Support for International Mobility – PEI [CLOSED]
As part of the I-SITE Excellence Program, the University of Montpellier is launching a call for proposals titled “Support for International Mobility – EXPLORE #4” to promote international exchanges and collaborations, enhance the campus’s appeal and visibility, and help shape new initiatives. [This call is now closed.]
The “EXPLORE#4 2022” call for projects is the first to be launched following confirmation that the University of Montpellier has been awarded the I-SITE designation, and as part of the I-SITE Excellence Program (P.E.I.). This call for proposals has two components: (1) support for individual incoming or outgoing mobility, and (2) support for outgoing group mobility.
Objective
This call for proposals aims to promote international exchanges and collaborations, enhance the site’s appeal and visibility, and contribute to the development of new initiatives. The program is part of a broader project aimed at building the university of tomorrow, which will remain open and inclusive. Therefore, any project that explores new international collaborations, meets the general conditions and objectives of this call, and offers significant added value to the P.E.I., may be considered for funding—including projects whose themes do not directly correspond to the three pillars of Nourish, Heal, and Protect.
Collaborative projects with universities or key partners
As in previous editions, the EXPLORE#4 international mobility program gives a strong—though not exclusive—preference to collaborations with the P.E.I.’s preferred universities or partners—including non-academic ones—as well as theUM partnersUM CHARM-EU project. Applications may also draw upon existing programs offered by P.E.I. members active internationally (see list below).
FUNDED ACTIVITIES
This fourth edition of the EXPLORE program features two separate initiatives aimed at teachers, Professors, researchers, doctoral students, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff.
1 Incoming or outgoing individual mobility
- to explore new international collaboration projects through:
- Ph.D. students, with a view to planning their career path after completing their dissertation
- Teachers, faculty members who are also researchers, and researchers (whether tenured or on contract at the time of the mobility period)
- Engineers, technicians, or administrative staff (permanent employees or contract employees at the time of the mobility period)
2 Outbound Group Mobility Programs
To develop new international collaborations (educational, academic, and/or scientific) for a group (maximum of 5 people) from research and/or educational institutions within the P.E.I. scope (teachers, Professors, researchers, doctoral students, engineers, technicians, or administrative staff). These group mobility initiatives aim to organize a training program, establish an international institutional partnership, and/or develop a foundational research project.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submit applications and send the application package, in PDF format, named as follows: LastName_EXPLORE4, by email no later than December 2, 2022 (12:00 p.m., Paris time).
- Completed Application Form
- Letter of support bearing the approval stamp of the director of the candidate’s educational and/or research institution, or of the candidate’s supervisor for administrative staff
- Letter of invitation from the director of the host educational and/or research institution
Any incomplete application will not be considered.
Allocated Resources
The budget allocated to the EXPLORE#4 program is 420K€.
Environmental Responsibility
Mindful of global climate issues, APP EXPLORE#4 encourages participants to reduce their environmental impact and, whenever possible, choose less polluting modes of transportation (train over plane).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Financial support covers mobility periods lasting a minimum of 5 days (excluding travel days) and a maximum of 30 days.
As in previous editions, the EXPLORE#4 international mobility program shows a strong, though not exclusive, preference for collaborations with the P.E.I.’s preferred universities and partners—including non-academic ones—as well as partners in the European CHARMEU alliance.
The target geographic regions and countries are listed here: Strategic Partnerships – Montpellier University of Excellence (umontpellier.fr).
NORTH AMERICA
, Université Laval, Quebec (Canada), University of California, Davis (United States)
CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICA
INTA (Argentina), University of São Paulo (Brazil), Embrapa (Brazil), CATIE (Costa Rica)
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry (Guinea), Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar (Senegal), University of Pretoria (South Africa)
ASIA – SOUTHEAST ASIA
, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing (China)
EUROPE & THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION
, American University of Beirut (Lebanon), Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary), Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, Rabat (Morocco), Trinity College
, Dublin (Ireland), University of Barcelona (Spain), University of Porto (Portugal), Utrecht University (Netherlands), Wageningen University (Netherlands), Abo Akademy (Finland), University of Würzburg (Germany), and Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences (Germany).
The AAP EXPLORE#4 program provides funding for stipends, consisting of:
- a per diem allowance, which varies depending on the country of destination (see the Order of July 3, 2006, setting the rates for mission allowances), and is capped at 30 per diem allowances,
- coverage of transportation costs (based on actual expenses and limited to one round trip per beneficiary) subject to a cap (see below):
Distance… Maximum (distance between the start and end points calculated using the ’a tool developed by the European Commission.- From 0 to 999 km … €600
- From 1,000 to 7,999 km… 1,300€
- Over 8,000 km, 2,000€
Evaluation Criteria
- Alignment with the scientific vision “ Nourish – Care – Protect,” and open to all topics and disciplines that can contribute to it;
- The application must be exploratory and strategic in nature and demonstrate added value for the P.E.I. (enhancing excellence, acquiring new skills, innovation), including for mobility requests from staff members whose work does not directly fall under these themes;
- Stimulating the openness of Montpellier's communities to international collaboration by enhancing the partnership networks of institutions dedicated to the international stage and by developing collaborations with public or private stakeholders in the fields of training, research and development, or for pedagogical and organizational innovation;
- Collaborative effects are fostered within the P.E.I. through group mobility initiatives that may involve multiple P.E.I. training and/or research institutions. Host and sending institutions are expected to commit to the exchange, particularly in terms of the human and financial resources they mobilize. Collaborations between training and research institutions involved in the P.E.I. will be particularly encouraged.
Funding for mobility for the sole purpose of attending a symposium or conference is excluded from the EXPLORE call for projects.
Evaluation
Following an administrative review of the applications by the Office of International Relations, the applications will be forwarded for evaluation to the EXPLORE Evaluation Committee, chaired by theUM Vice President for International RelationsUM composed of members of theUM Academic Council (
, the directors of the five Research Clusters, representatives of the LabEx programs, and representatives of the P.E.I.’s partner institutions. The committee will evaluate the eligible applications and propose a ranking to be submitted toUM Strategic Investment CommitteeUM COMIS).
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submit applications and send the application package, in PDF format, named as follows: LastName_EXPLORE4, by email no later than December 2, 2022 (12:00 p.m., Paris time).
- Completed Application Form
- Letter of support bearing the approval stamp of the director of the candidate’s educational and/or research institution, or of the candidate’s supervisor for administrative staff
- Letter of invitation from the director of the host educational and/or research institution. Any incomplete application will not be considered.
Calendar
- Date the call for applications was launched: October 28, 2022
- Application deadline: Friday, December 2, 2022 (12:00 p.m., Paris time)
- Announcement of results: sometime in January 2023
- Mobility Assignments: From February 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, at the latest