E-Training session
Producing knowledge: writing a research paper
14 September – 16 October 2020

Terms of reference – 30/07/2020

Context

Improvement to the quality of teaching and research in Water and Natural Resources Management (WNRM) cannot be ensured without a) a high commitment of HEIs in the partner countries, b) a high quality of trainers selected from the program countries, c) the ability to provide support (financial and supervision) of young researchers, and d) a balance/good fit between the academic skills taught and the skills needed by the wider economic and social environment.

This is the reason why WANASEA (Water and Natural resources in South-East Asia) project includes, as part of its activities, 5 training sessions in its 3 years of implementation. While the first and second sessions were centered on “Genesis of research: science, knowledge and society” and “Project design: writing a scientific proposal”, the third one focused on “Implementing research: methodological and management challenges”. This fourth one focuses on “Producing knowledge: writing a research paper”. It is co-organized by the Center for Research and Expertise on Education and Development (CREED, France) and the Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University (Bangkok, Thailand).

A clear holistic approach is taken since WNRM issues are clearly connected to their societal environment. In addition, an inclusive approach that combines learning about both the scientific and professional aspects of research and teaching activities makes WANASEA’s training sessions unique.

Objectives

The main objective of this fourth training session is to focus on how to transform results of research into transferable knowledge within the scientific community. We will work on specific methods and tools supporting the writing of a scientific article, the constitution of relevant bibliography (Zotero), identification of journals and development of writing skills (articulation of ideas, English language tricks, etc.).

Target groups

Academic staff, who are implementing, or have implemented a research project related to WNRM, are targeted for training. All trainees must be currently involved in the process of writing a research paper. Considering the nature of the topic and the limits of the supervision, the maximum number of trainees will be of 18 people.

Criteria of selection

Trainees should be young professionals (under 40), who can communicate well in the English language (including in writing) and who demonstrate a strong interest for developing research and teaching innovation. We encourage WANASEA’s partners to carefully select the trainees in order to meet the above mentioned objectives. Trainees must come with a proven experience of research writing. It is a condition to be selected.

Producing knowledge: writing a research paper

In this session, we will focus on different elements that should be addressed while writing a research paper. This session will help the trainees to start, move on or conclude their research paper. It should also serve as a basis for its institution to set up some administrative support for researchers.

Methodology

The learning process is founded upon concrete and tangible activities related to trainees’ concerns. Scientific writing methods and exercises will be based on research results of the trainees themselves, resulting in clear improvement of the scientific publications of the participants. For this reason, substantial (but reasonable) preparatory work will be asked to the trainees.

Because of the restrictions related to the COVID-19 crisis, this training session is organized entirely online. It will use a teaching methodology based on three phases:

Phase 1 (14-18 September): daily 120 min webinars combined with homework to be sent to trainers. Our objective being to address in priority the needs of the participants, the topics of  the webinars will adjust once the trainees are identified and according to the priority expressed by trainees during the pre-class activities. Consequently, the subjects mentioned hereunder might change.

• Webinar 1: Introduction and presentation of the e-training session methodology; identification of the right journal; how to read and critique a scientific paper.
• Webinar 2: The research question; presentation of the hypothesis.
• Webinar 3: Description of the methodology and experimental activities; analysis of data.
• Webinar 4: Intellectual property and plagiarism; discussion of the data in a wider scientific context; conclusions.
• Webinar 5: Abstract; bibliography; conclusions of phase 1 and presentation of phase 2 and expected outputs.

Phase 2 (21 September to 9 October): personal work on trainee’s articles with regular interactions with trainers

Phase 3 (12 – 16 October): daily 90 min webinars. – Webinars 1-4: reading and critique, by trainees supported by trainers, of articles written by trainees during phase 2 (2 articles per webinar) – Webinar 5: Conclusions of the e-training session, wrap-up, and presentation of next Wanasea training session.

For this training session, 6 trainers will be mobilized. We expect a high level commitment of the trainers and trainees attending seminars and transparency of the selection process.

Calendar and milestones

• From 5 August to 1 September: call for applications open (see application form below)
• 2 September: Wanasea’s members send to CREED up to 5 applications
• 9 September: selection of the trainees and beginning of the pre-class activities.

MATERIALS FOR DOWNLOAD

Training Session 4 – Minutes

Training Session 4 – Booklet

Webinar

Webinar 1: Introduction and presentation of the e-training session methodology; identification of the right journal; how to read and critique a scientific paper.

Webinar 2: The research question; presentation of the hypothesis.

Webinar 3: Description of the methodology and experimental activities; analysis of data.

Webinar 4: Intellectual property and plagiarism; discussion of the data in a wider scientific context; conclusions.

Webinar 5: Abstract; bibliography; conclusions of phase 1 and presentation of phase 2 and expected outputs.

Webinar: Training Session 2

Improvement to the quality of teaching and research in Water and Natural Resources Management (WNRM) cannot be ensured without a) a high commitment of HEIs in the partner countries, b) a high quality of trainers selected from the program countries, c) the ability to provide support (financial and supervision) of young researches, and d) a balance/good fit between the academic skills taught and the skills needed by the wider economic and social environment.

This is the reason why the WANASEA (Water and Natural resources in South-East Asia – www.wanasea.eu) project includes, as part of its activities, 5 training sessions in its 3 years of implementation. The second one focuses on the theme: Project design: writing a scientific proposal. It is co-organized by the Center for Research and Expertise on Education and Development (CREED, France) and Thammasat University (Bangkok, Thailand).

Objective

The main objective of this second training session is to improve the quality of project proposals formulated by WANASEA’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the field of WNRM. More specifically, we will focus on the two complementary sides of the project design: its scientific side and its administrative side. Articulation of ideas and description of essential steps of a scientific project will be taught, as well as concrete and practical tools to identify and answer to a call for proposal.

Target groups

Both academic and administrative staff, who are or plan to be involved in scientific activities related to WNRW, are targeted for training. A clear holistic approach is taken since WNRM issues are clearly connected to their societal environment. In addition, an inclusive approach that combines learning about both the scientific and professional aspects of research and teaching activities makes WANASEA’s training sessions unique. Moreover, the training sessions are designed to address HEI’s needs and promote collaboration and institutional commitments among its staff.

Criteria of selection

Trainees should be young professionals (under 40), who can communicate well in the English language and who demonstrate a strong interest for developing research and teaching innovation. Their profiles should be complementary enough so that as a whole, they will constitute a team of researchers and staff who are able to boost research activities and quality of teaching. We encourage WANASEA’s partners to carefully select the trainees in order to meet the above mentioned objectives.

Topic: Project design: writing a scientific proposal

This second training session aims to develop the writing skills of Wanasea’s participants and to identify the conditions for an HEI to set up some administrative support for researchers to be able to implement their project. In this session, we will focus on a major step in a research project: its formulation and design. The subject will be addressed through a very practical and concrete approach, based on the use of examples of calls for proposal, accessible by trainees.

The following questions will be addressed:

• How to identify the right call for proposal for your project;
• How to compare funding program; how to choose the more suitable one for your objectives;
• How to make sure that your project is relevant and consistent with the call; how to read a call and understand the prerequisites;
• The different stages of the project design;
• How to organize your work in order to succeed;
• How an institution can support its researchers.

The session will teach trainees to write a research proposal based on their scientific question. They will learn how to compel to the rules of funding agencies by designing a well-structured proposal, consistent with the scientific basis of their project. Concrete and practical tools will be used in order to make sure that trainees will be able to use what they’ve been taught in their professional activities. The course material is well suited for anyone interested in moving forward from their initial scientific question to the implementation of their project.

Methodology

• Pre-course: pre-assessment will be sent to participants to determine their existing knowledge, skills and interests; articles will be sent, that must be read in preparation.
• The training session will last 4 to 5 days and is designed to train approximately 20 people.
• The learning process is founded upon concrete and tangible activities related to trainees’ concerns. Methods, techniques and exercises will be based on ideas, case studies, programs and/or projects developed by the trainees themselves, resulting in clear improvement of the latter. For this reason, substantial (but reasonable) preparatory work will be asked to the trainees, 2 to 3 weeks before the training.
• For the training session, 4 or 5 trainers will be mobilized into dynamic working groups. We expect a high level commitment of the trainers and trainees attending seminars and transparency of the selection process.

Calendar and milestones

• From 4^th to 24^th February: call for applications open
• 25^th February: Wanasea’s members send to TU/CREED up to 5 applications
• 1^st March: selection of the trainees and beginning of the pre-class activities
• 19^th March: Introductory webinar
• 25-30 March: Training session in TU, Bangkok

Planning (subject to modifications until then)

Mon. 25 March (Morn.)

• Introduction of the topic “Project design: how to write a scientific proposal”
• The different kind of funding agencies and opportunities for SEA researchers and institutions
• Feedback from trainees on their experience in project design

Mon. 25 March (Aft.)

• Reading a call for proposal: the structuration of a project
• Presentation by trainees of their research questions (prepared before the training session – potentially resulting from Wanasea’s first training session)
• Formation of 4 or 5 work groups

Tue. 26 March (Morn.)

• Practical tools and recommendations
• Presentation of the methodology to go from the research question to the formulation of objectives and expected results
• Work groups: formulation of the project objectives and expected results

Tue. 26 March (Aft.)

• Different tools to design a project
• Presentations by IFS staff (tbc)
• Project design from the point of view of funding agencies; the evaluation process

Wed. 27 March (Morn.)

• Presentation of the methodology to work on the activities
• Work groups: formulation of activities

Wed. 27 March (Aft.)

• Field Trip

Thu. 28 March (Morn.)

• Definition of hypothesis and risks
• Indicators
• Monitoring and evaluation

Thu. 28 March (Aft.)

• Presentation JEAI program (IRD) 15h
• Presentation of the methodology to work on the definition of indicators and hypothesis
• Work groups: Formulation of indicators and hypothesis; preparation of final presentation

Fri. 29 March (Morn.)

• Presentation by Euraxess staff (tbc)
• Other concrete opportunities (tbc)
• Work groups: preparation of final presentation)

Fri. 29 March (Aft.)

• Presentation (30’), by each group, of their research project: Objectives, expected results, activities, indicators, hypothesis.
• Discussion: ideas for going further (from the proposal to the implementation…)
• Closing ceremony

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR IMPACT: IFS WANASEA PARTNERSHIP

Webinar : Training Session 2

Project design (WP2)

MATERIALS FOR DOWNLOAD

TDR Training session at Thammasat University

Meeting Minutes: Training Session at Thammasat University

Project design: writing a scientific proposal

Reading a call for proposal: the structuration of a project

Science & Innovation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Reading a call for proposal (Questions to ask before starting)

Understanding Assumptions and Risks in a Project Proposal

Tips for effective writing

IRD’s << JEAI >> Call for proposals

SWOT Analysis

Improve management of the destruction of mangrove ecosystem for sustainable development in Southern Vietnam

Call for proposals – EuropeAID (Andy Ramorasata)

Call for proposals (François Trémège)

CV: Andy Ramorasata

CV: TREMEGE François

CV: Francesco Obino