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:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Funding

Funding of up to £25,000 per project will be available, which will cover the costs of year one of the project. Applicants are expected to cover 100% of the total budget for the second year of the project. The budget for the second year to be covered by the applicants must be equal to at least 50% of the total project budget requested. Applications that provide more matched funding and/or in-kind contributions will have an advantage.

Expected outputs

Possible outputs of the projects include:

  • A teaching and collaboration model and a course or module that contributes towards UK and Turkish joint bachelor’s, master’s, certification, or professional association qualification.
  • Staff or student mobility programmes within bachelor’s, master’s, or professional association qualification programmes.
  • A model and a course that contributes to student outcomes through significantly enhancing employability skills and prospects, e.g., an apprenticeship degree
  • A development programme to improve the capacity of the institution/organisation for international working at the institutional level e.g., joint digital training programmes and new models of experience sharing and capacity-building activities for internationalisation, student affairs, and career counseling professionals.
  • Pilot initiatives offering innovative solutions to strengthen governance, leadership, and management in higher education institutions and other relevant stakeholders towards internationalisation and establishing transnational education opportunities.
  • Design and delivery of course/training modules, in collaboration with community and industry leaders, focussing on the development of entrepreneurial, report writing, communication, teamworking, problem-solving, commercial awareness, leadership and organisation skills of students and graduates.
  • New business incubation services including business/enterprise hubs for students, continuous professional development centres, and internationalisation departments.
  • Scoping of innovative implementations and initiatives which provide green career pathways for academics, professional staff, students, and graduates.

Who can apply?

Joint UK-Türkiye higher education institution applications, in which Turkish Lead Higher Education Institution acts as the lead institution, will be accepted. 

  • One higher education institution from Türkiye (Türkiye Lead Higher Education Institution)
  • One higher education institution from the UK (UK Project Partner Higher Education Institution)
  • One supportive partner institution from Türkiye, such as:

- Municipalities 
- Research and development centres (for-profit organisations can only receive travel reimbursement from the fund) 
- Development agencies 
- NGOs 
- Education think-tanks
- Chambers of commerce
- Organised Industrial Zones

How to apply?

The deadline for the submission of applications is Monday, 28 August 2023, 23:59 Türkiye Time (GMT+3). The applications must clearly identify how the proposed activities will contribute to achieving/enhancing the primary themes of the fund. Applications must be sent to alimurat.guclu@britishcouncil.org.tr and must include:

  1. Annex 1 – Application Form
  2. Annex 2 – Budget Plan 
  3. Annex 3 – Equal Opportunities Questionnaire
  4. Letters of support from:
  • Turkish Lead Higher Education Institution 
  • UK Project Partner Higher Education Institution 
  • Turkish Supportive Partner Institution

IMPORTANT NOTE: These letters of support from all institutions should be in English, on headed paper, signed by the Rector/Vice Rector OR Head of Institution, Head of Department or other officials with appropriate delegated authority, expressing specific commitment to the proposed project, demonstrating that the capability of the lead applicant is suited to the project content, and expressing willingness to receive funding and to sign a grant agreement with the British Council and commitment to providing financial matched funding OR in-kind contribution for the second year. Please note that the supporting letters must not be signed by the project team leaders/members.

Timeline

Activity Date / Time
Launch of the Connect4Innovation: UK-Türkiye Higher Education Institutional Partnership Fund 19 June 2023
Deadline for clarification questions (Clarification Deadline)  1 August 2023
British Council to respond to clarification questions 8 August 2023
Deadline to submit joint applications (Submission Deadline) 28 August 2023, 23:59 Turkey Time
Final decision 8 September 2023
Contract conclusion with winning institutions with signatures from the British Council and winner Türkiye lead applicant’s institution. 22 September 2023
Contract start date 25 September 2023

For application submissions and clarification questions, please contact: 

Ali Murat Güçlü
Education Projects Manager
alimurat.guclu@britishcouncil.org.tr
Mobile Phone: +90 534 352 62 03

*Please feel free to contact us for your accessibility needs for the application.
**Only successful candidates will be notified.