Academy of Social Sciences in Australia

Research and exchange

Australia-China Joint-action Program

Promoting bilateral research partnerships with the People's Republic of China in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

The Call for Applications for 2012 grants is now closed.

The Call for Applications for 2012 grants is now closed. This call has been advertised to Fellows of the Academy, on the ASSA website, and to university research offices.

China

Since 1980 the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia has supported a program of scholarly exchange between Australia and the People's Republic of China in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of the Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing. ASSA is pleased to announce that in 2010 agreement has been reached with CASS to upgrade the exchange program to a bilateral Joint-action program.

The Australia-China Joint-action Program aims to assist Australian and Chinese social scientists to develop research networks. It welcomes high quality applications, including from early- and mid-career social sciences researchers, which hold the prospect of a broader ongoing collaboration with potential benefits for both countries. The program offers modest grants, designed to offset the costs associated with face-to-face collaboration. Visits in connection with joint projects may include jointly organised seminars, conferences or workshops as well as individual visits in either direction to undertake collaborative research.

This program has been positioned to offer a platform from which Sino-Australian research collaborations can build research and career trajectories. This scheme takes as an explicit objective offering collaborative teams which involve early career researchers the opportunity to generate the significant preliminary results which have become the mandatory basis for any attempt to secure funding on a larger scale. Accordingly, as per the terms of ASSA Joint-action Programs, proposals are sought from bilateral collaborative teams which can demonstrate to the Academies the prospect of an ongoing research project, on a larger scale.

See also: List of grant awardees from previous years.

Program partner

This competitive program is run in partnership with the Chinese Academy of the Social Sciences, through its Bureau of International Cooperation

Scope of award

This program bestows three grants each year of up to a maximum AU$7,500 on proposals from the social sciences.

Awards

Awards are:

  • For bilaterally collaborative teams of researchers, including a minimum of one Australian and one Chinese researcher;
  • Designed to act as seed funding – Proposals for projects whose results will form the basis of a more substantial grant application are welcomed;
  • To offset travel and maintenance costs, such as international economy airfares and accommodation;
  • For projects of up to one year's duration. Proposals for projects which are a smaller component of larger research programme are welcomed;
  • For projects which involve face-to-face collaboration between researchers from Australian and China.
Eligibility

The following eligibility criteria apply to this Joint-action Program.

  • The two principle applicants should be active researchers, defined as post-PhD. Applications from unaffiliated and independent researchers are welcomed.
  • The principal applicant on the Australian side should be a researcher resident in Australia.
  • The principal applicant on the Chinese side should be a researcher resident in the China.
  • Proposals must incorporate international face-to-face collaboration between researchers from China and Australia.
  • Other researchers may be associated with the project, including for travel purposes: They will normally be expected to be of postdoctoral status.
  • Awards will not be made retrospectively. Applications must be made in sufficient time for them to be considered and agreed by both Academies.
Early Career Applicants

Early career applicants should please note the joint Academies seek to assist early career researchers (ECRs - defined as up to eight years post-PhD) establish career trajectories and develop international networks.

Accordingly, proposals from ECRs are strongly encouraged, including from teams of two ECRs, or one ECR and one senior researcher acting in a mentoring role. Joint-action Programs endeavour to ensure there is no disadvantage to ECR’s including by asking for details of relevant track record, rather than overall track record.

What is required
  1. Applicants should complete and submit the application form (below) by the due date each year.
    RTF Download the application   [RTF file size: 4.10 kB]]
  2. The successful applicant(s) must arrange to invoice ASSA for the grant by no later than 31 March in the year of travel.
  3. Within 2 months of completion of international visits undertaken with the support of the grant, the successful applicant must submit a short report on their visit, outlining trip details, progress in the international research collaborations, project outcomes and research findings to date, etc.
Contact

Academy Fellows and social scientists interested in the program, or wishing to submit an application should contact:

  • Mr Andrew Swanson
  • Policy and Advocacy and International Programs Manager
  • Email: assa.admin [at] anu.edu.au
  • Phone: +61   .2   62491788
  • It's currently 9:28 pm on Thursday, May 17, in Canberra.

ASSA program code: CJAP