The Connect4Innovation: UK-Türkiye Higher Education Institutional Partnership Fund is the grant scheme that supports and enables institutional partnerships between universities from the UK and Türkiye for running a joint project that will support greater internationalisation of HE institutions and transnational education (TNE). We want to create new links, and innovative and sustainable partnerships through joint activities and projects to strengthen transnational education collaborations between universities from the UK and Türkiye.
It is part of the work of the British Council in higher education and science which aims to extend, strengthen, and deepen connections between the UK education sector and Türkiye. It is motivated by the belief that international collaboration produces more effective research for addressing global problems while enhancing teaching and learning to produce graduates with the skills necessary for economic development. Enhancing internationalisation, institutional-transnational partnerships, and inclusion will support higher education institutions to improve quality and thus increase the skills and knowledge essential for their students’ successful careers in a rapidly changing workplace.
We are inviting universities in Türkiye and the UK to submit joint applications for projects which focus on one or more primary themes.
We are aiming to support projects which offer a clearly articulated benefit for developing institutional/transnational education partnerships which can focus on one or more primary themes, including designing and delivering joint qualifications, enhancing student outcomes and employability skills, strengthening institutional capacity in the areas of governance, leadership, quality assurance, and management, and creating new career pathways and career development programmes for staff, students, and graduates.
In order to align with industry or social needs, projects should also include a third partner (Supportive Partner) such as an NGO, development agency, chamber of commerce, organised industry zone, or municipality.
Primary themes
We welcome project applications with the following primary themes:
- Designing and delivering UK-Türkiye joint teaching and collaboration model and a course or module that contributes towards joint UK and Turkish bachelor’s, master’s, or professional association qualification
- Enhancing student outcomes through significantly enhancing employability skills and prospects, e.g., an apprenticeship degree, aligning skill sets of students and graduates with industry needs.
- Improving the capacity of the institution/organisation for international working at the institutional level e.g., joint programmes for strengthening governance, leadership, quality assurance and management in institutions,
- Creating new and innovative career pathways and career development programmes for academics, professional staff, students and graduates, developing the capacity of internationalisation, student affairs and career counselling professionals.
- Climate change, green universities and green careers with a clear impact on graduates’ employability skills, in line with the United Nations’ priority themes.
- Earthquake Support Projects: The British Council in Türkiye is prepared to provide funding for project proposals that will be submitted by universities located in the earthquake zone, with a specific emphasis on the regions directly impacted by the earthquakes. Universities from the affected areas have the option to select one of the main themes mentioned earlier or choose from the additional special themes related to earthquake relief:
- Establishing collaborative training initiatives to enhance women's involvement in regional economic development and recovery efforts following earthquakes, while promoting their economic and social empowerment.
- Developing and delivering joint certificate programs focusing on professional skills for individuals impacted by the earthquakes. These programs should aim to provide valuable training and enhance the capabilities of those affected.