The Eureast Platform is one of the five regional platforms of Ghent University. Its ambition is to coordinate, facilitate and stimulate cooperation with Eastern Europe and Eurasia regarding education, research and service to society, as well as to advance knowledge about the above-mentioned regions. This academic year, in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Eureast Platform will host minimum five visiting fellows from Ukraine.
These fellowships are intended to support scholars from Ukraine who are directly affected by the war. Awardees will have the chance to spend minimum one month and maximum three months at Ghent University for a research stay to collaborate with Ghent University’s scholars and to expand their academic network.

Short-term fellowships

The Eureast Platform visiting fellowships are geared towards Ukrainian scholars who have earned their doctoral degree and who are affiliated with a Ukrainian-based higher education or research institution.

These fellowships include a grant of 5000 € for a minimum stay of one month. The fellowship is meant to cover (part of the) travel costs, housing and living expenditures. The successful applicants will be given an office space and access to facilities (such as the library) as a Ghent University visiting scholar.

The fellowships can be taken up at any time in 2023, summer months excluded and with a preference for the period March – June. Awardees are expected to be present at Ghent University, to take part in its academic activities and to contribute to its intellectual community. Visiting scholars will give at least one lecture or seminar to fellow researchers and students. For this reason, awardees are required to have good command of English.

Minimum five fellowships will be awarded in 2023:

• Minimum 2 scholarships for a research stay at one of the following faculties: Arts & Philosophy, Law & Criminology, Economics & Business Administration, Psychology & Educational Sciences, Political & Social Sciences
• Minimum 2 scholarships for a research stay at one of the following faculties: Sciences, Engineering & Architecture, Bioscience Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Minimum 1 scholarship for a research stay at any of the faculties above

How to apply

Your application should be in English, the application form includes the following sections:

• Personal information
• A cover letter, in which you indicate the mobility period and the research group that you would like to be affiliated with and in which you motivate how your current and future research would benefit from a research stay at Ghent University
• A research plan (research objectives, methods and materials, a work plan for the intended visit, possible long-term cooperation plans, bibliography, …) of max. 2500 words
• A list of your five most important publications and a brief motivation for each of those publications, highlighting why you consider them your most important publications
• Your signature and the signature of your UGent promotor. This implies that you already need to find a UGent promotor (a member of the professorial staff) at the application stage. The online research directory can help you in finding a promotor, should you not yet have any connections with UGent researchers. You can also submit a short motivation written by the UGent promotor, but this is optional.
• A short CV (max 2 pages) in annex to the application form.

The application should be submitted by email to eureast@ugent.be in one single PDF file no later than 4 December 2022 (by 23:59h CET). Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. Each individual can only obtain one grant.

Selection criteria and procedures

The following criteria will be taken into account in the selection procedure:

• The candidate’s profile
• The overall quality of the proposal
• The motivation and feasibility of the research plan
• Added value/sustainability
• The candidate’s personal situation as a scholar at risk

A selection committee with representatives from different faculties will review the applications.

Ghent University conducts an active policy for diversity and equal opportunities and encourages everybody to apply. The selection committee will also strive for a balance in:

• UGent faculties involved
• Senior candidates and junior candidates
• Specific situation of each candidate

Timeline

• Application deadline: 4 December 2022 (23:59h CET)
• Selection results: ca. 20 December 2022
• Mobility period: February – June 2023, September – December 2023 

Reporting

The successful applicant is expected to submit a short activity report to indicate the output or outcomes of the fellowship at the end of the stay.

Practical matters

The Eureast Platform will assist awardees with practical arrangements such as insurance, visa and application for housing at the university residences.

Ghent University issues a visitor’s pass to foreign visitors who spend a short stay (= no longer than 90 days) under the supervision of a UGent promoter. Each visitors’ pass automatically grants access to the UGent Sports Centre and the student restaurants.

Download the application form