Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences

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(No Transcript)
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Irish Research Council for the Humanities and
Social Sciences

• Information Session
• 15 November 2007
• Dipti Pandya and Sorcha Carthy, IRCHSS

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Agenda

• About us
• IRCHSS Research Schemes
• International Funding Opportunities

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Who?Council Members

• Dr. Maurice Bric, Chairman IRCHSS, UCD
• Dr. Josephine Browne, IADT Dun Laoghaire
• Professor Angela Chambers, UL
• Professor Michael Cronin, DCU
• Professor Áine Hyland, UCC
• Dr. Margaret Kelleher, NUI, Maynooth
• Professor Malcolm MacLachlan, TCD
• Professor Elizabeth Meehan, QUB
• Dr. Rory O'Donnell, NESC
• Professor Patrick O'Donovan, UCC
• Dr. Helen Russell, ESRI
• Dr. Sean Ryder, NUI, Galway

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Who?Executive

• Dipti Pandya, Director
• Fiona Davis, Programme Manager
• Sorcha Carthy, European Projects Officer
• Kathryn Kozarits, Administrative Assistant
• Sarah Moore, Intern

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Activities

• Administration of research funding schemes.
• 2007 12m euro
• 203 awards (plus 2.5 GREP awards)
• 6 schemes (plus GREP)
• International bilateral partnerships
• Promote HSS research funding opportunities.
• EU Framework Programme 7
• Contribution to research policy for HSS.

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Subject areas

• Law
• Management Business
• Media Communications
• Philosophy
• Psychology (applications relevant to the HSS)
• Religious Studies
• Social Economic Geography
• Social Policy Social Work
• Sociology
• Musicology Theatre Studies (excluding
  applications in composition and performance)
• Theology

• Anthropology
• Celtic Studies
• Classics Archaeology
• Cultural Studies
• Economics
• Education
• Environmental Studies (applications relevant to
  the HSS)
• Film Studies
• Folklore Studies
• Government Political Science
• History
• International Development
• Irish Language Studies
• Languages, Linguistics Literatures
• Library Information Studies

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IRCHSS Research Schemes
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Schemes
Postgraduate Research Scholarship
Postdoctoral Research Scholarship
Research Fellowship
Senior Research Fellowship
Small Projects
Thematic Projects
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Awards 2003-07
Year 2007/2008 2007/2008 2006/2007 2006/2007 2005/2006 2005/2006 2004/2005 2004/2005 2003/2004 2003/2004
Scheme Apps Awards Apps Awards Apps Awards Apps Awards Apps Awards
Post-Graduate Scholarship 365 124 378 94 293 91 299 81 320 76
Post-Doctoral Fellowship 133 22 116 22 80 23 74 30 76 20
Research Fellowship 47 10 66 9 38 10 35 16 34 10
Senior Research Fellowship 37 9 51 9 49 10 29 12 36 13
Projects 133 38 106 20 89 13 99 21 70 40
Annual Total 715 203 717 154 549 147 536 160 536 159
Success Rate 28 28 22 22 27 27 30 30 30 30
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International Assessment

• Focus on funding excellence
• International Assessment Boards
• 15-to-25-member boards
• Generally professors with extensive research
  backgrounds
• Experienced evaluators with international
  evaluation experience
• As broad a disciplinary spectrum covered as
  possible

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Peer Review College

• Database of Humanities and Social Sciences
  experts to contribute to national and
  international evaluation practices.
• International discipline experts to participate
  in national scheme evaluations.
• National discipline experts to contribute to the
  work of the IRCHSS in consultations, reviews of
  existing awards progress committees, and
  potential nominations for international
  assessments (as an when required). www.irchss.ie

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Postgraduate Scholarship

• Scholarships for research degrees are valued at
  16,000 per annum.
• Awarded initially for one year, but are renewable
  for up to two additional years.
• Applicants must have a first- or upper
  second-class honours primary degree (or
  equivalent)

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PG Evaluation Criteria

• Description of topic
• Aims and objectives
• Central research questions
• Methodology
• Research plan
• Description of the relationship of the project to
  existing research/how the project will make a new
  contribution to knowledge
• Description of any specialist knowledge/data
  required to undertake the project
• Description of the reason for choosing this
  institution and supervisor for the project.
• The applicant's record and academic achievements

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Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Valued at 31,745 per annum for the academic year
  2007-2008
• Applicants may apply for one of two categories of
  funding under this scheme either
• a one-year Fellowship, the purpose of which is to
  prepare a doctoral dissertation for publication,
  or
• a two-year Fellowship, the purpose of which is to
  develop a new research project which is a
  significant development from the subject of the
  doctorate.
• Those who apply for this particular award are
  advised to specify the differences between the
  doctorate and the submitted project.

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Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Who is eligible?
• Those who have been awarded their doctoral
  degrees within the five-year period before 7
  December 2007,
• or
• Those who, by 7 December 2007, have been
  certified as having fulfilled all the
  requirements for the award of a doctoral degree,
  including a viva, where such is required.
• Fellowships may not be deferred.

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Research Fellowship

• Research opportunities for those who, on 1
  September 2008, have held an appointment on the
  academic staff of any third-level institution,
  either in or outside Ireland, for a total of ten
  years or less, and
• who are currently members of the academic staff
  in a recognised third-level institution in
  Ireland
• whose services to their institutions are of a
  research and teaching nature, and
• who have not been on research leave from their
  respective institutions during the whole of the
  academic year 2006-2007.
• Applications in respect of doctoral research
  projects are not eligible for funding within the
  remit of this Scheme.

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Research Fellowship

• Applicant must outline how a Fellowship will
  benefit him/her and enhance the development of
  graduate research in his/her department.
• Fellows may hold a Government of Ireland Research
  Fellowship in conjunction with other personal
  awards, provided that such awards will not exceed
  a total of the value of 15,000 during the period
  of the Fellowship.
• The Research Council will recognise a Fellow
  under this Scheme by making the applicants
  institution a payment of up to 42,000 or the
  equivalent of the Fellows gross salary,
  whichever is the lesser.
• Fellowships may not be deferred.

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Senior Research Fellowship

• Research opportunities for those who, on 1
  September 2008, have held a tenured appointment
  on the academic staff of a 3rd level institution,
  either in or outside Ireland, for more than a
  total of ten years, and
• who are currently members of the academic staff
  in a recognised third-level institution in
  Ireland
• whose services to their institutions are of a
  research and teaching nature, and
• who have not been on research leave from their
  respective institutions during the whole of the
  academic year 2006-2007.
• Applications in respect of doctoral research
  projects are not eligible for funding in this
  scheme.

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Senior Research Fellowship

• Scheme is intended to recognise those whose
  research and professional development as
  researchers would benefit measurably from a
  period of concentrated research.
• Fellows may hold a Government of Ireland Senior
  Research Fellowship in conjunction with other
  personal awards, provided that such awards will
  not exceed a total of the value of 15,000 during
  the period of the Fellowship.
• The Research Council will recognise a Fellow
  under this Scheme by making the applicants
  institution a payment of up to 42,000 or the
  equivalent of the Fellows gross salary,
  whichever is the lesser.
• Fellowships may not be deferred.

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Thematic and Small Research Project Grant Results
2007
Eligible applications Successful applications
Small 65 22
Thematic 67 16
Totals 133 38
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Thematic Research Project Grants

• This Scheme is for academic staff employed at
  third level institutions in Ireland for research
  project funding in the range of 6,500 to
  300,000 tenable for a maximum duration of 3
  years.
• Themes 2007/8
• Migration and Cultural Diversity
• The New Economy Problems of Definition and
  Strategies for Growth, Development and Inclusion
• Thinking Globally Issues and Investigative
  Practices
• The Making of Ireland Paths to Modernity

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Small Research Project Grants

• Funds small research projects in the Humanities
  and Social Sciences in the range of 2,500 to
  50,000 for a maximum duration of two years.
• Supports research in the historical, analytical,
  theoretical and empirical study of subjects which
  normally fall within the Humanities and Social
  Sciences, including Law and Business Studies.
• Applications of an interdisciplinary nature are
  also welcome.

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Evaluation Criteria

• Description of topic
• Purpose of grant (small research project)
• Thematic relevance (thematic project)
• Proposed Methodology
• Ability to Deliver Proposed Project
• Contribution to Knowledge
• The Applicant(s)
• Dissemination
• Impact (including teaching)

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Ineligibility

• Eligibility criteria to be strictly enforced.
• Applications to schemes will not be assessed if
  they are incomplete, or have been received in the
  IRCHSS office posted after the advertised closing
  date.
• Common reasons for ineligibility
• Correct documentation
• Original letters, copies, electronic submissions,
  institutional signature, certificates, funding
  requirements, theme relevance
• Read terms and conditions with care.

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Key Dates 2007-08
Schemes 2008/09 Call Closing Date Results
Senior Research Fellowship Scheme 12 October 2007 Friday 30 November 2007 March 2008
Research Fellowship Scheme 12 October 2007 Friday 30 November 2007 March 2008
Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme 12 October 2007 Friday 30 November 2007 April 2008
Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme 9 November 2007 Friday 18 January 2008 May 2008
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Project Monitoring

• Increase project monitoring
• Recruitment of staff (public)
• Post-graduate and post-doctoral eligibility
  criteria
• 6-monthly reports
• Finance
• Project schedule performance
• Outputs (publications and conference papers
  submitted)
• Final research report for public dissemination

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Managing Queries

• HSS Community Group
• Each institution to nominate institutional
  contact points
• IRCHSS to fit with institutional research
  information communication channel
• Contact point to feed information back to IRCHSS
• FAQ section on website to be expanded
• Annual information session remain in place

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International Funding Opportunities

• Sorcha Carthy
• European Projects Officer

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Activities II International

• The European Research Area (ERA)
• Creation of internal market in research
• Restructuring of the European research fabric
• Development of a European research policy
• Framework Programme Seven FP7
• European Science Foundation (ESF)
• Workshops
• Programmes
• Forward Looks

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FP7 Dedicated funding streams

• Cooperation Programme SSH
• Dedicated topics
• Partnerships (minimum of 3 MS / ACs )
• Comparative problem solving research
• Large small scale grants
• Coordinating and supporting activities

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FP7 ERC

• Objectives of ERC
• Keep (young) researchers in Europe
• Favour brain gain and reverse brain drain
• Improve career opportunities and independence -
  especially for young researchers ERC Starting
  Grant? attract retain the next generation
• Increase competition, recognition and
  international visibility for excellent individual
  scientists and scholars in Europe ERC Advanced
  Grant? attractive prestigious grants for
  established leaders

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FP7 for HSS
2 Cooperation 623m WP 1 138.64m 15
Ideas 1,126.5m WP1 STG 43.4m Total 1,749.5
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Getting Informed about FP7

• Have an open mind!
• Explore multi-disciplinary opportunities
• Dont be put off by scare stories
• Think outside the box
• Get to know Europe!
• Register as an expert evaluator
• If new to FP, leverage expertise of veterans
• Make use of Enterprise Ireland development
  support grants
• Access Networks
• IRCHSS as an information and advisory service
• Events and website including EC speakers
• National Delegate and National Contact Point
• Join FP7 HSS Google group
• General information events e.g. Enterprise
  Ireland

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• European association of national organisations
  responsible for the support of scientific
  research.
• ESF brings European scientists together to work
  on topics of common interest, to facilitate
  cooperation in the use of large research
  facilities, and to discover and define new
  endeavours which will benefit from a cooperative
  approach.
• European Collaborative Research Projects (ECRP)
  responsive-mode, investigator-driven
  Collaborative Research Projects within all fields
  of Social Science in Europe. The ECRP Programme
  is designed to promote research of the highest
  quality, offering opportunities to test
  innovative ideas, pool expertise and strengthen
  research capacity in line with the objectives of
  the European Research Area.
• Networking activities QMSS, EARTH, NHIEST,
  GLOBALEURONET

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Activities II International

• Bi-lateral agreements ESRC, CNRS, Canada,
  Australia
• Ulysses
• ERA-NETS NORFACE and HERA

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NORFACE

• New Opportunities for Research Funding
  Co-operation in Europe
• a Strategy for Social Science
• Partnership between twelve Research Councils to
  increase co-operation in research and research
  policy in Europe
• Strategic Objectives
• Develop partnership in research funding policy
  and practice
• Develop a transnational research programme
• Extend to other European countries
• 3 stage plan of work
• Establishing the NORFACE management structure
• Information exchange, analysis and strategic
  thinking
• Launch a transnational research programme
• Activities and work packages include
  Transnational Programmes, Best practice studies,
  knowledge transfer, forward look, workshops,
  conferences, exchange visits
• Seminar Series, TNP in Migration Autumn 2008

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• Partnership between fifteen Humanities Research
  Councils across Europe and the European Science
  Foundation, with the objective of firmly
  establishing the humanities in the European
  Research Area and in the Framework Programmes.
• HERA has been designed to deliver new levels of
  co-operative research policy and practice in the
  humanities by embarking on an ambitious programme
  of communication, enquiry and sharing of
  expertise.
• Activities include Establishment of best
  practice in funding mechanisms, research
  priorities, humanities infrastructure and the
  development of a joint funding programme 2009
  Theme of Cultural Dynamics and Creativity
  Innovation.

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Results of International Activity

• Broadening of network and research capacity
• Added value
• Sharing of best practice and expertise
• Value for money

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NCP Activities

• Information service Join the google group
  http//groups.google.ie/group/fp7hss
• Interface for researchers and the commission
• Lobbying the commission eg gaps in the work
  programme
• Assist in Partner Searches
• Assist and Advise with applications
• Pre-reads
• Host information events

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Cooperation Research areas

• Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities in FP 7
• Addressing major challenges facing Europe and the
  World
• Growth, employment, competitiveness
• Combining economic, social and environmental
  objectives (sustainable development) e.g.
  socio-economic models, economic and social
  cohesion.
• Major trends in society (initially) demographic
  trends, quality of life, cultural interactions
• Global interactions and interdependencies
  conflicts and peace.
• Participation, democracy, governance European
  diversities and commonalities.

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Cooperation topics

• ACTIVITY 8.1 GROWTH, EMPLOYMENT AND
  COMPETITIVENESS IN A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY THE
  EUROPEAN CASE
• Area 8.1.1 Changing role of knowledge throughout
  the economy
• Area 8.1.2 Structural changes in the European
  knowledge economy and society
• Area 8.1.3 Strengthening policy coordination
  coherence in Europe
• ACTIVITY 8.2 COMBINING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
  ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES IN A EUROPEAN
  PERSPECTIVE PATHS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
  DEVELOPMENT
• Area 8.2.1 Socio-economic development
  trajectories
• Area 8.2.2 Regional, territorial and social
  cohesion
• ACTIVITY 8.3 MAJOR TRENDS IN SOCIETY AND THEIR
  IMPLICATIONS
• Area 8.3.1 Demographic changes
• Area 8.3.2 Societal trends and lifestyles
• Area 8.3.3 Cultural interactions in an
  international perspective

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Cooperation topics

• ACTIVITY 8.4 EUROPE IN THE WORLD
• Area 8.4.1 Interactions and interdependences
  between world regions and their implications
• Area 8.4.2 Conflicts, peace and human rights
• Area 8.4.3 Europes changing role in the world
• ACTIVITY 8.5 THE CITIZEN IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
• Area 8.5.1 Participation and Citizenship in
  Europe
• Area 8.5.2 Diversities and Commonalities in
  Europe
• ACTIVITY 8.6 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC
  INDICATORS
• Area 8.6.1 How indicators are used in policy
• Area 8.6.2 Developing better indicators for
  policy
• Area 8.6.3 Provision of underlying official
  statistics
• Area 8.6.4 Development of methods for the
  evaluation of research policies and programmes

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• Cooperation Theme 8 Work Programme Call Content
  
• ACTIVITY 8.7 FORESIGHT ACTIVITIES
• Area 8.7.1 Forward Visions on the European
  Research Area
• Area 8.7.2 Research, research policy and
  interrelations with other policy areas (including
  joined-up policies)
• Area 8.7.3 The Future Dynamics of Key ST Actors
  in Europe
• Area 8.7.4 Blue Sky Research on Emerging Issues
  Affecting European ST
• Area 8.7.5 Mutual Learning and Cooperation
• ACTIVITY 8.8 STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES

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IRCHSS Contact Points

• National Schemes
• Fiona Davis, Programme Manager
• EU/International Activities
• Sorcha Carthy, European Projects Officer
• info_at_irchss.ie
• www.irchss.ie