Mobility Programme For Early Career Researchers in Africa to Visit University of Helsinki

Members of the University of Nairobi and University of Helsinki during an ECC Workshop

The University of Helsinki is the oldest and largest institution of academic education in Finland, an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers featuring in the top 1 % of the world's research universities. The University of Helsinki seeks solutions for global challenges and creates new ways of thinking for the best of humanity. The University of Helsinki has an Africa Programme 2021-2030 with the aim of boosting collaboration and partnerships with African higher education institutions.

The University of Helsinki opens a call intended for early career researchers working in a higher education institution in Africa for a stay at the University of Helsinki. The programme supports the best and brightest minds in their postdoctoral research stage, connecting them with world-class academics and leading researchers at the University of Helsinki.

Applications must be written jointly by the early career researcher (hereafter: visitor applicant) and a staff member working at the University of Helsinki with a Principal Investigator status (hereafter: PI applicant). The PI applicant submits the application. Applications from all disciplines are welcome but the project proposed in the application must relate to one or several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The PI applicant acts as a host for the visitor applicant with whom future collaboration is being planned (as demonstrated by a joint work plan for collaboration and Letter of Intent by the applicant). The visitor applicant is the receiver of the grant.

During their stay, the visitors will enjoy opportunities for interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exchange and community engagement, joining a network of outstanding scientists and scholars engaging in research and education collaboration with African institutions and researchers. The visitors are expected to be active members of the University of Helsinki Africa Programme community, e.g. through giving a public talk, an open seminar or a workshop during the visit.

To read more on this mobility grant including the eligibility and evaluation criteria, download the PDF at the end of this article

The call is open from February 1 until 15 March, 2024 (the call closes at 16:00 EET).