Universities Grant Scheme Programme

Universities Grant Scheme Programme

This Call for Proposals has two specific objectives, which all projects should respond to: 

• to establish and strengthen long-term sustainable cooperation and partnerships between universities in Türkiye, EU Member States and candidate countries; and promote dialogue between the relevant categories of Turkish and EU counterparts
• To encourage exchange of knowledge and best practices on planning and implementation of EU policies.

Indicative allocation of funds

Size of grants

Any grant awarded under this programme must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:

• minimum amount: EUR 150.000
• maximum amount: EUR 465.000

A grant may not be for less than 50 % of the total eligible costs of the action.

In addition, no grant may exceed 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action The balance must be financed from the applicant's or partners' own resources in cash, or from sources other than the European Community budget.

Eligibility of applicants: who may apply

(1) In order to be eligible for a grant, applicants must:

• be legal persons, and
• be non profit making and
• be a university, research institute and/or think tank and
• be nationals[1] of the Republic of Türkiye and
• be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action, and not acting as an intermediary

Partners

Applicants must act with partner organisations as specified hereafter. Applicants must have at least one eligible partner from a Member State  or a Candidate Country (other than Türkiye)  of the European Union. Partners from Republic of Türkiye are eligible but not sufficient to comply with the eligibility criteria for applicants.

Duration

The planned duration of an action may not be lower than 12 months nor exceed 18 months.

Sectors or themes

Projects must cover at least one of the following thematic areas:

1. Scientific Interaction  (economics, law, social sciences and history)
2. Networking Activities
3. Multiculturalism
4. Institutions and Policies of European Union, EU Enlargement and effects of Türkiye's candidature to join the EU

Location

Actions must take place in one or more of the following countries: Türkiye, EU Member States, Candidate countries .

The projects should aim to establish long-term cooperation between Turkish universities and their EU counterparts, going beyond the time frame for EU support provided in the frame of the present project

The projects should aim at accelerating the acquisition by Turkish universities, through cooperation with EU universities, of analytical skills and academic know-how related to the process of European integration and enlargement and may include the following types of actions:

• Joint researches carried out by two or more partners;Joint degree and/or research programmes organised together by two or more universities;
• Multidisciplinary research activities
• Creating expert task forces;
• Visiting fellowships, scholarships for lecturers and researchers in particular in the subject of law, economy, social science, history and Türkiye's EU integration that are relevant to the EU-Türkiye dialogue; 
• Establishment and transfer of best practices and procedures;
• Development and implemention of training programmes for members of universities and other stakeholders on topics related with the grant scheme's thematic areas;
• Accelerating the acquisition by Turkish universities, through cooperation with EU universities, of analytical skills and academic know-how related to the process of European integration and enlargement.
• Awareness raising activities aimed at wide dissemination of the research results, creating increased awareness and understanding on specific issues related to the EU acquis and the candidature of Türkiye;
• Thematic seminars, (technical) workshops, (technical) meetings and conferences;
• Study visits on a predetermined topic;
• Dissemination of information through website, newsletter, media and other means
• Publication of manuals and brochures;
• Public opinion surveys
• Cultural and social activities such as festivals, concerts, etc, wherever such actions do not represent the main project activities

In  addition, the following activities may be supported:

• Setting up common academic institutions open to students from both sides- such institutions should carry out research and training activities on EU and Turkish identity, history, culture and civilization as well as develop teaching programmes on EU integration;
• Cooperation or setting up of local branches of graduate and postgraduate EU and Turkish academic institutions.

However, such initiatives are likely to involve considerable costs and it is expected that the grants considered here would only cover a relatively minor portion of these.  Activities falling within these categories will need to be supported by detailed preparatory work and have credible long term financing plans to ensure their sustainability.

Moreover, all projects have to include the following obligatory activities:

• Information campaigns and events (seminars, conferences, internet forums, etc) in Türkiye and/or in EU member states that target the involvement of wider community groups - NGO's, business sectors, etc;
• Actions and events for promotion of the project and for ensuring the visibility of EU support.

Application documents for Universities Grant Scheme Programme. (Zip-Format-459 KB)