Bourses d’échanges
scientifiques et technologiques
Program
2015 Call for projects
Timeline
Call for projects deadline: 27 May 2015 Project selection: June – September 2015
Results communication: October 2015 Disbursement: February 2016
Bourses d’échanges scientifiques et technologiques
Objectives
IRD's "Bourses d’échanges scientifiques et technologiques" (BEST) program is one of the programs supporting the strengthening and consolidation of research potential in southern countries being implemented by IRD (Direction of Research Programs & Capacity Building).
The BEST program aims to encourage the hosting of researchers, engineers and technicians from southern countries by research or higher education institutions outside their country of residence and within the framework of a research partnership with the IRD. This program provides them with access to the intellectual and logistical resources necessary to acquire new knowledge, proficiency in new technologies or methodologies, personal development in connection with vocational retraining or, exceptionally, obtaining a higher qualification
Training for HDR – research director accreditation – is not a priority, Postdoctoral projects are not eligible.
In terms of geography, projects primarily concern Africa and the Mediterranean Basin, without excluding relevant projects in other parts of the world (Latin America, the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia). The geographical priorities nonetheless follow the classification drawn up by the OECD's development assistance committee.
Eligibility conditions
Researchers, engineers or technicians meeting the following conditions may apply: • national of a southern country;
• Being employed by to a research or educational institution in a southern country; • able to prove the benefit of the planned course of study in terms of strengthening the research capabilities of their home team;
• wishing to enjoy one or more study periods within a research organization outside their country of residence;
• involved in scientific activity within an existing or future research partnership between an IRD jointly-supervised unit and southern partners;
• planning their first period no earlier than on 1st February 2016.
Assessment criteria Relevance of the course
- Relevance of the requested course with the position occupied - Potential of the course to provide new skills
- Potential to develop the applicant's career
Course program
- Suitability of the work program to the course, further education and/or professional development objectives
- Feasibility of the work program with regard to the human, technical and financial resources implemented
- Suitability of the timetable with acquiring the planned skills - Contribution made by the applicant's course to the host team
Applicant
- Suitability of the applicant's initial education and/or professional experience to the prerequisites of the envisaged course
- Applicant's motivation
- Overall quality of the applicant
Partnership
- Dynamic of the partnership
- Integration of the course within the framework of the partnership - Capability of creating/strengthening collaboration with the South
- Appropriateness of the course project to the research choices made by countries in the South
Nature and terms of help provided
A BEST grant runs for a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 12 months. These months may be spread over up to 4 years.
No single study period may exceed 6 consecutive months.
The first study period cannot be scheduled before 1 February 2016.
The amount of the grant, paid over the duration of the study period(s), is based on the recipient's level of experience and the average salary of a researcher in the host country concerned. The amount of the grant is available on the website http://www.ird.fr/best .
IRD provides social security cover for the grant recipient during the study period(s), and pays travel costs between the home and host countries, namely one return trip per year (unless otherwise specifically stipulated).
IRD pays course fees (including registration fees) only in the event that the course of study is given in an organization outside the supervisory institutions of the research units concerned. IRD's contribution is capped at €300 per month and €1,500 per year. When the expected fees exceed these limits, the applicant is to give details of how the full fees are to be paid in a finance plan appended to the application, failing which the application will be deemed not admissible.
The recipient's home institution is to continue to pay the recipient's remuneration during the study period(s) away from home. The home institution also undertakes to allow the grant recipient to make use of the skills and knowledge acquired on the course of study once it is over.
The recipient is obliged to submit, on completion of each study period, an activity report, a report to the DPF (Direction of Research Programs & Capacity) (at the latest 3 months after each study period away when the course takes place over more than one year) together with a final report on the whole course to the DPF, approved by the IRD coordinator.
An agreement stipulating the various parties' commitments is signed when the grant is awarded.
Terms of submission
The application pack (terms of the call for applications, summary, application form) is available on the website www.ird.fr/best All the documents given below must be submitted electronically (in a single, unlocked PDF file).
The single PDF aggregates all the constituent documents of the application into a single document.
Application form
Before submission proper, it is strongly recommended that you contact the IRD representative in the country or area in which your project is located (http://www.ird.fr/l-ird-dans-le-monde), in order that the local IRD representative is made aware. Note, an opportunity notification is requested by the SRC from IRD representatives with regard to all applicants considered as acceptable.
Unless otherwise indicated, all fields are mandatory. You are asked not to attempt to modify the form.
Applicant
Covering letter from the applicant on a separate sheet - Introduction to the research team,
- The applicant's scientific and/or technical activities,
- Expected consequences in terms of strengthened capabilities. The applicant's curriculum vitae
Detailed work program (5 pages maximum), approved by the project coordinator
- The coordinator is one of the scientific team leaders, a researcher or a research lecturer at an IRD jointly-supervised unit
IRD Scientific Coordinator
Reasoned opinion on letter-headed paper from the project coordinator, approved by the unit head which,
- Describes the benefit of the planned course for scientific and technical cooperation developed with the partner team, and justifies the choice of host team(s), especially in terms of expertise and facilities.
- Describes the benefit of the BEST project for scientific and technical cooperation developed with the partner team, and justifies the choice of host team(s), especially in terms of expertise and facilities.
- Approves the work program and schedule for the planned study period(s) in the host team (the dates for the first year are fixed and cannot be altered).
Letters of agreement on letter-headed paper from the scientific team leaders for each of the other host teams
Home organization
Reasoned opinion on letter headed paper from the head of the applicant's own local organization (laboratory, unit, department, etc.) which
- Certifies the post held and releases it from its professional obligations during the period of the course, confirms the institution's agreement with the plan submitted, and describes the expected consequences for itself together with the terms under which the grant recipient will re-join the organization once the course of study is over.
- Describes the benefit of the course for the research organization in question,
- Introduces the members of the research unit,
- Describes the research topic(s) and the local scientific context,
- Mentions any existing national and international partnerships, the most significant publications in the last two years, educational activities, research coordination and the unit's areas of expertise.
Course fees finance plan (when the fees exceed the cap set by IRD)
Incomplete applications and applications received after midnight on 27th May 2015
will be rejected
Contact and email address for electronic copy of the application: [email protected] Telephone: +33 (0)4 91 99 95 21
Fax: +33 (0)4 91 99 92 16
À l’attention de Mme Sandrine LEROSIER IRD Direction des Programs de recherche et de la Formation au Sud (DPF) Institut de recherche pour le développement Immeuble Le Sextant 44, boulevard de Dunkerque CS 90009, 13572 Marseille Cedex 2, France
