Utlysing av midlar til UTFORSK partnarskapsprogram

Transkript

1 UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN Studieadministrativ avdeling Fakulteta Referanse Dato 2013/ Utlysing av midlar til UTFORSK partnarskapsprogram SIU kunngjer utlysing av 8 millionar kroner til samarbeidsprosjekt mellom utdanningsinstitusjonar i Norge og Brasil, India, Japan, Kina, Russland og Sør-Afrika. Det kan søkast om prosjektmidlar på inntil kroner per år i inntil 3 år. Aktuelle prosjektaktivitetar er student- og forskarmobilitet, intensive kurs, felles studieprogram og /eller grader, felles undervisning og rettleiing, og studentdeltaking i forskingsprosjekt. Formelle krav For å få støtte frå UTFORSK programmet er det ein føresetnad at utdanningsprosjektet har direkte tilknyting til eit eksisterande eller nyleg avslutta forskingsprosjekt støtta av Forskingsrådet. Den norske institusjonen må søke saman med ein høgare utdanningsinstitusjon i eitt av dei prioriterte samarbeidslanda, som fortrinnsvis også er med i det aktuelle forskingsprosjektet. Korleis søke Søknader leverast elektronisk ved å bruke SIUs nettbaserte søknadsskjema i Espresso. Dersom ein ikkje har brukarkonto i Espresso, må dette opprettast før ein får tilgang til søknadsskjemaet. Så snart det elektroniske søknadsskjemaet er levert, blir dokumentet «Signature form» gjort tilgjengeleg i Espresso. «Signature form» skal signeras av prosjektkoordinator. Vidare skal rektor i følgje UiBs retningslinjer for søknader om midlar til denne type samarbeid signere «Signatur form» i rubrikken «Head of Department». For søknader til denne utlysninga gjelder følgjande prosedyre for innhenting av institusjonsleinga ved UiB sin signatur: 1. Brev frå instituttleiinga sendes til fakultetet gjennom ephorte. I dette brevet må det komme frem at instituttet stiller seg bak søknaden. 2. Brev frå fakultetet sendes Studieadministrativ avdeling gjennom ephorte. I dette brevet må det slås fast at fakultetet stiller seg bak søknaden. Følgjande må leggjas ved brevet: Dette er et UiB-internt notat som godkjennes elektronisk i ephorte Studieadministrativ avdeling Telefon Telefaks Postadresse Postboks Bergen Besøksadresse Bergen Saksbehandler Elin Berge Flo side 1 av 2

2 side 2 av 2 Vedlegg 1: Søknadsutkast/ferdig søknad Vedlegg 2: «Signature form» (ferdig utfylt/signert av prosjektkoordinator) 3. Studieadministrativ avdeling vil, på bakgrunn av dei nemnde breva, innhente institusjonsleiingas signatur, og vidaresende «Signature form» til SIU innan fristen. Søknader må vere sendt via Espresso seinast innan kl. 13:00 Brev frå fakultetet må sendes SA via ephorte seinast innan kl. 15:00 Kontaktpersonar For spørsmål til søknadsprosessen og utfyllande informasjon om utlysinga kan Studieadministrativ avdeling kontaktas: Helge Bjørlo; helge.bjorlo@adm.uib.no tlf eller Forskningsadministrativ avdeling ved Bjørn Erik Andersen: bjorn.andersen@adm.uib.no, tlf SIU si utlysing er tilgjengeleg her: Venleg helsing Ingvild Greve fung. avdelingsdirektør Benedicte Solheim seksjonsleiar Vedlegg: Call for proposals

3 31 May 2013 UTFORSK Norwegian Partnership Programm e for linking higher education e and research in international collaboration with Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia andd South Africa. Call for proposals 1. General UTFORSK is a new instrument for strengthening the linkage between higher education and research in international collaboration, starting in The pilot phase will last until The instrument specifically aims at linking international cooperation in education with existing or recently completed international research cooperation with selected countries, funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN). UTFORSK is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and administered by the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU), in cooperation with the RCN. The Partnership Programme is the main action within UTFORSK. The UTFORSK Partnership Programme intends to contribute to the development and strengthening of broader institutional partnerships, nvolving both research h and higherr education activities. The programme is directed towards partnerr countries outside EU and North America, with which Norway wants to strengthen and increase bilateral cooperation within higher education and research. Thee six countries selectedd for the pilot phase of UTFORSK are, Brazil, China,, India, Japan, Russia and South Africa. A Proposals are hereby invited for the pilot phase of the UTFORSK Partnership Programme. Norwegian higher education institutions (HEI) are invited to apply for funds together with partner institutions that they already cooperate with, or have cooperated with, through RCN funded research projects. UTFORSK project funds should be used for extending the existing or completed international research cooperation to also include education activities, mainly at Master and PhD level. 1

4 2. Financial frames The total budget for the pilot phase of the UTFORSK Partnership Programme is NOK 8 million from (16) 1. The annual allocation per project will be up to NOK The maximum project period for projects funded by the programme will be three years, starting 1 January All activities funded by the pilot phase of the UTFORSK Partnership Programme must be completed by 31 December Successful and sustainable long-term institutional cooperation should ideally be based on mutual interest and equal contributions. 3. Aims and objectives The aims of UTFORSK are to improve the quality of international cooperation in higher education and research, and to strengthen long-term institutional cooperation with strategic partner countries. The objectives of UTFORSK Partnership Programme are: to increase the number of international collaborative relationships involving both research and higher education activities to increase the mobility of students and academic staff between Norway and the partner countries to include student participation in international research projects to contribute to increasing the number of joint study programmes and joint degrees between Norwegian HEIs and HEIs in the partner countries to strengthen the institutional cooperation between Norwegian HEIs and HEIs in the partner countries and create partnerships that will last beyond the UTFORSK project period 4. Cooperation, commitment and responsibility The UTFORSK Partnership Programme supports projects involving two or more institutions of higher education and research, minimum one Norwegian institution and one institution from one of the six countries included in UTFORSK. The Norwegian main partner should be the formal applying institution, and if support is granted, will be the contract partner to SIU. If more than one institution in the partner countries participates, one HEI should be defined as the main partner institution. The cooperation between the participating institutions should be based on the principle of equality and must be characterized by transparency at all levels. The UTFORSK application should be developed jointly by the two main partner institutions. Other higher education institutions, research institutes, non-governmental organisations, public agencies or private companies may be included; in Norway or in the partner countries. UTFORSK funds should mainly be used for covering higher education institutions participation in the project, and for educational activities. 1 Subject to continued funding by the Norwegian Parliament. 2

5 Educational cooperation supported by the UTFORSK Partnership Programme is to be based on ongoing or recently completed research cooperation funded by RCN (see section 5.3.). Projects should contribute to strengthening the institutional cooperation between the participating institutions, and thus should include educational activities beyond individual cooperation between researchers and PhD students. 5. Eligibility 5.1. Main partner institution in Norway Accredited Norwegian higher education institutions, public and private, are eligible applicants to the pilot phase of the UTFORSK Partnership Programme Main partner institution in partner country Recognised/accredited higher education institutions in the partner countries are eligible to apply for support from the UTFORSK Partnership Programme together with a Norwegian higher education institution. The main partner institution should provide education relevant to the project, and at a level comparable to what is offered at the partner institution in Norway Funding from the Research Council of Norway (RCN) To be eligible for support from UTFORSK, the proposal must link up to a research project that is or have been funded by the Research Council of Norway, through any of its programmes. Relevant RCN projects include one or more institution in one or more of the preferred countries, through formal or informal agreements. The research project should be ongoing or completed in 2010 or later. The RCN project number must be stated in the application to the UTFORSK Partnership Programme. The proposed UTFORSK project should add or develop a higher education dimension to the research cooperation, and the links between the research project and the proposed UTFORSK project should be explained. New HEIs may be included, in addition to institutions involved in the relevant research project Eligible academic disciplines Applications within all academic fields and disciplines are welcome, including multidisciplinary projects. 6. Measures and activities Projects are encouraged to be creative in exploring measures and activities that will contribute to the aims of UTFORSK. Measures and activities funded through the programme include, but are not limited to: Student and staff mobility (including student internships or work placements) Intensive courses 3

6 Joint seminars, workshops and similar activities involving both researchers and students from participating institutions Development of joint courses, study programmes or degrees Joint teaching and supervision Students participation in research activities/projects The UTFORSK Partnership Programme may cover a modest compensation for project management and administrative costs at the Norwegian HEI, equaling one month work load per year Guiding principles and selection criteria The following set of principles and priorities should be considered when developing an UTFORSK proposal. The quality and relevance of the proposal in relation to the aims and objectives of the UTFORSK Partnership Programme, as well as the guiding principles stated below will be basis for the selection of projects to be supported. Project goals, expected results and feasibility: The goals and activities of the proposed project should contribute to the aims of UTFORSK. The expected results must be clearly described. The proposal should describe how the planned activities contribute to the achievement of project goals. The planned activities should be time-bound and linked to the project budget. Connection between research and education: Projects should demonstrate clear links between the existing or recent RCN funded research project and the proposed education activities, and the added value of combining the two aspects. Expected synergies should be explained. Mobility: The proposal should describe strategies for targeted student and staff mobility that that contribute to develop the institutional partnership. Mobility should preferably be two-way and the proposal should demonstrate how the planned mobility contributes to the achievement of the project goals. The project should aim at developing sustainable structures for student mobility. Mobility beyond four weeks for Norwegian students is funded by the State Educational Loan Fund, and will not be supported by the UTFORSK Partnership Programme. Institutional commitment: All applications should include information on how the project relates to existing institutional strategies and priorities, and how it contributes to build or strengthen institutional partnerships. A letter of intent signed by academic leadership at the main partner institution in the partner country should be included in the application. Long-term perspective and risk analysis: Reflections on the completion of the project, and how the institutional partnership will be sustained beyond the funding period should be included. Possible risk factors such as recruitment of students and staff, time constraints, 2 For further details, see UTFORSK - Guidelines to applicants 4

7 language and cultural barriers should be identified and discussed, and mitigation measures should be reflected on. 8. Application procedures Applications to UTFORSK must be submitted through SIUs online system for applications and reporting, Espresso: For further information on how to access Espresso, and how to fill in the application form, please see UTFORSK Partnership Programme - Guidelines for applicants (available on The final deadline for applications is 9 October 2013 at 13.00/1 pm CET. 9. Selection procedures All proposals submitted within the deadline for applications will be processed as follows: 1. Document control, eligibility check and formal verification of applications 2. Assessment of each application by external experts 3. SIU internal assessment of applications, in cooperation with RCN 4. Final selection of applications by the UTFORSK Programme board 3 The selection of projects will be based on the selection criteria presented in part 7. The composition of the total UTFORSK Partnership Programme portfolio will be taken into account. Projects will be selected by 1 December 2013 at latest. Complaints will be handled according to SIU s Complaint Regulations, which are found at Reporting Institutions that are granted support from the UTFORSK Partnership Programme are jointly responsible for the implementation and monitoring of activities and projects. Annual progress reports should be submitted to SIU using the online reporting system Espresso. A final report shall be submitted upon the project s completion. SIU is responsible for reporting to the Ministry of Education and Research. 3 The SIU Board will in September 2013 decide on the terms of reference for a new Programme Board for UTFORSK. Members of the Board will be appointed in the same meeting. 5