The main objective of the SIP project is to broaden the scope of the collaboration between JU and UGent investigators, in order to tackle additional and new societal problems through joint research projects.
The NASCERE programme and the former SIP projects have been successful in attracting new UGent investigators to the JU-UGent collaboration in the last 6 years. In the context of NASCERE, 93 PhD students (> 60% affiliated to UGENT) have been selected, to a large extent in new disciplines, i.e., Oncology (4), Technology (27), Business and Economy (6), Social Sciences and Humanities (5), Education and Behavioral Sciences (4) and Law and Governance (4).
Therefore, this SIP project will mainly focus on the support and reinforcement of those newly developed research groups within the collaboration. New investigators in UGent and JU will be attracted to these research groups. On the other hand, current UGent PhD promoters within the NASCERE program will be supported so that they are in a better position to guide their PhD students. Just to give one example, no budget is foreseen in the NASCERE program for the North PhD promoter to go to Jimma, whereas in most disciplines it is quintessential to observe the problems in the field.
The SIP project thus strives to build capacity in the group of young UGent researchers, extend capacity from one continent to another, and develop capacity in disciplines that has had up to now only little contribution in development collaboration within the JU-UGent collaboration.
Another important aspect of the collaboration, especially towards the IQ-GEAR network is the sharing of digital information and courses. Especially courses for the doctoral schools should be made available on a digital platform. For instance, currently Mass Open Online Courses (MOOCS) are developed for basic statistical modules within the context of a VLIR-UOS Teams project. The SIP will support to make such courses available to the IQ-GEAR network through the opensource MOODLE environment. With such an environment, all courses available for the PhD schools can be offered to the students in a digital format.