Fostering Linkages in Academic Innovation and Research (FLAIR): A programme funded by the Government of Kerala, India Call for ‘Expression of Interest’ from UK Universities

FLAIR (Fostering Linkages in Academic Innovation and Research), is in its fourth year, supported by the British Council through an agreement with the Government of Kerala.

FLAIR internship programme aims at infusing vigour into higher education and improve the quality of teaching, learning and research in the government colleges and university departments across the State of Kerala through international exposure. The main objective of the programme is to train young faculty members with five years or less experience from different disciplines to enhance their teaching and research abilities. As per the agreement, Government of Kerala will fund 20 faculty members from different disciplines as per listed below for a four week internship in the UK, starting from 4th week of June 2017. The UK programme of the internship should include an induction programme followed by academic placements at the chosen UK universities and an evaluation at the end of the training period.

British Council India invites expressions of interest from UK universities to host newly recruited faculty members from the universities and colleges of Kerala, a southern State of India.

British Council would select the UK universities to support the programme. Please note that the selected universities may be requested to organise a one-day induction programme to the faculty which could include the following:
• Introduction to UK higher education system
• Innovations and good practice in teaching, learning, assessment and research
• Teaching excellence Framework
• Technology-enabled teaching and learning

British Council will charge the host UK University 125 GBP per faculty to cover administrative costs. Universities need to transfer the required fee to British Council within 30 days of the invoice date.

The Department of Higher Education, Government of Kerala would be responsible for the international travel, accommodation and food costs of the selected faculty.

Criteria for Evaluation

Selection of the UK universities will be jointly done by the Government of Kerala and the British Council on the basis of:  a) strength of the proposed programme (maximum 40 marks)   b) Plans to engage with the faculty to be placed at the UK university after the end of month-long internship (maximum 30 marks); and c) administrative and other support that will be provided (maximum 30 marks).

Please download the Flair Notification document to know details of the programme.

Institutions interested in supporting the programme are requested to send their expressions of interest (EoI) in the attached format, latest by Friday, 5 May 2017 to  s.kumaran@britishcouncil.org  and   eldho.mathews@britishcouncil.org . If you have any questions, please write to s.kumaran@britishcouncil.org