The QES program was created to improve global talent exchange between Canada and other nations. The program aims to develop the next generation of innovative leaders and community builders by providing enriched academic, professional and cross-cultural experiences and by facilitating lasting local and global community engagement. There have been 89 projects, administered by 44 Canadian universities and with over 2000 scholarships already awarded.
Thanks to the generous financial support from the International Development Research Centre, up to $3 million CAD will be allocated via the expansion of the QES Advanced Scholars program, which will support doctoral researchers, post-doctoral fellows and early career researchers from eligible West African countries and Canada.
This call will support projects contributing to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with preference given to proposals that focus on or clearly integrate SDG 5 (gender equality) as a crosscutting or mainstream goal. QES-AS West Africa projects will focus on one or more of the following areas: climate resilience and sustainable food systems; education and innovation systems; ethics in development research; health equity; inclusive governance; and sustainable inclusive growth.
The program will require all scholars to participate in leadership development and community engagement activities and in the network of Queen Elizabeth Scholars.
About Universities Canada
Universities Canada is the voice of Canadian universities, at home and abroad. We are a membership organization providing university presidents with a unified voice for higher education, research and innovation. Universities Canada, formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, advances the mission of our member institutions to transform lives, strengthen communities and find solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our world.... continue reading
Subscribe for scholarship alert.
Be among the first to know whenever new Universities scholarship is going on. Enter your email address and click the Subscribe button ↓
Universities Canada QES Advanced Scholars
Aim and Benefits of Universities Canada QES Advanced Scholars
Applicants may seek up to $300,000 CAD in funding. Funding is available to support doctoral researchers, post-doctoral researchers, and early career researchers only. There is no limit to the number of incoming or outgoing scholars that can be included in a project. An activity fund of up to $2,000 per scholar, can be included in the project budget to support project administration, partner relationships,
community engagement, leadership development and networking activities.
Cost Sharing:
- To be considered for funding, applicants must demonstrate that Canadian universities, West African institutions, and/or non-academic research placement partners will contribute to project costs. This program aims for an overall 50% contribution from universities, West African institutions, and/or non-academic research placement partners.
- Contributions may include in-kind contributions such as administrative costs , cash contributions such as salary paid while the researcher is undertaking their QES award, tuition waivers or discounts, other discounts or waivers to academic, living or travel costs, and financial contributions from other sources including foundations, placement partners and other funding agencies.
- A higher proportional contribution will be viewed more favorably by the selection committee.
Requirements for Universities Canada QES Advanced Scholars Qualification
- Canadian universities which have recognized provincial degree granting powers, or their affiliates, may submit a proposal to QES-AS West Africa. Universities may partner with one or more other Canadian university(ies) for a joint proposal however, each university may only be the lead applicant in one submission to the program.
- Projects will support specialized training and/or research activities for doctoral researchers, post-doctoral researchers and early career researchers from Canada and West Africa and each award must include a non-academic research placement with industry/civil society.
- Each scholar must be undertaking research in one or more of the following areas of focus:
- Climate resilience and sustainable food systems
- Education and innovation systems
- Ethics in development research
- Health equity
- Inclusive governance
- Sustainable inclusive growth
- Eligible projects will demonstrate a partnership between a Canadian university and an institution in at least one of the eligible countries and if available at the time of application, will include information on the non-academic research placement partner(s). Non-academic research placements must be confirmed before the funded researchers travel to/from Canada.
- The program will require all scholars to participate in leadership development and community engagement activities and to participate in the network of Queen Elizabeth Scholars.
QES-AS West Africa will prioritize the following:
- Women researchers – overall, 60% of the researchers should be women.
- Francophone researchers – applications focusing on Francophone countries will be prioritised.
- Institutional strengthening – proposals which make a convincing case that scholar exchanges, beyond advancing individual scholars` own careers, will deliberately be used by Canadian and West African universities to strengthen their own institutional capacity (research areas, curriculums, partnerships etc.) will be prioritised.
Application Deadline
October 26, 2020
How to Apply
For more details, visit Universities Canada website.
Menu