Applications are invited for the British Journal of Educational Technology (BJET) Early Career International Fellowship. This one-year fellowship, which includes funding of up to £5,000, will be awarded to the individual who submits the most compelling proposal for a piece of research in the field of educational technology.

The fellowship should lead to the submission of an academic paper to BJET by no later than 31 December 2022. A progress report should also be provided to the BJET editors every six months. You will be required to write an article for the BERA Blog and, should you wish, for BERA’s members’ magazine, Research Intelligence about your research.

Eligibility

We welcome proposals from early career researchers who meet the following criteria.

• Either hold a PhD that was awarded no earlier than 2016 (although submissions from current doctoral students close to submission will also be considered) or possess equivalent research training/experience.
• Are currently based at an institution or organisation in one of the low- or lower-middle-income countries listed below.
• Propose to undertake their research in one or more of the low- or lower-middle-income countries listed in the annexe below.

There are no other eligibility criteria in relation to age or experience. It is expected that, if they are not already a member, the successful applicant will join the British Educational Research Association (BERA) once the fellowship commences. The cost of this membership can be covered by BERA.

Submitting a proposal

Other than a focus on educational technology there is no specific theme for submissions, and proposals can relate to any education sector (early years, primary, secondary, higher education and so on). However, proposals should very clearly indicate how they relate to the aims and scope of BJET.

Some examples of potential research topics include the following.

1. Supporting changing modes of learning/learners’ changing needs outside school through, for example, increased community learning, individualised learning, and/or collaborative uses of technology at a distance.
2. The impact of technology use on learning practices, and/or on the role of parents and others.
3. Teachers’ and learners’ perspectives on the design and implementation of online learning.
4. A critical appraisal of appropriate/useful technologies for effective out-of-school learning in specific contexts.
5. Specific challenges faced by low- and lower-middle-income countries in addressing the needs of out-of-school learners.

Research should take a critical stance and engage with the methodological, practical or social challenges and implications.

How to apply

Applications must be made by 1 May 2021, and should not exceed 1,500 words in length. Interviews of the shortlisted candidates will take place (via Zoom) during May 2021. The successful applicant will be notified by 31 May 2021 and will take up their fellowship on 1 July 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Your application should set out:

1. The aim, design, methods and anticipated outcomes of the research according to the criteria below.
2. How the proposed research is timely and would make a significant contribution to the field.
3. Confirmation that you are both currently based in a low- or lower-middle-income country and propose to undertake research in a low- or lower-middle-income country. Include the name of your host institution/organisation, to which funding would be paid.
4. Confirmation that you are an early career researcher and have received your PhD in or since 2016 (or are close to submission), or evidence of equivalent experience.
5. The proposed timescale of the work, bearing in mind the deadlines discussed above.
6. How the available funding of up to £5,000 would be spent to support the direct costs of the proposed research (see below).
7. A CV.

The criteria for assessing the proposals are as follows.

Please note that the available funding can only be used to support the direct costs of the research activities outlined in the applicant’s proposal. Funding can support research expenses and the main applicant’s time on the project where this is not already covered by their institution.

Funding will be provided, in GBP, to the fellowship recipient’s host institution/organisation. A final payment schedule will be agreed with the successful applicant as a condition of their acceptance. Please note that no more than 25 per cent of the available funding can be paid to the recipient, via that institution, in advance of the project’s commencement.

Applying is a two stage process.

1. Please click here to submit your details to the BERA website.
2. Please email your research proposal to membership@bera.ac.uk.  

Both application stages should be completed by 1 May 2020.

For technical queries regarding your application, please contact publications@bera.ac.uk.

For academic queries regarding your application, please contact Dr Louis Major, lcm54@cam.ac.uk.

Annexe: Eligible countries

Please note that this list of eligible countries remains subject to change according to the most current advice issued by the UK government. A final determination of eligibility will be undertaken at the time of the award.

• Afghanistan

• Algeria

• Angola

• Bangladesh

• Benin

• Bhutan

• Bolivia

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cabo Verde

• Cambodia

• Cameroon

• Central African Republic

• Chad

• Comoros

• Congo, Dem. Rep.

• Congo, Rep.

• Cote d’Ivoire

• Djibouti

• Egypt, Arab Rep.

• El Salvador

• Eritrea

• Eswatini

• Ethiopia

• Gambia, The

• Ghana

• Guinea

• Guinea-Bissau

• Haiti

• Honduras

• India

• Kenya

• Kiribati

• Korea, Dem. People’s Rep.

• Kyrgyz Republic

• Lao PDR

• Lesotho

• Liberia

• Madagascar

• Malawi

• Mali

• Mauritania

• Micronesia, Fed. Sts.

• Moldova

• Mongolia

• Morocco

• Mozambique

• Myanmar

• Nepal

• Nicaragua

• Niger

• Nigeria

• Pakistan

• Papua New Guinea

• Philippines

• Rwanda

• Sao Tome and Principe

• Senegal

• Sierra Leone

• Solomon Islands

• Somalia

• South Sudan

• Sri Lanka

• Sudan

• Tajikistan

• Tanzania

• Timor-Leste

• Togo

• Tunisia

• Uganda

• Uzbekistan

• Vanuatu

• Vietnam

• West Bank and Gaza

• Yemen, Rep.

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe