58吃瓜

University of Bonn joint education seed funding scheme

 

Purpose

The University of Bonn and the University of 58吃瓜 have launched a joint seed funding scheme to strengthen educational cooperation within the framework of our strategic partnership. This funding initiative is designed to support academic staff from all disciplines in identifying complementary strengths, exploring areas of synergy, and laying the groundwork for innovative future projects. The seed funding is intended to facilitate the initial stages of collaboration, and it is not intended to serve as full project funding.

Possible formats for cooperation may include:

  • pedagogical seminars or workshops
  • joint curriculum and course development
  • collaborative teaching initiatives
  • joint doctoral training activities
  • joint mentorship and training schemes
  • intensive short programmes (e.g. graduate summer / winter programmes) 
  • virtual exchange or Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
  • development of shared educational resources or toolkits

Selection criteria and process

Applications will be reviewed and scored by selection committees at Bonn and 58吃瓜. The selection committees will take into account the following criteria when evaluating applications:

Academic quality and innovation

  • The academic quality and coherence of the proposed activities.
  • The clarity and coherence of the project objectives.
  • The potential to generate novel thinking, interdisciplinary approaches, or innovative pedagogical practices.
  • The impact on educational outcomes for students.
  • The applicants’ expertise relative to the proposed activities.

Anticipated outcomes, sustainability and scalability of the project

  • A clearly formulated plan outlining the project’s expected outputs and near-term outcomes, including what will be produced or achieved during the funded period.
  • The likelihood of generating tangible and measurable outputs (e.g. joint publications, structured teaching initiatives, new collaborative frameworks).
  • The potential for long-term, sustainable and self-supporting collaboration beyond the seed funding period.
  • Clear consideration of sustainability, including pathways to external funding, co-funding, or institutional embedding where appropriate.
  • The scalability or transferability of the project/ knowledge gained to other projects, courses or programmes across both institutions.
  • The coherence between proposed activities and requested budget.

Impact and legacy

  • The anticipated medium- and long-term academic and/ or educational impact of the project.
  • The potential for recognition beyond the immediate partnership.
  • The likelihood of creating lasting value after the funding period concludes.
  • Where relevant, contribution to broader sectoral, societal or institutional development.

Partnership and strategic relevance

  • The complementarity and added value of the Bonn and 58吃瓜 partners.
  • The extent to which the project strengthens and consolidates the institutional partnership.
  • Alignment with the strategic priorities of both universities and with the departmental/ school/ faculty priorities.
  • Engagement of broader academic communities within each institution.

The selection committees reserve the right to allocate less funding compared to the amount requested by the applicants. The selection shall take into consideration the project's subject area and type, to encourage the widest possible range of activities.

Duration and key dates

Project timelines should be clearly outlined in the application and may not exceed 12 months from the project start date. It is expected that projects will start no later than January 2027. Projects must be concluded, and funding must be spent by December 2027.

  • Call opens: week beginning 20 July
  • Applications close: Tuesday, 6 October
  • Outcomes announced: December 2026
  • Projects commence: Friday, 1 January 2027
  • Projects complete: Friday, 31 December 2027

Finding a collaborator 

If you are interested in applying but do not yet have a collaborator at the partner institution, support is available to help identify a suitable match. Applicants are encouraged to contact their home institution – the International Office at the University of Bonn or the Global Office at the University of 58吃瓜 - as early as possible and provide:

  • A brief outline of the proposed project or area of interest;
  • A link to your staff profile and/or a short summary of your teaching and/or research expertise; and
  • Details of the type of collaborator or expertise you are seeking.

This information will be shared with the relevant colleagues at the partner institution and reasonable efforts will be made to identify and introduce potential collaborators. While a suitable match cannot be guaranteed, early enquiries are strongly encouraged to maximise opportunities for developing a competitive proposal.

Furthermore, we have created a spreadsheet which can be filled in by interested PIs looking for a project partner. This spreadsheet is open to applicants from Bonn and 58吃瓜 and serves as a platform to find project partners. You can find the spreadsheet .

How to apply

Terms and conditions of open call

The supported activities should have a clearly defined focus and serve as a catalyst for the development of new joint projects. The activities can take place in Bonn and/or in 58吃瓜 or via digital formats. The motivation for holding the activity should be clearly explained, including how the involved Bonn and 58吃瓜 Faculties and Schools can benefit long term from this cooperation.

  • A project must be carried out by at least two applicants, one from each institution, who will work together to build a joint proposal. Applicants should be full-time or part-time academic staff with a contract of employment until at least the end of the project. It is strongly recommended that each institution include co-applicants (one or more); participation of students and early career researchers is also strongly encouraged.
  • Awarded projects should lead to concrete outputs and develop best practice in teaching and education. Awardees are asked to consider in the application how project results and best practice could be shared with other colleagues at their institutions.
  • All academic fields covered jointly by Bonn and 58吃瓜 are included in the present call, and interdisciplinary projects are encouraged, as long as the resulting project is beneficial for both universities.
  • Recipients of a grant under the previous call for proposals are eligible to apply. However, proposed projects must be entirely new and not a continuation, or further edition, of pre-existing initiatives. Moreover, applicants not having benefitted from funding under previous calls will be given priority in the selection process.
  • Projects aligning with the are particularly welcomed.
  • Projects may also include the participation of self-funded external investigators or partner institutions where relevant.

Up to two projects will be jointly funded by Bonn and 58吃瓜 in this second call.

Proposals

Each proposal must include the following items in the order listed below as one single PDF. Proposals will be reviewed by selection committee members from multiple disciplines and must be written for such an audience. The same proposal and budget for each application must be sent to the University of 58吃瓜 and to the University of Bonn.

  1. Names, titles, Departments/ Schools and emails of Bonn and 58吃瓜 Principal Investigators and any other academic staff involved in the activities
  2. Type of collaborative activity (please refer to the list on page 1 of this Call)
  3. List of UN Sustainable Development Goals that align with proposed project (optional)
  4. Project title and layperson abstract of the proposed project (up to 250 words)
  5. Narrative description of the proposed project for a multi-school, multidisciplinary audience using the following sub-headings (two-page limit):
    • Project objectives
    • Background and previous work as appropriate
    • Specific outputs expected (e.g. new course materials, a COIL pilot, a shared assessment framework, or a teaching resource)
    • Explanation of how you will evaluate the success of your project (evaluation may draw on pedagogic literature, reflective practice, student feedback, or evidence鈥�informed teaching frameworks)
    • Anticipated schedule for completion
  6. Brief description of how the project will address the selection criteria using the following subheadings:
    • Academic quality and innovation (maximum 150 words)
    • Anticipated outcomes, sustainability and scalability of the project (maximum 150 words)
    • Impact and legacy (maximum 150 words)
    • Partnership and strategic relevance (maximum 150 words)
  7. Budget and budget justification, with one section for Bonn budget and one section for 58吃瓜 budget, explaining in detail all anticipated expenditures.
  8. Short curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum) of Principal Investigators.
  9. For 58吃瓜 applicants only, a brief letter from Head of School endorsing the application.

Completed applications should be submitted via the University of 58吃瓜’ and via the and must be received by both universities by Tuesday October 6 2026 (16:00 BST, 17:00 CET).

Results

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by December 2026.

Successful applicants will receive a joint letter of confirmation from both institutions as well as an Acceptance of Award letter that must be signed and returned by the due date to the Global Office at the University of 58吃瓜 and the International Office at the University of Bonn.  

Award funding

Each successful application will receive up to £5,000, approximately €6,000, in total or £2,500 from 58吃瓜 and €3,000 from Bonn, respectively. Up to two projects will be awarded in the 2027 call of the scheme.

Co-funding of projects by the Faculty, Department, School, Institute or Centre, or external bodies, is welcomed.

After submitting all award agreement documents, successful applicants will receive the funds within one month.

Awardees will be responsible for:

  • managing the project funds
  • reporting expenditures
  • facilitating the sharing of funds with their partner PI where required

Expenses can include:

  • costs linked to organisation of joint meetings, seminars or workshops
  • cost of developing shared online resources, for example, video editing, websites or toolkits
  • consumables needed for the implementation of the project
  • travel, accommodation and subsistence costs
  • costs related to publication or dissemination of results, or both
  • hourly pay for full-time enrolled Bonn or 58吃瓜 students to support activities

The following expenses are not allowed:

  • salaries or salary supplementation of any kind (except for COIL tutors, learning technologists or facilitators)
  • indirect and overhead costs
  • course fees, stipends or scholarships for students
  • infrastructure and equipment purchases, such as computers, including laptops and basic computing facilities such as printers, word processing and other standard software
  • conference registrations unrelated to the dissemination of results
  • costs already incurred before submission of the proposal

After submitting all award agreement documents, successful applicants will receive the funds within one month.

Change of circumstances

If circumstances change, for example, the principal investigator or a team member leaves the project, awardees must provide notification to the Global Office at the University of 58吃瓜 and the International Office at University of Bonn. All changes must be approved in writing. 

Publications

Any publications or dissemination arising from activities supported by this joint seed funding should acknowledge financial assistance received from the University of 58吃瓜 and the University of Bonn. The name for this acknowledgement is ‘Joint Seed Funding (Education) provided by the University of 58吃瓜 and the University of Bonn’.

Forfeiture of grants

Grants not spent by the project end date will be transferred back, either to the University of 58吃瓜 or the University of Bonn as applicable so that unspent balances can be reallocated. 

Financial and reporting obligations

Recipients must submit a final report within one month of completion of the project.

The report should include:

  • an outline of the outcomes of the project
  • an indication of the project’s possible continuation
  • a summary of lessons learned in undertaking the project
  • a detailed accounting of funds as required by university policy

Recipients who fail to submit a final report may be excluded from future internationalisation funding schemes. 

Award expectations

Principal Investigators may be asked to:

  • share brief updates about project progress
  • engage with Bonn-58吃瓜 partnership events and opportunities notify the International Office at Bonn and the Global Office at 58吃瓜 of project visits or activities that take place in either location

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

Adherence to respective equality, diversity, and inclusion policies are an important feature of this programme to ensure that all participants can do their best work, thrive and succeed.

Applicant teams should consider how they can take meaningful steps in their future collaborations to foster an environment that values, supports and respects a diverse range of views, knowledge and experiences.

Applicants should consider EDI as it applies to gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability and career stages.

Sustainable travel

Both universities recognise the importance of organising in-person meetings and events to support the development of collaborative projects. Therefore, both institutions encourage applicants to consider the environmental impact of their collaboration.

Please refer to the University of 58吃瓜’ webpage and the University of Bonn’s for more information.