Introduction

The British Council is pleased to announce its call for the UK-ASEAN Partnerships and Exchanges Baseline Research Grant.

The Grant aims to fund research study that will assess the quality and quantity of existing partnerships and exchanges in tertiary education sector (higher and further education, skills, science and research) between UK and ASEAN + 3 countries (Japan, Korea, China) and territories (Hong Kong and Taiwan).

Through this scheme, we aim to facilitate the production of research in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) context to benefit the international education sector.

Objectives

The purpose of the Grant is to:

(1) facilitate the production of high-quality research in ODA contexts that is relevant to international education and national policymaking;

(2) Facilitate and encourage the establishment and maintenance of active research links between UK and ASEAN higher education institutions;

(3) Improve access of tertiary education policy makers and professionals worldwide to high quality and relevant research from the UK.

Qualification requirements

Any person resident in the UK with an affiliation to a UK higher educational institution.

The award agreement will be with the institution and not with an individual. Note: Although the applicant must be resident in the UK, the research may, in whole or in part, take place outside the UK or by persons not resident in the UK.

Different departments within a single institution can apply provided that the proposed activities are clearly different and that each is led by separate lead applicants (Principal Applicants).

We are looking for:

a)         proposals from UK higher educational institutions (Lead Institution). A Principal Applicant will make the application on behalf of the Lead Institution.

b)         proposals which include engagement of local HEIs in the ASEAN countries .

c)         proposals which will engage ASEAN affiliated education body or regional or international education organisation or consortium.

d)         collaborative proposals (proposals from academic faculty from more than one university and/or proposals from a university and a third sector organisation).

2.         The proposal must clearly demonstrate:

a)         methodology and approach in designing and carrying out the baseline research

b)         how data gathered will be used to craft recommendations on UK-ASEAN partnerships initiatives including trilateral partnerships and exchanges between UK and +3 countries (China, Japan and Korea) which are expected to deliver societal and/or economic development outcomes in an ODA  country in ASEAN.

c)         plan how to engage relevant UK and ASEAN stakeholders and potential participants/users/beneficiaries of the research in order to maximise the potential of this research project to have positive impact beyond the duration of the Grant

d)         how the research and dissemination activities can be carried from 1 February 2021 to 2 August 2022.

Outputs and timelines

A one-time grant of 250K will be awarded to a single UK institution.

The expected research output/ final report must be in English. The project duration is 18 months (1 February 2021 to 2 August 2022).  The proposal should be able to include indications of written reports to be submitted to British Council including:

(1) Progress Report - to be submitted to the British Council by 30 June 2021

(2) Interim Report – report on preliminary or initial finding is to be submitted to the British Council by 30 October 2021

(3) Final Report - to be submitted to the British Council at the end of your project. This would normally include rationale, methodology, findings, discussion and implications, and references;

(4) Detailed Financial Report - to be submitted to the British Council at the end of the project.

Please refer to the attached Call Guidelines for a more detailed introduction, including the assessment criteria and operational requirements. 

Follow up/clarification questions can be submitted to eahighereducationpartnerships@britishcouncil.org on 23-27 November 2020.