British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
UK-Africa Academic Partnerships
NB: This scheme is now run as the British Academy International Partnerships scheme.
In an initiative developed by the British Academy's Africa Panel, two awards of up to £10,000 a year for up to three years are available to support the development of ongoing links between UK and African research centres or institutions, within the humanities and social sciences. The link would be built around a specific research theme of mutual interest. This could be carried forward through visits in both directions; workshops; seminars and lecture programmes; collaborative research; and joint publications. The programme might form part of either institution's training programme and will ideally involve participation from more than one African institution, and might also involve more than one department/university/group/research centre in the UK.
Aim of the award: The scheme is intended to foster UK-Africa links, with an emphasis on helping scholars in the UK and Africa to develop research skills and to produce a joint research outcome.
Scope: Priority will be given to projects with a training element, such as the support and development of staff or postgraduate students (in the UK and in Africa). The scheme is intended to benefit early-career scholars from both the UK and Africa, and projects will be highly regarded where they include junior academics from both sides. Visits might be undertaken for staff exchange, supplying teaching elements to courses and developing joint curricula. Workshops and seminars should form an integral part of the programme, and involve both staff and postgraduate students. It is expected that each programme should produce papers or some other joint research outcome designed for publication.
Level of award: Grants are offered up to a maximum of £10,000 per year for up to 3 years.
Period of award: up to 3 years. Funding for years 2 and 3 will be conditional upon receipt of satisfactory annual progress reports.
See awards made in 2006 and 2007.
Please contact the International Relations Department for further advice.