Innovation and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics)

Application Deadline: 26^th of April 2018

AfricaLics – the African Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems is looking for suitable PhD student candidates from universities in African countries to participate in the AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowship Programme focused on innovation and development. The programme allows successful candidates a study period of five month at the Department of Business and Management, Aalborg University, Denmark.

The aim of the scholarships and the visiting fellowship programme is to help African PhD students working in the field of innovation and development to strengthen their academic/research qualifications; improve quality of their dissertations and prepare for a career in innovation and development either within academia or outside (e.g. in the private sector or in government/policy making).

The visiting fellowship programme does this by increasing the international mobility and level of exposure of the PhD students to international knowledge in the field of innovation and development. The programme forms part of the efforts by AfricaLics to contribute to the development of a vibrant research community in Africa in this emerging field. Funding for the visiting scholarships is provided by the Swedish Development Agency, Sida (Stockholm) as part of the project Enhancing research capacity on Innovation and Development in Africa through the African Network on Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics) – Phase II (2017-2021).

Eligibility Requirements:

• The scholarship option is open to PhD students from low and lower-middle income countries in Africa whose studies – irrespective of sectoral discipline – focus on innovation and development. Female PhD students are particularly encouraged to apply as AfricaLics endeavours to contribute to increasing the currently low number of female scholars in Innovation and Development research studies in Africa. Likewise, PhD students from low-income countries are particularly encouraged to apply as AfricaLics endeavours to increase research capacity in Innovation and Development in low-income countries in Africa.
• Applicants must be enrolled as PhD students at African universities and must have completed their first year of PhD studies by February 2019. A maximum of four visiting scholarships are available for 2019.
• The visiting scholarship is complementary to the studies of the PhD students and applicants must already have secured basic funding for their PhD studies from other sources (e.g. African governments, other organisations, self-financing).
• The programme gives priority to students working on topics related to the research themes identified by the AfricaLics network as important to the future of Africa.

Participation in the AfricaLics PhD Visiting Programme will eventually form part of the wider PhD study plan for each applicant, which may hence include various elements such as:

1. Initial theoretical studies/taught courses and fieldwork in home country/country where the student is already enrolled as a PhD student (first year must have been concluded by February 2019).
2. Maximum of five months visit to Aalborg University to focus on writing up thesis or articles that are part of the PhD thesis.
3. Participation in relevant events (e.g. IKE seminars, DRUID academies or conferences) and one or two carefully selected PhD training courses in Denmark taking place during the study period (see https://phdcourses.dk/).
4. Students accepted into the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme will be encouraged to work on papers for submission to and possible presentation at up-coming Globelics/AfricaLics conferences or academies as participation in these activities implies exposure to the wider Globelics/AfricaLics community.
5. Return to home country and continue work on PhD dissertation in order to finalize and submit.

Benefits:

• The organisers at AAU will provide information on accommodation options in Aalborg.
• Visiting fellows pay for accommodation themselves using funds available from the stipend and are also welcome to organise their own accommodation.

Additional information on terms and conditions

1. Travel costs (economy class) and health insurance will be covered, but students have to be registered with the Danish authorities before the health insurance becomes active. This may take some time. Students must therefore take out their own health insurance for the first two weeks of the stay.
2. The visiting scholars will receive a stipend of 14.500 DKK per month (equivalent to app. 2380 USD as per March 2018). A fixed amount has also been set aside to cover student participation in selected course activities and for supervision (over and above the stipend). Finally, funding is available for organizing trilateral meetings between the PhD student, the main supervisor from home institution and the AAU mentor during the study period at AAU.
3. The scholarship covers only costs related to the visit of the student him/herself. Costs related to accompanying spouses, children or others are not covered. If family members are accompanying the PhD student during the study period in Denmark, AAU needs to be informed about this at the latest when the student confirms participation in the fellowship programme.

Application Procedure:

Applicants for the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme should:

• Be enrolled as a PhD student at a university in Africa.
• Have completed their first year of studies by February 2019 (upgrade/probation)
• Possess adequate skills in English (documentation may be requested. Language tests that are accepted are listed on the AAU web-page: http://www.en.aau.dk/education/apply/master/admission-requirements/#ar3)
• Be working actively on a subject relevant to the field of innovation and development defined as the study and management of processes that link innovation to development. Innovation is broadly defined as spanning from “new to the world inventions” to the diffusion and use of technology new to the user, including competence building among users of innovation.
• Submit a brief application 1 page/500 words explaining own background, motivation for applying and expected outcomes of participation in the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme

The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Brief outline of your current PhD project including training plan (max. 5 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae – CV (including PhD courses attended so far)
• Letter of support from the main PhD supervisor
• Letter of support from the University Administration at the university where the PhD student is enrolled
• Copies of academic certificates (copies of Bachelor and Master Certificates as a minimum)
• One writing sample (article or chapter) from current PhD program

Applications with all relevant attachments should be forwarded to [email protected] by  26^th of April 2018 (COB).

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the AfricaLics Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme 2018/2019