Programme document 2007-2010

Programme Document 2007-2010

This document presents the objectives, design, and priorities of the programme, as well as information required for potential applicants.

Further information is available from the application forms and guidelines.

Objective
The general objective of the programme is to strengthen cooperation between Russia and Norway in higher education and research with particular emphasis on areas of significance for the High North region. The Norwegian Government’s High North strategy represents an important background for the priorities of the programme.

By funding cooperation in higher education and research between universities, university colleges and research institutions in Russia and Norway the programme aims to initiate long-term collaboration projects. Mutual benefit between education and research is an important goal for the programme.

Programme design
The programme is designed to stimulate collaboration between institutions. In any application the management of the participating institutions must agree to the activities that are funded through the programme. Funding of projects will take place on the basis of an agreement between the Norwegian partner and the Research Council of Norway or SIU. However, the collaborating institutions have a mutual responsibility for planning, follow-up and reporting of the projects.

SIU and The Research Council of Norway will establish a Programme Committee which will have the responsibility for coordination of the programme and the authority to select the activities that are to be funded within framework of the programme. The project applications will be reviewed according to the rules of The Research Council of Norway and SIU and will be presented for the Programme Committee for decision.

Priority areas
Geographically, cooperation with Northwest Russia is a priority. However, cooperation will not be restricted to this region.

In the agreement between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education, the following subject areas are emphasized:

• Petroleum and energy, with particular emphasis on the promotion of health, safety and environmental issues in exploration, extraction and transport in connection with off-shore activities.
• Sustainable management and commercial exploitation of maritime resources in the Barents Sea and protection of the arctic marine environment in the Arctic Ocean, including mapping and surveillance of the marine environment.
• The development of a broad business sector, including ICT, tourism, the marine sector and technology related to environmental protection.
• Subject areas from the humanities, social sciences and other fields aimed at increased knowledge of socio-economic, political and living conditions specific for the High North, including public health. The gender perspective and strengthening of the civil society are important dimensions.
• Collaboration projects that will strengthen cooperation and contact between Russia and Norway, for example language training.

Issues related to the indigenous population constitute an important dimension for the Cooperation Programme.

Eligible applicants and activities
Eligible for funding are higher education institutions and research institutions in Norway in cooperation with similar institutions in Russia.

Eligible activities include:

• Research cooperation within the prioritised thematic areas.
• Cooperation based on the goals of the Bologna-process, such as: the development of new study programmes (primarily master or Ph.D. level), joint programmes or degrees, introduction of the ECTS system.
• Exchange of visiting professors/scientists between cooperating institutions.
• Establishing networks within higher education and research.
• Seminars, workshops and conferences with Norwegian and Russian partners within the project collaboration or related to the prioritised thematic areas.

Both Norway and Russia are members of the Bologna Process, which will represent an important background for cooperation in education. In education, priority will be given to projects at the MA and PhD-level. However, projects on BA-level may be supported as well.

All planned activities must be considered in light of the main objectives of the programme. The projects’ potential for strengthening Norwegian-Russian cooperation and for the development of long-term partnership and collaboration will be decisive in selection of activities.

The programme encourages projects that combine research and higher education. It is important that applicants consider how collaboration can be made sustainable and continue when project funding ceases. Funding from other sources will be given weight in the selection of projects.

Applications
The programme invites applications from projects of up to four years duration. Long-term cooperation projects must document progress according to plans after the first year in order to receive continued funding.

Applications with the main emphasis on research cooperation should be sent to The Research Council of Norway.

On-line application forms are available at: http://www.forskningsradet.no

Applications with main emphasis on cooperation in higher education including the PhD-level should be sent to the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education.

Future call for proposals will be announced on SIU's website in due time before deadlines.