CCCS 2024 Seed Funding Available

CCCS Seed Funding Guidelines

The Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS) is committed to actively supporting high quality research, teaching and engagement that furthers our understanding of China’s ongoing transformation and the impacts of this transformation within and beyond China.

The purpose of our Seed Grants is to encourage and support new research ideas, collaborations and high-quality publications by University of Melbourne staff and research higher degree (RHD) students, with a focus on contemporary China studies.

In 2024, we will support 6-8 projects, each with funding up to AU$4,000.

For the 2024 round of the CCCS Seed Grants, projects that align with the Centre’s current research focuses will be prioritised, but applications for other research themes are also welcome.

CCCS current research focuses:

· China’s global engagement in Australia, the Southeast Asia and the Pacific Regions

· Chinese diaspora, migrants, and international students in Australia

· China’s civil society, social development, and governance

· China’s diverse ethnolinguistic and cultural traditions and changes

· Chinese rural and environmental policies and development.)

[Projects that bring together CCCS members at the University of Melbourne in collaboration with CCCS associates and academics and RHD students from other institutions are desirable, but not required]

Important dates (Melbourne time)

• Applications Open: Thursday 15 August 2024
• Applications Close: 5pm, Monday 16 September 2024
• Outcomes Announced: Early October 2024

Eligibility

The project lead must hold an appointment (fixed-term or ongoing) at the University of Melbourne, of any fraction, and for the duration of the proposed project to be funded by the grant (note: an X account is needed to receive the grant). Casual, honorary, and adjunct academic staff, and RHD students can also be included as co-investigators. A project lead who has previously been awarded a grant is not eligible to apply (as project lead) within the two years following the last grant.

The proposed research should not already be receiving University/Faculty/School/external funding.

Application Process

Please complete the application form below and email to china-centre@unimelb.edu.au, using the subject title: CCCS Seed Funding Application 2024_Name of Applicant.

Application deadline: 5pm Monday 16 September 2024 (Melbourne time)

If you have any questions or further enquiries, please contact us at china-centre@unimelb.edu.au.

Selection Process

Applications will be assessed by a judging panel comprised of members of the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies  and experts in relevant fields.

Projects will be evaluated against the following criteria:

· Relevance of the proposals to the Centre’s current research focuses

· Quality of proposals in terms of originality, impact and feasibility

· Opportunity for collaboration and sustainable partnerships

· Cost effectiveness

Members of the judging panel shall declare any actual, perceived, or potential conflicts of interest at the time that they are informed about who has applied for the grants. If the Chair of the panel has a significant conflict of interest, he/she must relinquish his/her position as Chair to one of other judging panel members.

Use of Funds

Projects should be costed in line with the University’s financial policies and procedures, and funding amounts are at the discretion of CCCS.

The grant funds should usually be dispersed within 12 months. Eligible funding items include research assistance, purchasing data, translation or transcript services, travel and workshop costs, research findings dissemination and communication costs.

Acquittal and Reporting

Within six months from receipt of the funding, successful grantees must complete and submit an interim report, using the provided template form.

Within three months from the conclusion of the project, successful grantees must complete and submit a final report, using the provided template form. Project outcome statements should  be concrete in the forms of media reports or journal papers or manuscripts, conference/seminar presentations, and/or evidence of progress in the ongoing research project and collaboration.

Successful grantees will be expected to contribute a written research brief (approx. 500 words) highlighting the findings, to be published on the CCCS website.

Intellectual property is governed in accordance with University of Melbourne’s policies and procedures.

Conditions of Grant

The nominated lead investigator will be the contact person for all administrative matters for the granted research project.

All projects must be conducted in accordance with relevant University policies, including compliance with the Code of Conduct for Research and Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) requirements.

Successful applicants may be invited to present their work at CCCS events and forums.