APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

• About the Award
• How do we define Design
• What the Award covers
• Criteria and eligibility
• What we mean by early-career researchers
• Deadline application form

About The Award

The Design Researcher Award (DRA) is available for early-career researchers to promote the development of ongoing design research cooperation between the UK and Australia. It supports new links between researchers through the provision of short term research visits to the UK in various areas of design.

The Award aims to develop new  links between higher education institutions and research centres in the UK and Australia, and encourage mobility and internationalism among early-career researchers for the exchange of information, ideas and knowledge.

It's funded under the Prime Minister’s Initiative for International Education (PMI2). Launched in April 2006, PMI2 is a five year strategy to secure the UK’s position as a leader in international education.  A major strand of PMI2 is the development of strong, strategic overseas partnerships.

How we define design

For the purposes of the Award , research can be in any area of design including:

• object design
• product, industrial and automotive design
• visual communication
• architecture, interior design, urban design, landscape design
• fashion design, textile design
• digital media design
• television, film and theatre design and exhibition design
• design management, design marketing, design education, design history and design theory

what we cover

The Awards fund short term visits to the UK.  Typically, these may be a single visit of between one and four months duration, or multiple visits. We expect to be able to offer 5-7 Awards in 2008 for travel between January 2009 and March 2010.

We are able to offer up to AU$7,000 per Award, which must be matched in cash by an Australian University or from other sources. The Award can be paid directly to an individual researcher or through your Australian university or research institute if this is a criterion for matched funding.  Payment will be made at least three months prior to travel.

The Award is to cover mobility costs including airfares, subsistence, in-country travel etc. All applications must be fully budgeted on the Application form.  Awards are typically expected to be for single visits between one and four months, or multiple visits.

A small amount of the award can also be used for consumable equipment, up to $500, although it is expected that the UK receiving institution/s will provide most of these resources. If you are requesting an amount for consumable equipment you should provide a breakdown of items to be purchased.

Awards must be acquitted within 3 months of returning from the UK and you will be provided with a short form to complete at this time.

Criteria and eligibility

The Design Researcher Award (DRA) is expressly looking for long-term relationship building which may result in joint publications, exhibitions or student projects. It must be clearly stated in your Application form, how the research link will be sustained upon your return to Australia.

The Scholarship is open to Australian citizens or permanent residents. You will be assessed on academic merit; achievements to date both in and outside the academic area; support letters; proposed area of research; future academic career and leadership potential; and potential to further strengthen relationships and understanding between the UK and Australia.

You should have not lived, worked or studied in the UK for more than 12 months out of the three years immediately prior to 31 December 2008.

Travel to the UK must be between January 2009 and March 2010.

The application must be for a new link for the individual researcher. The exchange can be part of an already established link between institutions or research groups, but only as long as you have not been involved before. More than one researcher from the same sending institution can apply for an award, but each must submit an individual application.

You cannot apply to return to a research group where you previously studied or carried out research.  If you are applying to return to the same institution, you must explain why this constitutes a new link, for example to participate in research with a new research group in the institution.

As the Awards are aimed at supporting new research links between institutions, you will require the support of the Heads of Research from both the sending and receiving departments.

What do we mean by early career researchers?

The Award is open to:

• researchers currently undertaking a Masters or PhD by Research, OR
• researchers who have completed PhDs within the last five years (as at 31 December 2008) and in addition, hold a continuing or fixed-term academic position within an Australian university or research institute

Applicants undertaking a Masters who are actively considering converting this into a PhD will be well regarded.  Applicants undertaking a PhD who can provide evidence that they are taking up a continuing or fixed-term academic position within an Australian university or research institute once they have completed their PhD will be well regarded.

APPLICATION

All documents must be submitted electronically.

Your application form and CV should be emailed to the British Council as either PDF or Word documents.

The letters of support from the Heads of Research from both the sending and receiving institutions must be submitted on institutional letter headed paper. These should be scanned and also submitted electronically.

Application form (word)

Deadline for receipt of all applications including supporting information is 5pm 7 November 2008

There will be no formal interview but you, or your Head of Research, may be contacted by the British Council to discuss aspects of your application further.

For further information and the lodging of applications, contact Kirsten Freeman, kirsten.freeman@britishcouncil.org.au or call + 61 3 9523 2271

You will be informed of the outcome of your application by mid-December 2008.