UACES Collaborative Research Networks
Revised 14/2/2012
The ethos behind our Collaborative Research Networks (CRNs) is to provide some initial funding to enable researchers to develop networks across a range of institutions, which may perhaps leads to bigger projects and funding from other sources in the future. The networks should be inclusive rather than insular.
CRN activities include dedicated research meetings and workshops; participation in larger conferences such as the UACES Annual Conference or other relevant events; contributing to the UACES Newsletter and to pursuing other publishing and dissemination opportunities (journals, books, podcasting, blogging).
Successful networks will receive up to 5,000 GBP spread over a three year period.
Assessment Criteria
Proposals will be considered by a panel composed of members of the UACES Committee.
The application process is competitive and funds are limited.
Successful applications will be expected to submit an annual report and acknowledge UACES in any publications or events that arise from the activities of the Network.
Selections will be made on the basis of the following criteria.
- Eligibility
- Aims and Relevance
- Accessibility and Participation
- Financial Aspects
- Outputs
- Benefit to UACES
Eligibility
| The network has been proposed by an Individual member of UACES | Required |
| The proposer works at a recognised University (or Higher Education Institution) and will act as the CRN co-ordinator in the event of a successful application | Required |
| Each of the network co-ordinators are proceeding with the knowledge and support of their Institutions | Required |
| The proposal is for a 3-year project commencing in Spring 2013 | Required |
Aims and Relevance
| There is sufficient intellectual rationale for establishing a CRN in this field | Required |
| The aims of the network are clear, with well-defined targets | Required |
| The network will be unique and different from current and previous UACES CRNs | Desirable |
Accessibility and Participation
| The network will be multi-national | Required |
| The network will be interdisciplinary | Required |
| The inclusion of other UACES members will be encouraged | Required |
| The activities of the network will not be geographically limited | Desirable |
| The network will encourage the participation of experienced, early-career and postgraduate researchers | Desirable |
| The network will bring together academics and policy-makers | Desirable |
Financial Aspects
| The proposal includes a coherent budget, with a breakdown for each year of the project | Required |
| The budget is within the 5,000 GBP limit | Required |
| The budget is limited to eligible expenses | Required |
| There is institutional support for managing the financial aspects of the network and for settling individual claims and invoices | Required |
Outputs
| The network will have an active website | Required |
| The network will contribute to the UACES Newsletter | Required |
| The network has a schedule of dedicated research meetings and workshops | Desirable |
| The network is planning to participate in the UACES annual conference | Desirable |
| The network is planning to participate in other large conferences | Desirable |
| The network has a publishing strategy | Desirable |
| The network will utilize online tools and methods (e.g. Jiscmail, Ning, blogging) | Desirable |
Benefit to UACES
| UACES will receive publicity at other large conferences | Desirable |
| UACES will benefit from increased participation at the UACES annual conference | Desirable |
| UACES will be acknowledged in the publications that arise from the activities of the network | Desirable |
| UACES will be introduced to a new audience | Desirable |
| Existing UACES members will have an active role in the network | Desirable |
Funding
Successful networks will receive up to £5,000 GBP over a three year period.
Eligible expenses which UACES will contribute to include:
- Travel expenses for participants
- Accommodation for participants
- Room and/or audio visual equipment hire
- Catering
- Website hosting and domain registration
UACES will NOT contribute to administrative overheads, such as:
- Staff costs
- Photocopying
- Phones
- Postage
Our funding is for the network, rather than any particular institution, and the burden of responsibility for meeting any obligations falls upon the network co-ordinators. This also means that the funding is transferable; if the co-ordinator changes institution, the funding moves as well. We would also expect that any individuals working on these kinds of activities should be doing so with the support and knowledge of their institutions.
Our funding is a reimbursement of expenses, which we refund against receipts or an invoice (with copies of the original receipts). It is our expectation that UACES will be refunding an Institution; with the Institution responsible for settling individual claims.
Funding for years 2 and 3 is subject to successful completion of the previous year. Successful completion is based on the objectives set out in your original proposal and a progress report submitted to, and approved by UACES.
Funding for 'inactive' networks will be re-allocated to new networks. Funding will not be rolled over beyond 3 years.
The aim is for CRNs to become self-funding by the end of the three-year UACES funding period. It is not the intention of UACES to fund a CRN for more than one three-year term.
Apply for funding
The deadline for the next round of applications is Monday 3 December 2012.
To apply, send your Proposal to: admin@uaces.org
Proposals
Proposals must set out a clear plan for the intended three year funding period, commencing Spring 2013.
Proposals must include the following information:
- A title for the network;
- Name, position and email address of intended network co-ordinator(s);
- An indication of how the Network will be managed and what roles will be delegated;
- Area of research activity, including the intellectual rationale for establishing a CRN in this field (300-500 words);
- List of intended members and target groups of the network, with a clear indication as to who has already agreed to participate;
- A statement of the CRN’s intended activities and outputs, together with targets for each year;
- A statement as to how the CRN will encourage access and participation;
- A commitment towards establishing a web presence for the network, with a website in the first year;
- A budget for the three year funding period, including an annual budget for each year of activity;
- A commitment from the intended co-ordinator of the CRN or suitable Higher Education Institution (HEI) officer to administer the financial aspects of the network;
Web presence - what do we mean?
Websites can be created with little or no cost.
Web Hosting
We strongly recommend that you use something like http://sites.google.com to construct and host your website. Apart from being free, it allows collaboration with multiple web editors and it gives you independence from any Institution. Being an online tool, it also allows you to edit your website from any computer with an internet connection without any special software being required. The UACES Office would be able to assist in setting up a Google Site for any successful network.
Domain Name
A domain name can be obtained for less than 10 euros/year from providers such as http://joker.com/ (don't be put off by the name of the website). UACES will also create a short URL which can be used to direct people to the network website.
Blogging
As well as traditional publishing in Journals and presenting papers at conferences, you can also disseminate research results, generate discussion and get feedback by blogging on sites such as http://ideasoneurope.eu/.
Online Publishing
The Journal of Contemporary European Research (JCER) is an online peer-reviewed journal and there are many others.
Email List
Consider using services like Jiscmail to set up an email list for your network, to allow your network members to communicate with each other effectively. Use your website to advertise the email list, so that new members can join easily.
Finally, if websites, blogging etc. are outside your comfort zone, remember that this is meant to be a network - delegate responsibility to someone who is keen to help!