Social Science Cooperation India-Netherlands

The Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) would like to promote social science research collaborations between scholars and their institutions in India and The Netherlands. They therefore have started a joint Scholar Exchange scheme aimed at staff with an academic or research appointment, up to senior professors. The purpose of this scheme is to strengthen the quality and potential of research in both countries by building greater research interaction.

Who can apply

Applicants must be social scientists and employed in a research or academic position in a recognised research or academic institution in that country (For The Netherlands this refers to the Dutch universities, NWO and KNAW institutes and international centres for scientific education based in The Netherlands (IHS, ISS, ITC, MSM, UNESCO-IHE)). They must hold a PhD or equivalent qualification, and have held this for at least three years by September 2011 (i.e., since at least September 2008). The Councils are particularly interested in applicants about to make major contributions in their research area. Earlycareer and female researchers are especially invited to submit a proposal.

What can be applied for

Applications may be made to undertake clearly specified research collaborations for periods of visits between 1 and 3 months:

• a maximum of 10,000 euro for Indian scholars to visit a Netherlands research group or centre;
• maximum of 500,000 rupees for Netherlands scholars to visit an Indian research group or centre.

There is no fixed focus to the subjects in which the exchanges might be based, and the Councils are interested in these across the social sciences.

The Councils will however be particularly but not exclusively (as indicated above) interested in applications in such areas as:

1. Changing life courses;
2. Science, technology and society (STS);
3. Global relationships;
4. Poverty and inequality.

The Call provides further information on the specific topics in these areas. Applicants are not expected or required to be working on research topics specifically concerned with India or The Netherlands (though this is not excluded).

When can be applied

Closing date for submitting applications for visits in 2012 (with March 2013 as last
period of the visit) is 15 September 2011, 16:00 hrs. local time.

Extra Information

The Councils expect to be able to make up to 10 awards during 2012, with arrangements for the visit to be completed not later than March 2012, and the visit to be taken up during 2012, with a deadline of March 2013. The Councils expect but do not require that five of the visits will be to The Netherlands and the other five to India.

Criteria

Proposals will be assessed for their academic merit and the track record of the applicant.
Details are available in the Call and Guidelines.

Procedure

The proposals are evaluated by the Joint Advisory Committee in October and November and the outcome will be available not later than 30 November 2011.

Committees

The Joint Advisory Committee consist of social scientists from India and The
Netherlands.

Financiers

NWO Division for Social Sciences (MaGW) and WOTRO Science for Global Development.

Contacts

• Ms dr. C.J.H. Govers (NWO)
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 06 73, e-mail: sscin@nwo.nl
• Bos Mw. C.L. (NWO)
  phone: 40763, e-mail: c.l.bos@nwo.nl
• Dr K. N. Jehangir (ICSSR)
  phone: +9111 2674 2351, e-mail: knjehangir@hotmail.com