DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 14 JANUARY 2022.
Please submit application with cover letter, proposal and CV before this date.
Any request for clarification needs to be addressed to the following email address: gemreport.fellowship@unesco.org and responses will be available via this link.
The Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report Fellowship Programme, funded by the Open Society Foundation, supports researchers who aim to bring a novel perspective to comparative and international education development to aid the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, the global education goal.
We are only nine years away from the end of the 2030 Agenda. The Fellowship offers an opportunity to be part of a select group of scholars and researchers, collaborating with the GEM Report team on one or both aspect of its core objectives:
(1) to monitor and report on progress in the SDG 4 on education and education-related aspects in other SDGs;
(2) to report on the implementation of national and international strategies to help hold all relevant partners to account for their commitments as part of the SDG follow-up and review.
The 2022 Fellowship edition will be the fourth round of the Fellowship programme, adding to a growing, diverse network and community.
Our previous fellows and their papers
Main opportunities
- Author a Fellow paper, to be published on the GEM Report website. The paper should be based on original, and previously unpublished, analysis. The Fellowship provides an opportunity to address policy-relevant research analyzing core issues related to the SDG 4 agenda’s monitoring, policy or implementation challenges, and suggest policy recommendations. After completion of the paper, the authors are encouraged to further develop the work for academic publication or further policy exploration on the topic.
- Learn about specific dimensions of GEM Report work in monitoring quantitative and qualitative indicators and/or reporting on the implementation of national and international strategies; gain access to GEM Report data and expertise; and expand researcher horizons and engagements within the international education community.
- Engage with the community of Fellows, participating in peer exchanges, and networking; and participate in monthly meetings and other relevant activities with the GEM Report research team. If relevant, engage on policy dissemination with the GEM Report communications and outreach teams.
Proposal
The research proposal should be placed within the current policy debate on SDG 4 and briefly describe the potential contribution this research will make to the field of education and to policy making. It should include the following elements:
- Research abstract (no more than 200 words)
- Proposal (maximum 8 pages / 4000 words), including the following elements:
1. Introduction/Rationale that motivates the topic and its policy relevance
2. Brief relevant literature and policy relevant research questions
3. Data and methodology to address research questions
- Data utilized for the research could be:
i. either large-scale quantitative data, such as national or cross-national learning or literacy assessments and household, school or labour force surveys
ii. or mixed methods data, utilizing secondary analysis information as well as qualitative methods (policy document analysis, focus group discussions, interviews) for deep dives into one or a few contexts
- Methods - should include a strong focus on descriptive methods, clear statement of empirical estimations or qualitative coding.
4. Timeline and resources: timeframe for data collection, research, and analysis. All analysis for the Fellowship should be concluded within a 10 month period.
5. GEM Report alignment: Indicate why GEM Report resources and research areas (thematic or geographic) are particularly well suited to address those questions.
Although preference is given to multi-country comparative analyses, in-depth within-country analysis that speak to broader comparative relevance are also eligible.
Selection criteria
Key criteria for selection include:
- Originality – what gaps does it fill in the current educational research landscape?
- Potential to influence the global education agenda – are the issues adequately broad and relevant for the larger community?
- Analytical rigour, in terms of data, methods, and relevance.
- Feasibility of analysis within the time frame
- Research that highlights equity and accountability, such as investigations of human rights challenges, and inequalities in educational progress
Other criteria could include:
- Utilization of the GEM Report’s data resources, such as household and school surveys linked to the World Inequality Database on Education (WIDE) or the GEM Report’s Profiles Enhancing Education Reviews (PEER).
- Contribution of new insights on monitoring indicators, implementation and challenges mid-way into the 2030 agenda.
- Support for the themes of forthcoming GEM reports, i.e. the 2023 GEM Report on technology and the 2024 GEM Report on education leadership.
Profile
GEM Report Fellows would ideally be linked to universities or research institutions, have substantial experience with research methods, in-depth field policy and research analysis, and have produced some relevant research outputs.
The Fellowship is open to fellows at early or advanced stages of their career, and can include senior analysts, advanced doctoral candidates, post-doctoral students, professors, or researchers from non-governmental organization (NGO) and civil society backgrounds.
The Fellowship aims to support candidates from diverse nationalities.
Selection procedure
Applications must be submitted in English. They will be reviewed and assessed by the GEM Report team, based on the criteria outlined above and considerations related to quality, potential, and originality as well as the qualifications and track record of the applicant. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to discuss adjustments to their proposal in a review meeting. The GEM Report team will not be able to provide feedback on proposals that were not selected.
Application
Applicants will need to provide the following information:
- Cover letter
- Project proposal
- CV in UNESCO format and full list of publications
Timeline
Deadline for proposal receipt: 14 JANUARY 2022 (midnight, Paris time)
The review process will last for two months, with an expected start date of 15 February 2022. The proposal review process will begin near the end of the call deadline and will include shortlisting and interviewing before announcement of the Fellows.
GEM Report team support to Fellows
The work will be carried out remotely, with a two-week-long visit in Paris (with travel allowance) if the sanitary conditions allow. The GEM Report team will provide:
- A stipend (US$19,500) for the duration of the fellowship (up to 11 months).
- A mentor from the team of GEM Report researchers, to provide regular mentoring, guidance and engagement with the GEM Report work.
- Monthly meetings engagement across the research team and Fellows
To apply, please email: gemreport.fellowship@unesco.org
Any request for clarification needs to be addressed to the following email address: gemreport.fellowship@unesco.org by Friday 5th of November at 18h00 Paris time and responses will be available on the GEM Report website via this link.