CALL FOR ‘Short Term Scientific Missions’ (STSM)
Grant Period (01.05.2019 – 30.04.2020)
STSMs have to be finished by March 15, 2020
Final application deadline is September 15, 2019
ENTAN is a recently approved Action from the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Association. ENTAN is mandated to study how modalities of Non-Territorial Autonomy (NTA) can help resolve or alleviate national and ethnic conflicts in states where national and ethnic communities demand the recognition of their collective rights. ENTAN includes four working groups specifically focused on: NTA legal and political aspects; cultural identities; regional and socio-economic development; and the development of an NTA university course.
Liberal democracies produce vital notions of citizens’ rights, but citizens are often understood as homologous quantities, leaving little room for the political recognition of difference and pluralism, and, for national minority collective rights. At the same time, in the international arena, the concept of National Self Determination (NSD) is understood to mean the creation or consolidation of nation-states for aggrieved national communities. However, the number of national communities outnumbers the number of nation-states by far, and, in most cases, different ethno-national populations overlap in the same territorial space, making a territorial solution unworkable and destructive. In various parts of the world, these unfulfilled demands have led to bloody and entrenched conflicts. The problem of the repre- sentation of scattered minorities is not new, and there have been historically, important attempts to create modalities of NSD that do not require the creation of nation states. Among the most influential are the National Cultural Autonomy (NCA) model developed by the Austrians Otto Bauer and Karl Renner, the latter a former president of Austria. However, while NCA was for a period of time important and influential in Central and Eastern Europe, it had limited influence in Western Europe and other parts of the world. There are, however, many other modalities of NTA that emerge simultaneously in different parts of the world, showing that the problem of minority self-determination is recurrent in many different countries.
The aim of ENTAN is to examine how and in what context, modalities of NTA can improve the value of democratic participation in Europe, by enhancing the collective incorporation of national minorities, improving minority recognition and fostering recognition and reconciliation in areas of conflict.
ENTAN will provide for up to 12 STSM grants under this call.
All STSMs have to be finished by March 15, 2020.
PURPOSE OF An STSM:
Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) are institutional visits aimed at supporting individual mobility, fostering collaboration between individuals.
Applications from early career investigators (ECIs) (up to 8 years after their PhD completion) and researchers from inclusiveness target countries (ITC) participating in the COST Action
18114 (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Republic of Serbia) are strongly encouraged.
Applicants willing to work on specific NTA case studies from a comparative legal and political perspective or from the standpoint of cultural identities or regional development (either in relation to relevant arrangements in one or more states or to NTA institutions of a specific minority) are particularly encouraged to apply. For more information on case study oriented STSMs please contact Balázs Vizi.
Also, while most of the STSM grants are open to any NTA related topic, there is one extended STSM position with the specific task of setting up a bibliography on NTA. For more information please contact Boerries Kuzmany.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
Funding rules are described in detail in Section 8 (pp. 34-35) of the COST Vademecum. COST provides for a fixed grant that contributes to the overall expenses incurred during the STSM. Financial support is limited to cover travel and subsistence expenses and is paid as a grant at the end of the visit (exceptions apply).
The calculation of the financial contribution for each STSM must respect the following criteria:
1. Up to a maximum of EUR 3500 in total can be afforded to each successful applicant;
2. Up to a maximum of EUR 160 per day can be afforded for accommodation and meal expenses.
3. Up to a maximum of EUR 300 can be afforded for travel costs.
The daily subsistence allowance may be adjusted, by the Grant Holder, to the different countries, taking into consideration the actual cost of living. Successful applicants will be informed of the exact amount to be afforded and requested to amend the STSM application.
Researchers from an ITC participating in the COST Action may request an advanced payment of 50% of the approved STSM Grant upon conclusion of the first day of their STSM.
Confirmation by the Host Institution is mandatory. The Host Institution ought to send an email both to the Grant Holder and the STSM Coordinator informing that the STSM applicant
has officially started the mission on day 1. The remaining 50% of the Grant is payable once all administrative procedures are concluded.
DEADLINE: Interested researchers can apply by September 15, 2019 by following the instructions below.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
In order to apply to an STSM you must:
1. Be enrolled as a PhD Student or postdoctoral fellow; or
2. Employed by, or affiliated toan institution or legal entity that conducts research.
To apply:
1. STSM applicants must have an e-COST profile at https://e-services.cost.eu/ and submit their STSM applications online at the following web address: https://e-services.cost.eu/ stsm by selecting “Create a new STSM Request”.
2. An STSM should have a minimum duration of 5 calendar days and a maximum duration of 90 calendar days.
3. The application should comprise a CV and an outline (max. 1000 words) of the research project to be undertaken.
4. The applicant shall contact the host institution where the research is to be undertaken. Upon acceptance of the research proposal, the host institution shall provide a supporting letter mentioning that the research proposal will be supported by a host supervisor – this letter is mandatory. A letter of support from the applicant’s home institution is also necessary.
5. All STSM grantees shall make their own arrangements for all provisions related to personal security, taxation, pension matters, health and social security.
6. The STSM grantee has to deliver all necessary documents within 30 calendar days from the end of their STSM.
7. The applicants are required to send their STSM application form submitted to e-COST (pdf) and the relevant supporting documents to Noémia Bessa Vilela, ENTAN STSM Coordinator, at nbessavilela@gmail.com.
EVALUATION:
The applications will be assessed by the STSM Committee of ENTAN and successful applicants will be notified by October 15, 2019. The committee will evaluate each application according to budget, possible contribution that the proposed STSM will make against the scientific objectives outlined in the Action’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and individual candidate’s career.
The list of all supporting documents (as a single pdf attachment) to be submitted for the evaluation are:
1. The submitted STSM application form (downloadable when the online application is submitted);
2. A short description of their involvement in the COST Action (max. 1 page);
3. Acceptance letter/email confirmation from the host institution;
4. A letter of support from the applicant’s home institution;
5. The research project as well as expected outcomes (max. 1000 words);
6. A full C.V. (including a list of academic publications – if applicable, max. 5 pages).
REQUIREMENTS:
1. A Scientific Report is required and must be approved by the Action Chair and the STSM Coordinator and by a Senior Researcher affiliated to the Host Institution, that shall sign and approve the report (see the funding rules).
2. Written approval of the STSM scientific report by the aforementioned persons must be uploaded in e-COST for archiving purposes.
3. The applicant is also responsible for obtaining an official acceptance letter/email confirmation of acceptance from the host institution, as well as support letter from the home institution. In addition to the scientific report, successful applicants should submit to the Grant Manager (by mail) the following supporting documents:1. One original certificate of taxpayer status, i.e. residence form from your country of residence. Each country has a slightly different form to confirm your residence/taxpayer status but it is usually issued both in English and in the official language of the country.
Please ask for an English or bilingual version. The original of the form should be signed and stamped by the respective authority in your country (e.g. local Public Revenue Office, Tax Inspectorate or Ministry).
2. A full-colour scan of the main page of your passport which exhibits your name and surname and passport number.
3. Scanned copy of invoices, receipts, bills, tickets and other proofs of payments for all types of costs, including for hotel accommodation, travel, meals, etc.
Failure to submit the scientific report and the supporting documents within 30 days from the end date of the STSMs will effectively cancel the grant.
Grant is payable up to 30 days after the grantee report and supporting documents have been approved by the Action Chair (or Vice-Chair).
Please note that the COST Association and Action’s Grant holder can request additional information to substantiate the information contained within the documents submitted by STSM applicants.
Useful link: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA18114/#tabs|Name:overview
Please contact the STSM coordinator, Noémia Bessa Vilela, via email if any queries relating to STSMs occur: nbessavilela@gmail.com
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16P9saGIKgIaVk2OypCd5rDfn3MKHWgdY/view