Two kinds of research grants of up to £5,000 are available to researchers at UK-based universities in areas that align with BAICE’s aims to:

  • promote research, policy and development in all aspects of international and comparative education; and
  • encourage the growth and development of international and comparative studies in education.

For both grants we encourage applications that involve junior and early career researchers (including doctoral students) in the proposed activities.

Seedcorn

The purpose of Seedcorn grants are to provide funding for pilot research projects and scoping work. This may be achieved through a combination of activities including

  • literature review
  • mapping exercises
  • analysis of secondary data sources
  • travel and subsistence to meet domestic and international partners

The fund will support initial project planning and development, the direct costs of research, workshops and seminars that enable the advancement of research, and visits by or to partner scholars. Funds may also be requested for maximising the impact of a defined research project that is completed or close to completion.

We especially welcome proposals for collaborative, interdisciplinary research development activities aimed at developing research ideas and methodologies with the potential to attract significant external funding from either UK or international research funds.

To apply for seedcorn funding, please download and complete the seedcorn specific application.

Building Research Capacity and Networks

The aim of the Building Research Capacity and Networks grants is to provide funding for the inception and development of innovative collaborations and new priority research areas aligned with the aims of BAICE.

Grants awarded from this fund will support strategic research capacity and collaborative networks, which involve a wider range of activities than seminars. Examples of project activities that may be funded include:

  • a combination ofmeetings and conferences;
  • short-term training and capacity-building opportunities (e.g. sandpit events, workshops, summer institutes, master classes or visiting scholar programmes);
  • scoping studies to synthesise existing academic work and other evidence;
  • methodological development; and
  • dissemination activities to encourage growth and development of the comparative and international education field at large.

Applications that only involve a series of seminars or conferences, whether held in the UK or elsewhere, will not be considered (for an alternative funding opportunity see: BAICE Thematic Forum).

All proposals must demonstrate that proposed networks and activities are grounded in the research context and the main literature in the area; and explain how the networks and activities will have the potential to advance knowledge and practice.

We especially welcome proposals to establish research clusters that expand an existing research area or provide the foundations for a viable new research area in the field of international and comparative education.

We encourage both the formation of new groups and the continuation of existing groups that include individuals from two or more institutions within and/or outside the UK.

To apply for research capacity and network funding, please download and complete the specific research network application.

Conditions of BAICE research funding

The awards

For both funds, the maximum grant is £5,000 over two years. Grants are expected to run for no longer than 12 months. In exceptional circumstances, applications for up to £10,000 may be considered. Clear and compelling justification needs to be made for bidding above the £5,000 limit. We recommend you contact the fund managers before submitting a bid for over £5,000. We fund up to 4 awards per year. Proposals must demonstrate the need for BAICE funding.

How to apply

  • Applications should be made using the designated application forms.
  • The annual deadline is 1stMay.
  • Applicants will normally be notified of the outcome within 8 weeks of the submission deadline.

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Academics and scholars based in UK research and academic institutions may be lead applicants.
  • Co-applicants may be from different organisations and professional associations anywhere in the world.
  • Early career researchers are encouraged to apply.
  • All applicants named on the proposal must be members of BAICE.
Previous recipients of BAICE seedcorn awards will be eligible to reapply as PI/ Co-I only three years after the completion of their last seedcorn project.

Eligible Costs

Both funds will typically cover justified costs towards:

  • Travel and expenses for researchers, speakers and participants;
  • Administrative costs;
  • Project specific stationary, postage, copying and telephone costs;
  • Hire of rooms and facilities (when the host institution and other collaborating organisations cannot provide these facilities);
  • Staff time for non-salaried research assistants (including postgraduate students).

We will NOT cover staff time for salaried academics or core institutional full economic costing. We welcome institutional contributions to proposed projects.

Other Conditions

  • An end-of-project report should be submitted within three months after the end date of the award using the report pro-forma.
  • It is expected that a funded project should result in the submission of at least one paper to the Association journal Compare.
  • Successful applicants are not allowed to re-apply for the same research grant within three years.

Evaluation criteria

Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  • Originality and potential contribution to knowledge;
  • Research design and methods [only applies to Seedcorn fund];
  • Contribution to capacity of individuals, institutions and centres; development of networks [only applies to the Building capacity and research networks fund];
  • Relevance to BAICE’s aims;
  • Outputs and dissemination, including plans to publish in the Association’s journal Compare and to present at a BAICE or UKFIET conference;
  • Potential of future aspirations, including sustainability of networks (if relevant) and plans to bid for significant funding;
  • Involvement of and support for early career researchers;
  • Value for money.
BAICE-Seedcorn-application form
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