SHER Fellowship Programme

General Information on the Project and Overall Objective

The project Sustainable Higher Education and Research in Kosovo (SHER) supports a sustainable, evidence-based, needs-oriented and gender-responsive Higher Education and Research sector in Kosovo that is in line with the principles of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the European Research Area (ERA) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 and 9. It contributes to the provision of enhanced inclusive and equitable quality of education that promotes research, innovation and internationalisation taking into account gender equality and the third mission of universities.

The fellowship grants aim at enhancing the quality of teaching, research and innovation and the internationalisation in Kosovo’s Higher Education and research sector and will enable PhD students and post-doc researchers to study and carry out research in Austria.

The funding for this project is provided by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and is co-financed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) of the Republic of Kosovo. The implementing consortium also comprises WUS Austria and ZSI. The OeAD is in charge of the administration and implementation of the fellowship component of this project.

Programme Overview

Based on the positive experiences from the preceding project HERAS+, this programme will provide fellowship grants at PhD and post-doc level including a travel lump sum.

Target Group:

• Post-docs aiming to pursue short-term research activities in Austria who are scientific staff members of Kosovar public universities or of other public (research) institutions with Kosovar nationality
• Applicants holding a master’s degree or PhD students already enrolled in Austria or Kosovo with Kosovar nationality
• Applications from underrepresented/vulnerable groups are particularly welcome.

Those with proven affiliation and engagement for a public or private university or a public or private (research) institution in Kosovo will be prioritised.

Duration, Scholarship Rate and Age Limit:

• PhD students: 1-12 month(s) - extension possible | € 1.300 /month | max 35 years of age (exceptionally max 40 years in case of considerable care responsibilities)
• Post-doc researchers: 1-3 month(s) | € 1.300 /month | max 50 years of age
• Travel costs: € 500 (one-off lump sum)

Application & Selection Procedure:

Call 1: Submission deadline 15 January 2025 - please see call guidelines for full information

• Submission of completed online application form including all required documents
• formal & eligibility checks of applications, review by experts, final decision by Selection Board
• announcement of results (expected): March 2025