RDC’s Research Support Programme

In 2008 RDC is planning to launch a scheme aimed at supporting young scholars and researchers, dedicated to exploring and analysing issues of the war events of 1992-1995 and war legacy, especially in relation to the activities of our organization. The priority will be given to citizens of BiH and foreign students enrolled in local universities. The program will consist of providing assistance to the ongoing research projects.
It is our wish to see more young researchers dedicating themselves to the task of gathering and analysing data about contemporary history, transitional justice and conflict prevention. It is in the spirit of RDC to encourage an active approach and rigorous field based research, which contribute to the academic and public debate and facilitates the processes of facing the past and reconciliation.
As a result of a competitive selection process, the most innovative and interesting project proposals will be chosen. The emphasis will be put on addressing challenging issues, being of political and social relevance as well as contributing to the rebuilding of society. This way RDC wants to support strengthening the young academic and intellectual elite of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

to increase the number of research projects on contemporary history and present-day BiH conducted by young scholars,
to encourage employment of innovative research approaches focusing on fieldwork
to promote an active approach, development of research skills, independent and critical thinking among students and researchers

RDC’s Research Support Programme (RSP)
The RDC Research Support Programme will have four dimensions: providing financial aid, non-financial resources, assistance of mentor, and promotion of the outcomes of the research.
For the financial aid in 2008 RDC has assigned a total of 10 000 BAM that are primarily planned to be redistributed in three individual financial awards of 5000 BAM, 3000 BAM and 2000 BAM. The grants are meant to cover, first and foremost, the expenses of research conducted in the field that is costs of travel, accommodation and food, research materials, technical support, local collaborators, among others. During one month from completion of the research (exact date to be specified in the contract) the scholar is obliged to submit to RDC a financial report documenting the real costs that occurred.
Non-financial support available from RDC is:

access to the RDC’s archives (documents and digital material)
possibility of using RDC’s offices and library (in Sarajevo as well as regional branches)

Each researcher will have a staff member assigned to assist him/her during the work. The RDC employee will provide help with establishing contacts and conducting research.
The outcomes of the research will be published on the RDC’s website with the further possibility of printed publication and promotion depending on the quality of the results. The most promising and committed researchers will be offered prospect of employment at RDC.

Eligibility criteria
In order to be considered for the RSP, the candidate has to meet the following formal criteria:

be enrolled in a graduate or post-graduate programme (MA or PhD),
be less than 35 years old,
submit the project proposal for research that will constitute a part of MA or PhD thesis.

Jury and evaluation process
All the research proposals (submitted either in English or B/H/S) will be evaluated by a committee appointed by the managing board of RDC. It will include two staff members of RDC and three independent scholars. The committee will be chaired by one of the scholars. The decision of the committee is binding; however there is the possibility of appeal to the managing board within two weeks of the publication of the results.
The project proposals will be assessed according to clearly stated and publicly announced criteria published in a form of evaluation gird. Each proposal will be given overall score as well as short feedback review aiming at providing young scholars with information about strengths and weakness of their proposals and helping them with creating future applications.

Timeline:
Announcement of competition: October 2007
Submission of research proposals: until end of November 2007 (two months)
Decision of the committee: by the end of January 2008
Conclusion of research and submission of descriptive and financial report: end of 2008