partners beyond the EU.
UUK call for a cross-government approach to supporting international research and the drawing together of the current disparate funding mechanisms.

Collaborative Partners

The report notes that “Research undertaken with EU partners like Germany and France is growing faster than with other countries – hence while it is vital that the UK takes every opportunity to be truly global in their outlook, the importance of collaboration with EU partners should not be underestimated”.
Almost all the growth in research output in the last 30 years has been brought about by international partnership.

Addressing Collaborative Barriers

Addressing the barriers to research collaboration is more than just funding, the report calls for:

Better information on capabilities and strength of UK researchers
National policy frameworks of all partners must be flexible enough to support international exchange, enabling critical human resources – including technical expertise – to flow between systems.
The report highlights South Korea and Taiwan as attractive collaborators because of their research-intensive economies, strong technology investment, excellent university system, and high-English speaking rate. However, collaboration is challenged by geography, proximity and cultural differences. UUK report that communication problems are a key barrier alongside the uncertainty about research profiles of UK universities and significant differences in research governance.
Policy and funding stability is essential – partners need to have confidence that the policy and funding environment will not be subject to unexpected or dramatic change after they have invested the time and resources necessary to develop productive and beneficial partnerships. Stability and certainty in both policy and funding environment is a key facilitator.
Bilateral agreements with defined funding facilitated by a coordinated application process – the report effectively highlights the difficulties of ‘double jeopardy’ (Roberts, 2006) whereby all partners need to individually secure funding across a sustaining period to both commence and fully complete. Individuals make research choices that further their career and are fundable.
Furthermore, UK research funding beyond the EU is highly dependent on the ODA budget which limits research themes and fundable countries. Post Brexit the UK needs new money without ODA type restrictions to support collaborations with partners not eligible for EU funds.

Note: UUK have also released a second report on whether free trade agreements can enhance opportunities for UK higher education post Brexit.

May 1, 2017

THET-funded mental health training dissemination in Kathmandu

BU research, Featured academics, Global engagement, international, Knowledge Exchange, open access, Uncategorized, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

On the last day of April we presented our key findings from the THET-funded project on Mental Health Training for Rural Community-based Maternity Care Workers in Nepal. The session in Hotel Yak & Yeti in central Kathmandu was jointly organised by Tribhuvan University with Bournemouth University and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Mental health is high on the global agenda and increasingly so in Nepal. Mental health in pregnant women and new mothers is increasing recognised across the world. However, for many people in Nepal mental health problems are still difficult topics to discuss.

The team presented slides on mental health in maternity care issue, the curriculum review, the intervention and the volunteers and various aspects of the evaluation. The slide (below) highlighting a few mishaps with UK volunteers definitely got the most laughs.

The three universities have been working together training Auxiliary Nurse Midwives in Nawalparasi on key aspects of mental health and mental health promotion. The project led by Bournemouth University was funded under the Health Partnership Scheme (HPS) which is managed by a London-based organisation called THET (Tropical Health & Education Trust).

Prof. Vanora Hundley from FHSS was one of the key speakers commenting on the intervention, the research and its findings. The audience also heard from two of the ANMs who had been in the training and the chief nurse in the district about there views on the UK volunteers and their training sessions. To date the work has resulted in three academic publications, all are Open Access journals. [1-3]

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

References:

Simkhada, B., Sharma, G., Pradhan, S., van Teijlingen, E., Ireland, J., Simkhada, P., Devkota, B. & the THET team. (2016) Needs assessment of mental health training for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives: a cross-sectional survey, Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 2(1): 20-26. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JMMIHS/article/view/15793/12738
Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen E., Winter, R.C., Fanning, C., Dhungel, A., Marahatta S.B. (2015) Why are so many Nepali women killing themselves? A review of key issues Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 1(4): 43-49. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JMMIHS/article/view/12001
van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P., Devkota, B., Fanning, P., Ireland, J., Simkhada, B., Sherchan, L., Silwal, R.C., Pradhan, S., Maharjan, S.K., Maharjan, R.K. (2015) Mental health issues in pregnant women in Nepal. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 5(3): 499-501. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/13607/11007

April 27, 2017

European Maritime Day – May 2017

BU research, conferences, EU, Events, Festival of Learning, Funding opportunities, Global engagement, Impact, international, Knowledge Exchange Emily Cieciura

Poole is hosting this year’s European Maritime Day with the Future of the Seas conference taking place on 17th and 18th May, with associated events taking place over the weekend at the Poole Maritime Festival, inlcuding the Festival of Learning on tour

Former host cities include Brussels, Rome, Gothenburg, Athens and Bremen – it is great to have this event right on our doorstep this year. RKEO are delighted to have been awarded the opportuntity to host a workshop at this this prestigious conference:

Maritime Ideas Café

Introduction and objectives:

The Maritime Ideas Café will bring interested delegates together to promote collective thinking on key issues around the maritime agenda. With several relevant funding calls currently live, the workshop will generate ideas for shared research projects, ultimately aiming to develop into a proposal for funding.

The workshop will open with a short introduction to a range of current funding opportunities, followed by an overview from Bournemouth University researchers to outline key areas of interest. Delegates will then have the chance to discuss their own ideas in the context of the expertise in the room, explore common interests and create an action plan for future collaboration.

What’s it all about?

The aim of this ideas café is to bring interested people together to promote collective thinking on key issues around the maritime agenda. With several relevant funding calls currently live, the workshop will generate ideas for shared research projects, ultimately aiming to develop into a proposal for funding.

Current funding opportunities include:

How will it work?

The workshop will open with a short introduction to a range of current funding opportunities, followed by an overview from Bournemouth University researchers to outline key areas of interest. Delegates will then have the chance to discuss their own ideas in the context of the expertise in the room, explore common interests and create an action plan for future collaboration.

If you would like to attend this event, you will need to register on the external site (includes requirement for passport details).

You are most welcome to come along to the BU workshop – so that we can look out for you, please let Genna or Emily in RKEO know that you plan to be there!

April 26, 2017

UUK – International Research Collaboration After the UK Leaves the European Union

EU, Impact, international, policy, Research news, Uncategorized carters

UUK have published International Research Collaboration After the UK Leaves the European Union. The information below summarises the main thrust of the document.

Benefits of Research Collaboration

International collaboration is vital as it enables individual academics to increase their impact through pooling expertise and resources with other nations to tackle global challenges that no one country can tackle alone. Cross-nation collaboration increases citations and combined talents produce more innovative and useful outcomes.

The paper emphasises that the researchers themselves need to drive the collaboration and have choice. Selecting ‘Britain’s best new research partners’ is infeasible as sectors have different needs and Britain needs to collaborate with the countries with the richest talent and expertise. Funding needs to be well-structured and flexible to allow this.

The foreword on page 2 states “We should look to developing new networks and funding arrangements that support collaboration with major research powers” both within Europe and internationally. “The primary focus should be on delivering excellent research”, the government should seek to access and influence the 9^th Framework Programme (Horizon successor), alongside new funding sources to incentivise collaborations with high-quality research partners beyond the EU. UUK call for a cross-government approach to supporting international research and the drawing together of the current disparate funding mechanisms, including “promoting research collaboration opportunities as a central pillar of the UK’s offer to overseas governments and businesses.”

Collaborative Partners

While its important to work with both EU and non-EU partners the report notes that research with other EU member states collectively makes up the largest pool of collaborators. “Research undertaken with EU partners like Germany and France is growing faster than with other countries – hence while it is vital that the UK takes every opportunity to be truly global in their outlook, the importance of collaboration with EU partners should not be underestimated.”

Almost all the growth in research output in the last 30 years has been brought about by international partnership. In 1981 less than 5% of UK research publications had an overseas co-author. Whereas Figure 1 below demonstrates how collaboration has changed, illustrating how domestic output has plateaued and non-UK collaborations accounts for recent growth.

Figure 1: The trajectory of international co-authorship on research publications from Imperial, UCL, Cambridge and Oxford. (Data: source, Web of Science; analysis, King’s College Policy Institute).

Table 1 below highlights the UK’s major collaborative partners demonstrating a mix of EU and non-EU partners (non-EU partner in bold).

Table 1: Countries co-authoring UK output (2007-2016).

The UUK report reminds that research is a form of diplomacy leading to alliances and memoranda between national academies. The international links create esteem and demonstrate the wider engagement and status of an institution which is attractive to international students and staff.

Addressing Collaborative Barriers

Addressing the barriers to research collaboration is more than just funding, the report calls for:

Better information on capabilities and strength of UK researchers

The report states there needs to be better understanding and matching of research and innovation strengths between partners and potential collaborators, with clearer articulation of these and provision of contact points at the research organisation, funding agency and sector levels.

The circulation of people and ideas is fundamental to international research collaborations: National policy frameworks of all partners must be flexible enough to support international exchange, enabling critical human resources – including technical expertise – to flow between systems.

Cultural barriers need better understanding

The report highlights South Korea and Taiwan as attractive collaborators because of their research-intensive economies, strong technology investment, excellent university system, and high-English speaking rate. However collaboration is challenged by geography, proximity and cultural differences. UUK report that communication problems are a key barrier alongside the uncertainty about research profiles of UK universities and significant differences in research governance.

Researchers working within different national contexts will have experience of different research cultures. These can be a source of strength and innovation, but also create challenges that must be understood, acknowledged and addressed. This requires time, but can be mitigated by the development of shared understandings, priorities and policy frameworks.

Policy and funding stability is essential

Stability, certainty and trust are required if successful international research collaborations are to be fostered. Partners need to have confidence that the policy and funding environment will not be subject to unexpected or dramatic change after they have invested the time and resources necessary to develop productive and beneficial partnerships. Stability and certainty in both policy and funding environment is a key facilitator.

Bilateral agreements with defined funding facilitated by a coordinated application process

The report effectively highlights the difficulties of ‘double jeopardy’ (Roberts, 2006) whereby all partners need to individually secure funding across a sustaining period to both commence and fully complete. Furthermore while countries commission and pay for the research it depends on individual motivation for success. Individuals make research choices that further their career and are fundable. EU links exist because researchers at well-funded institutions saw mutual net benefits, however EU collaboration proliferated because mutually assured Framework Programme funding supported it.

The report suggests a mechanism for effective research collaboration is to create more flexible agency-level bilateral agreements with associated secure funding. A Memorandum of Understanding should identify common priorities and mutual research standards yet this should be backed up by a research fund. Page 6 describes collaboration with Brazil as an example of this.

Furthermore, UK research funding beyond the EU is highly dependent on the ODA budget which limits research themes and fundable countries. Post Brexit the UK needs new money without ODA type restrictions to support collaborations with partners not eligible for EU funds.

Note: UUK have also released a second report on whether free trade agreements can enhance opportunities for UK higher education post Brexit.

References

Roberts, Sir Gareth. (2006). International partnerships of research excellence.

April 24, 2017

New publication Dr Jenny Hall

BU research, international, Public engagement, Publishing, Research Integritiy, Research news, Uncategorized, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Congratulations to CMMPH’s Dr. Jenny Hall, Senior Midwifery Lecturer, on the publication of her scientific paper ‘The Spiritual Journey of Infertile Couples: Discussing the Opportunity for Spiritual Care‘ in the journal Religions, see further details here! Jenny has co-authored this paper with academics from Portugal and Ireland.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

April 24, 2017

European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) event on Thursday, 27th April 2017

EU, Events, Funding opportunities, international Emily Cieciura

Working with local businesses? Why not alert them to this opportunity?

The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) are the European Union’s main funding programmes for supporting growth and jobs across the EU. They form part of the UK Government’s overall growth activity. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to improve economic and social cohesion in the European Union by focusing its investments on areas such as innovation, research, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Borough of Poole is hosting a workshop to maximise the quality of the funding applications in Dorset, with the collaboration of the Departement for Communities and Local Governement (DCLG), the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the ESIF Technical Assistance in Dorset.

The event is targeting public and private organisations looking at submitting an application to the current ERDF calls in Dorset, published on GOV.UK. Speakers from the Dorset LEP and from DCLG will cover the ESIF priorities for Dorset, the call criteria and the national ERDF rules. The audience will have the opportunity to meet potential partner organisations and to discuss collaborative applications. One to one surgeries with Technical Assistance will be available in the afternoon (limited places).

The current ERDF for Dorset calls are accessible on the Gov.uk website

Event details – Thursday, 27th April from 10:00 – 15:00 at the Civic Centre, Poole.

Registration is required but the event is free to attend. More information is also available on the Dorset LEP website.

If BU staff are unable to attend but would like to find out more, Emily Cieciura, RKEO’s Research Facilitator: EU & International, will be attending, along with other BU staff.

April 22, 2017

Nepali migrant workers in India #GlobalFoL17 presentation in Delhi

BU research, conferences, Events, Festival of Learning, Global engagement, international, PG research, Publishing, Research communication, Research news, student research, Uncategorized, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

On the last day of BU’s Global Festival of Learning-India 2017 Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen presented the following paper: ‘Nepali migrant workers: trials & tribulations’. The Global Festival of Learning-India 2017 took place at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts in Pune and at the India Habitat Centre in the capital Delhi. The session offered insight from various studies on Nepali migrant workers conducted by Bournemouth University staff and students.[1-3] It included preliminary results from an on-going study of Nepali migrant workers in India. The latter study is a close collaboration between Pramod Regmi and Edwin van Teijlingen) in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, Indian colleagues at Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Deemed University in India (Quazi Syed Zahiruddin, Abhay M. Gaidhane), and Padam Simkhada at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

The presentation also highlighted some of the key findings form our recently published paper ‘Identifying the gaps in Nepalese migrant workers’ health and well-being: A review of the literature’ in the Journal of Travel Medicine.[1] The paper is co-authored by BU’s Pramod Regmi and Edwin van Teijlingen, and Padam Simkhada (LJMU) and our Nepali colleague Nirmal Aryal based in New Zealand.

Dr. Shweta Sinda Deshpande, who chaired the session, originated from an Indian village a few miles from the Nepali border. Moreover, she is also an anthropologist who had done fieldwork with Nepali migrant workers in India. Her informed contribution was very much welcomed by the audience.

References:

Simkhada, P.P., Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E., Aryal, N. (2017) Identifying the gaps in Nepalese migrant workers’ health and well-being: A review of the literature, Journal of Travel Medicine 24(4): 1-9.
Adhikary, P., Simkhada, P.P., van Teijlingen, E., Raja, AE. (2008) Health & Lifestyle of Nepalese Migrants in the UK BMC International Health & Human Rights 8(6). Web address: www.biomedcentral.com/1472-698X/8/6.
Adhikary, P., Keen, S., van Teijlingen, E. (2011) Health Issues among Nepalese migrant workers in Middle East. Health Science Journal 5: 169-175. www.hsj.gr/volume5/issue3/532.pdf
Aryal, N., Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P., Adhikary, P., Bhatta, Y.K.D., Mann, S. (2016) Injury and Mortality in Young Nepalese Migrant Workers: A Call for Public Health Action. Asian-Pacific Journal of Public Health 28(8): 703-705.

April 13, 2017

Association of Commonwealth Universities’ Fellowships Call

Funding opportunities, Global engagement, international Emily Cieciura

Professional and academic staff of ACU member institutions are invited to apply for the 2017 round of ACU Titular Fellowships. The fellowships provide funding of up to £5,000 to enable a member of staff from one ACU member university to travel to a member institution in another country, for a collaborative research or fact-finding visit of up to six months.

Before applying, interested individuals will need to identify and make contact with a potential collaborator at the host institution and submit a plan for their visit.

The fellowships on offer are:

George Weston Limited Fellowship: tenable in the fields of agriculture, forestry, food science and food technology
Gordon and Jean Southam Fellowship: open to applicants working at Canadian member universities
Hong Kong Jockey Club Fellowship (inward): tenable at any ACU member institution in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Jockey Club Fellowship (outward): open to applicants working at any ACU member institution in Hong Kong
Jacky McAleer Memorial Fellowship: tenable in the field of information technology
Swansea University Fulton Fellowship: tenable at Swansea University in the UK
University of Manitoba Fellowship: tenable at University of Manitoba in Canada
University of Oxford Fellowship: tenable at University of Oxford in the UK
Wighton Fellowship in Engineering: open to staff of engineering departments of ACU member institutions in low and middle-income countries
Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Fellowship: tenable in the field of accounting

Fellowships which are not tied to a specific subject area are tenable in any of the following fields: education, health and related social sciences, information technology, STEM subjects, sustainable development, and university development and management.

Full details of all fellowships and the link to the application form can be found on www.acu.ac.uk/titular-fellowships.

Applications close on Friday 12 May at 23:59 BST.

Please contact your Research Facilitator if you are thinking of applying for an ACU fellowship.

April 12, 2017

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship call now open!

EU, Funding opportunities, Global engagement, international, RKE development framework Emily Cieciura

As the European Commission celebrates the support of over 100,000 researchers through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, more fellows are poised to benefit from the opening of the 2017 call.

RKEO are pleased to confirm our arrangements for supporting this high profile call in 2017.

Support

There will be a two-day bid writing retreat on 18th and 19th April and, subject to demand, this will be repeated on 5th and 6th July (date changed to accommodate another forthcoming event), with bookings now open
Materials are already available on the MyBU Research & Knowledge Exchange Development Framework Community and will be extended as more materials are made available for the 2017 call
External bid writing support, where appropriate

Timeline

As this is a highly popular call, RKEO need to carefully manage the flow of work within RKEO but also for all your colleagues, who work together, to ensure that each application is approved and submitted correctly.

Please endeavour to submit your Intention to Bid to RKEO by 14/07/17. You can, of course, let us know earlier than this date that you intend to apply, so that we can provide you, and your potential fellow, with as much support as possible, right up to the closing date of 14/09/17. It is expected that early drafts should be available around the beginning of August, allowing time for all those involved to manage their workloads, including Faculty Quality Approvers.

Communication

Once we know that you are thinking of applying, even before submitting the Intention to Bid, we can keep you up to date with announcements from the funder and other sources of help and support.

If you are considering applying and would like to receive updates, please contact Sara Mundy, RKEO Project Administrator, so that we can register your interest and provide useful information, such as the indicative timetable for actions prior to submission. If you are ready to submit your Intention to Bid, you can do this now, via Sara.

If you have any queries or comments about this scheme, please contact Emily Cieciura, RKEO’s Research Facilitator: EU & International.

Category / international

Newton Fund latest calls

FP9 Event: Science|Business

Training workshop for nurses in Nepal

COST Action news – your opportunity to join up!

From wearable robots to black holes: get to know the 25 COST networks that kicked off this spring

HE policy update w/e 28th April 2017

European Maritime Day – May 2017

UUK – International Research Collaboration After the UK Leaves the European Union

European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) event on Thursday, 27th April 2017

Association of Commonwealth Universities’ Fellowships Call

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship call now open!

Other services

Don’t miss a post!

Recent posts

Search by Category

Research Information Network

UKRI

Category / international

From wearable robots to black holes: get to know the 25 COST networks that kicked off this spring

Other services

Don’t miss a post!

Recent posts

Search by Category

Search by popular post topics