International Network of Universities (INU)

The International Student Seminar on Global Citizenship and Peace is a unique immersion programme hosted by Hiroshima University in Japan. Since 2006, the seminar has welcomed students from around the world from INU member universities, and is structured around the 6 August commemoration of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

The seminar prepares an international group of approximately 60 students to live and learn as engaged global citizens. The student seminar provides students with a practical knowledge of global citizenship and peace with a focus on interdisciplinary problems and solving real-world political, economic, social and cultural issues. Workshops are offered by faculty from all INU member universities who have expertise in a range of disciplines related to the topic.

The 10-day programme includes lectures, case studies and small group discussions. The programme also features field trips to local landmarks, cultural learning experiences, and culminates in a United Nations role-play where groups of students represent and negotiate different countries to pass a draft resolution.

The programme also includes participation in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on 6 August.

Theme for 2025

Each year, the INU Student Seminar addresses a different theme. In 2025, the theme of the seminar is on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.

Eligibility

All Viadrina students are eligible to apply.

Who can apply?

The student seminar is designed for at highly motivated students with an interest in:

• Increasing their understanding of political, economic, social and cultural challenges emerging in an increasingly globalized world
• Understanding the notion of global citizenship and considering their potential as global citizens
• Deepening their appreciation of the challenges and payoffs of cross-cultural and international engagement
• Sharing reflections with students, academics, and other seminar participants.

Application and selection process

Each INU member institution determines the application and selection process for students at their university. For further information, please contact the International Office of your university or the INU coordinator.

You can find the current call for applications here.

Practical information

The program schedule, accommodation information and reading lists will be provided to selected students in advance of the seminar.

Financing

Participants from the Viadrina are eligible to receive a travel allowance of approximately 600€ and the Japanese JASSO scholarship of 80.000 ¥.

Henry Fong Prize

Upon successful completion of the Summer School, qualifying participants are encouraged to apply for a Henry Fong Award.

The Master Summer School for Global Citizenship and Peace is a unique immersion programme hosted by Hiroshima University in Japan.

The summer school prepares a group of international students to live and learn as engaged global citizens, providing students with a working knowledge of global citizenship and peace with a focus on cross-disciplinary problem, solving of real-world political, economic, social, and cultural problems. Workshops are delivered by Faculty from across INU member universities, with expertise across a range of disciplines relating to the theme.

The 10-day program includes lectures, case studies and small group discussions. The program also offers field trips to local attractions and cultural learning experiences, and culminates in a United Nations role play where groups of students represent different countries, and negotiate to pass a draft resolution.

The program also includes attendance of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on 6th August.

The Master’s Summer School coincides with the International Student Seminar for Global Citizenship and Peace program for Undergraduate students and follows a similar theme and program, however Masters’ students are asked to participate in a paper presentation in addition.

 

Parahyangan Catholic University (UNPAR) in Indonesia is hosting the International Student Conference on the theme of “Inclusivity and Accessibility to Welfare and Sustainable Living After the Pandemic” this year. 

The programme will enable students from around the world to come together and discuss important issues around this theme, which forms part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

There will be lectures and workshops on the topic of inclusivity and welfare, as well as a strong focus on Indonesian culture, and skills development .

It is expected that ISC 2023 will prepare the younger generation, the successor of the civilization, to join hands together regardless of race, religion or ethnic background in overcoming the challenges of the future as true global citizens.

Students are recommended to contact the International Office at their home institution for support and guidance on applying.

Each year, the INU invites student participants of the International Student Seminar for Global Citizenship and Peace to apply for the Henry Fong Award.

The Henry Fong Award recognises an outstanding student within the INU network who exemplifies an individual committed to the concept of global citizenship. The INU defines global citizenship as the awareness of the world, and a global community whose recognition of the rights and responsibilities of citizens is part of it. This award is possible thanks to the generous donation of Dr Henry Fong Yun-Wah (1924-2022), a prominent Hong Kong business leader and philanthropist. His support for education has been recognised by numerous universities in China, including Hong Kong, as well as in Australia, Canada, Scotland and the USA.

The award includes a tuition-free one-semester study abroad programme at one of the INU member universities, as well as a US$2,000 grant towards travel and living expenses.

The exchange semester should be an extraordinary semester at Bachelor's level; the awardee cannot earn his/her degree at the host INU university.

Application process

Applicants must complete and submit the following:

• Essay: In an essay of no more than 1,200 words, participants will be asked to reflect on and demonstrate their personal understanding of the concept of global citizenship, drawing on the content of the seminar and personal reflections. The essay should refer to sessions, give examples from the exercises and discussions they have been involved in and demonstrate their commitment to global thinking/understanding/action. Whilst the statement should largely be an essay reflecting the International Student Seminar experience (and therefore would probably not include many references), if applicants refer to external sources (academic or otherwise), they should reference these appropriately. In short, applicants are not expected to have external sources, but if they do, they must be referenced.

• Host University: Applicants should indicate the INU university where they plan to study for an exchange semester. They should also indicate courses they are interested in.

• CV: Applicants are requested to attach their CV (curriculum vitae) and contact details.

All documents must be submitted in English.

The essay, host university, courses of interest and CV (curriculum vitae) should be sent by email to the INU office.

Who can apply?

All Viadrina Bachelor students with a good command of English who have attended the Student Seminar on Global Citizenship and Peace.

Selection Process

A selection committee consisting of INU academics teaching at the INU Student Seminar will be responsible for selecting the award winner. The selection will take place in September of the current year. The name of the Award recipient will be published in October.

The INU Staff Knowledge Exchange Programme aims to strengthen links between INU member universities by offering professional services and administrative staff the opportunity to visit, study, discuss and compare systems and practices within the network. Through the visits, both sending and host universities benefit from the exchange of best practice. The programme allows staff to spend a week at one or two different INU partners to share experiences and expertise with a colleague at the host university.

The ideal period for the knowledge exchange is one week. This leaves time for travelling, three days for work and additional time for personal and cultural visits.

Work areas

The knowledge exchange for staff is open to all specialised services/administrative staff of INU member universities.

• Some examples of areas of work are listed below, but we are open to applications from all administrative staff from all areas/departments:
• Alumni relations
• Career Services
• Financial administration
• Marketing and Communication
• International and global engagement
• Student Affairs/Student Support
• Community Engagement
• Administration
• Fundraising
• IT support
• Service learning
• Library services
• Management of human resources
• Research management

Requirements

• Applicants must be employed at an INU member university.
• Applicants must have a good command of English.

Application process

1. Before applying, you must first research the member universities' websites to make an informed decision about which university is best suited to host you, based on your specific interests.

Please seek support and approval from your home university.

2. To apply, you must complete the online application at least six months prior to the planned travel date.

3. In addition to the online application, the following documents are required:

• A letter of support from your home university (signed by your supervisor and the INU councillor at your university)
• A summary of the key responsibilities you have undertaken in your current job (maximum one page)
• A supporting statement outlining your expectations for the visit (approximately 300-500 words). This should outline what you hope to learn and experience and how this could support your personal future plans and aspirations as well as those of the department / organisation

• A copy of your CV

Documents must be submitted as Microsoft Word or PDF files.

By applying for the Staff Knowledge Exchange Programme, you agree that the International Network of Universities may collect and store the data from the application form in accordance with the INU Privacy Policy.

Selection procedure

Applications are most likely to be supported by the INU if they take the following points into account:

• Clear objectives and purpose of the visit.
• Commitment to developing long-term international co-operation (making use of the online methods to sustain a partnership).
• A demonstrated understanding of INU and our mission and values.
• Potential impact for INU member institutions.
• Potential impact for the host employee and host institution.
• Limited funding may be available (depending on institutional budgets) and it may not be possible to support all interested applicants.

After submitting your application

Once your application has been received, the INU Coordinator will contact the host institution to check whether the proposed visit is possible. If the institution of first choice is unable to do so, the INU coordinator will contact the institution of second choice. Unfortunately, we are not always able to provide detailed feedback as to why an application was unsuccessful, but we can contact alternative institutions.

Host institutions will receive the full application and supporting documentation, as well as the acceptance letter form.

The INU coordinator will keep you informed about the status of your application. If you have any questions, you can contact the INU coordinator at this e-mail address: INU@kingston.ac.uk

Be prepared to be informed of the outcome within 6-8 weeks of receiving your application.

Arranging the visit

Upon agreement of the host institution, the INU Coordinator will introduce the visiting staff member and the host institution so they can liaise directly to make the necessary arrangements, including deciding upon mutually agreeable dates for the visit.

Funding the visit

The sending organisation is responsible for:

• Travel costs (flight/train costs, etc.) for the travelling staff member and all associated costs such as visa applications, travel insurance, etc.
• Covering the costs of catering during the visit (meals, refreshments, local travel expenses) in accordance with the regulations of the respective institution.

Applicants may be required to pay for their own local transport and some meals.

The host institution is responsible for:

• Arranging and funding accommodation (hotel or homestay) for the visiting member of staff, as well as covering the cost of ad hoc meals (i.e. when hosting lunch or dinner for the visiting staff member.

Report on the experience

• The applicant and host organisation will be asked to complete an evaluation report of the experience, as well as provide photos and quotes that can be used on INU social media.
• In addition, a short video of the visiting employee describing the experience is requested (using a smartphone in landscape mode) to be posted on the INU website and social media. This video can be recorded during or after the visit and should not be longer than 3 minutes. Please make sure that the recording is made in landscape format and in a quiet environment without background noise and that the camera is stationary. The recordings can also be used on the INU website, in promotional materials and on social media.

The INU Seed Money Fund addresses the need for INU Faculty / Professional Services staff to launch a significant project that will benefit the network. This open call for seed funding seeks creative ideas that support internationalisation and global engagement within INU and is open to all employees of an INU member institution to apply.

Applications from individuals who have recently participated in the Researcher Mobility Programme or the Staff Knowledge Exchange to expand their partnership and start new projects are highly encouraged.

The call is open to all disciplines and a wide range of activities at our INU member universities.

The award

Two rounds of funding are available for seed money projects.

Phase 1 - New projects

New projects should apply in phase 1. This phase is for new applications for a project that has yet to receive financial support from the INU.

New projects should apply under phase 1.  This phase is for new applications for a project which is yet to receive funding support from INU.

There are 2 awards of up to $3,000 each year under Phase 1.

Applications under phase 1 need to have a minimum of 2 INU member institutions involved in the project.

Phase 2 - Expanding Projects

Phase 2 is for projects which are already underway and have already been awarded Seed Money Funding previously under Phase 1.  This provides the opportunity to apply for a second round of funding, to develop and expand the initiative further.

There are 2 awards of up to $3,000 each year under Phase 2.

Applications under phase 2 need to have a minimum of 4 INU member institutions involved in the project.

Who can apply

All faculty or staff members from the Viadrina. The Network encourages collaboration among two or more INU members. A member institution can submit multiple applications.

How do I apply?

To apply for Seed Money funding, please complete the application form. This should be completed by the nominated project manager.

The following supporting documents are required:

• Project Description (Describe the proposed project and explain how this initiative aligns with the INU mission/vision, outline expected outcomes, long-term sustainability, etc.)
• If you are applying under Phase 2, please attach a separate document detailing the results of the Phase 1 Seed Money funding.
• List of partners, including:
• Name, job title, Faculty / Department, University, e-mail address.

• The role and contribution of each partner should be clearly defined.

• A letter of support from each partner, signed by their direct supervisor
• A detailed budget of up to US$3,000.

Seed Money Fund applicants should consider carefully which elements can be delivered remotely, via online methods, and which elements may require travel. In terms of sustainable internationalisation, accessibility and cost effectiveness, applicants should consider a balance of online and in-person activity.

By applying for Seed Money Funding, you agree that the International Network of Universities will collect and store the data from the application form in accordance with their Privacy Policy.

Selection criterion

The selection committee consists of three representatives from INU institutions and reviews applications on the following basis:

• Priority will be given to projects that align with the INU's mission, vision and values statement.
• Project proposals will be evaluated based on potential outcomes and impact.
• Applications must have a future vision of how the project can develop and grow. It must be sustainable in the long term without INU funding.
• Applications should include at least 2 INU members, but in most cases applications are expected to include a larger number of INU members.

If only 2 members are part of the project, it must be demonstrated that approaches have been made to involve other INU members or why this particular initiative can only involve two institutions. Applications that address the extension of projects to other INU members will also be prioritised.

If you would like to get in touch with faculty/staff from other INU member universities to invite them as partners in a project, please contact the INU coordinator who will be happy to help connect you.

Successful projects

Recipients of Seed Money Funding must report progress to the INU Council as follows:

• Seed Money Fund recipients are expected to provide a project update to the INU at least every 3 months.
• 12 months after the award of funds, the nominated project leader and project partners will be asked to give a presentation to the INU Council outlining the project and its outcomes.
• A written annual report to the INU is also required, as well as photos and quotes that can be used on the INU's social media/website.

Application deadline

31 October of each year.

The Researcher Mobility Programme enables doctoral students (or equivalent) and active researchers within the INU network to conduct research at another INU member university. The purpose of this programme is to develop joint research initiatives between INU member universities and to exchange expertise between research centres.

The visits should last 2-4 weeks and form the basis for future collaboration between the two research centres.

After a successful visit, the host research centre and the visiting researcher may consider applying for seed money funding to support their ongoing collaboration (ideally considering how other INU members could also participate/benefit).

Number of awards

5 awards of up to $2,000 per year.

The award contributes to travel and living expenses to facilitate the visit.

The INU member university will cover the upfront costs of the visit (up to a maximum of $2,000) and will invoice the INU for reimbursement should invoices/receipts be provided.

Expenses submitted to the home institution must comply with the institution's expense policy.

Criteria

Applicants must have been enrolled as a PhD student at an INU member university or be a faculty member actively engaged in research for at least 6 months prior to application.

Applicants must have a good command of English to participate in this programme.

Before applying

1. Applicants should first identify a research centre at an INU member university that matches their research interests. This can be done via the websites of the INU member universities (links at the bottom of the page).
2. The researcher should contact the relevant member of staff within the research group to confirm whether they would be willing to facilitate their visit. The applicant should outline the following information in their communication to the potential host research centre at the outset:

• your research interests and how these match with the host research centre

• the purpose of their planned visit

• your expectations of the visit

It is recommended to also provide the link to the INU Researcher Mobility Programme website as a first point of contact.

3. if the host research centre is happy to arrange the visit, a Letter of Acceptance must be submitted with the application.

4. a Letter of Support is required from your home institution (signed by both your direct supervisor and the INU Council member at your university).

Submitting an application

The visiting scholar must submit the application form and supporting documents to the INU Coordinator by 21 March 2023. The following evidence must be submitted with the application

Supporting documents

1. a letter of intent, including:

• Information about your current research activities
• Objectives of the visit
• How this helps you as a researcher and the interests of your research centre
• Future plans for continued collaboration between the two research centres

The statement of purpose should be signed and agreed by the visiting researcher and the host research centre.

2. a planned timetable - outlines the main activities during the visit. This should be developed jointly by the visiting scientist and the host research centre. This may include an indication of possible dates for the visit (although confirmed dates are not required)

3. Letter of Support signed by the researcher's supervisor/supervisor and member of the INU Council at the home institution.

4. Letter of Acceptance, signed by the host research centre

5. a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) / resumé of the visiting researcher

6. a budget detailing the expected costs of the visit. (Quotations will be provided where possible.)

• Travel costs
• Accommodation
• Living expenses

INU can only cover up to $2,000. Any additional costs incurred would have to be agreed separately either by the sending institution or by the guest researcher.

By applying for the Researcher Mobility programme, you agree that the International Network of Universities collects and stores the data from this form in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

Criteria for selection

The following criteria are taken into account when reviewing applications:

• Clear objectives and purpose of the visit
• Commitment to developing an international research collaboration (use of online resources to maintain a partnership)
• A demonstrated understanding of the INU and our mission and values
• Potential impact for INU member institutions
• Potential impact for visiting scholars and host institutions

Successful applicants

Applicants will be notified by mid-May whether they have been successful.

Applicants will then have 12 months to arrange and complete the visit to the INU member university's research centre.

If 12 months pass and the visit has not yet taken place, the applicant must reapply for funding.

Application deadline

21 March 2023