[ Call for Papers ]

As part of the Advancing Educational Inclusion and Quality in South East Europe Initiative the Education Support Program of the Open Society Institute (OSI) announces a competition open to individuals on the elaboration of research papers using the statistical data collected as part of the 2008 Cross-National Survey of School Principals in South East Europe (SEE) countries. Proposals are invited primarily from graduate students and early carrier researchers.

The 2008 Cross-National Survey of School Principals in SEE countries, funded by OSI's Education Support Program, yielded a tremendous amount of data assembled by researchers in each of the following eight SEE countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. This survey provides a panoramic view of what schools are achieving or failing to do to promote an inclusive and democratic environment for students and parents in each of the aforementioned countries. For more information regarding the Cross-National Survey of School Principals in SEE countries, please view the survey report in its entirety at the Advancing Educational Inclusion and Quality in South East Europe Initiative's website.
In order to best utilize the important data collected by the researchers of the Initiative, OSI's Education Support Program will provide grants to successful applicants who will write publishable research papers. The primary purpose of these grants is to cull additional information from the Survey data which can be used for education reform, policy development, and strategic planning.

Grant Qualifications
Successful applicants will be individuals interested in bringing data and evidence to bear on policy decisions aimed at increasing accessibility to inclusive educational environments for all students. This grant program aims to clarify the lessons to be found in the data. By understanding these lessons, the research papers written by the grantees should shed additional light on how policymakers and educators can improve education for all students, particularly those who are underrepresented, in each of the eight SEE countries.
The sponsors have identified a few priority topics of research. Although funding will be provided for other areas as well, proposals in the following areas will receive priority consideration:
* Exploring the factors that attract some parents to crucial school activities and the barriers that prevent others from becoming engaged in their child's education and school life.
* Devising strategies on how to include more parents in the school governance process.

Funding Details
The paper is to be written in English and is to be between 5,000 and 10,000 words in length. Work must begin no later than 10 November 2009 and end no later than 31 January 2010. Selected researchers are expected to present their:

1. Final draft of the research papers at a fellows meeting to be held on December 9-10, 2009, in Budapest, Hungary.
2. Final papers at the "Education Policy and Equal Education Opportunities" workshop to be held between March 18 and 21, 2010, in Tirana, Albania.

Preferably, applicants will be residents in one of the following eight countries studied in the Cross-National Survey of Principals in South East Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, or Serbia.
A grant of U.S.$2,000 will be given to successful applicants who compose publishable research papers based on the data collected as part of the Cross-National Survey of School Principals in South East Europe. Funding will be released 50% upon being awarded the fellowship and 50% after the research paper is reviewed and approved by an OSI panel.

Application Process and Deadlines

1. A resume/ CV.
2. A cover letter describing your interest.
3. An abstract of no more than 200 words.
4. A full research proposal specifying the project title, the thematic area to be addressed, research question(s), research methodology, and an initial bibliography of relevant literature.

Applications are due October 18. Please send applications by email as PDFs to espassistance@osi.hu. To ensure appropriate processing, please use "Principal Survey Research Grant" as the subject line of the email.

Selection criteria

1. The primary criteria for selection include:
2. The relevance of the proposed research question for the 2008 Cross-National Survey of School Principals in SEE countries.
3. The clarity of the proposed research question.
4. The proof of competence in carrying out analysis of complex survey data (e.g. prior publications, familiarity with the use of advanced statistical software packages, etc.).

Applicants will receive confirmation of their application by October 20, and selection results will be announced by November 5.