Faculty members having a flair for research in higher educational institutions across Kerala have something to cheer about. The government has approved the ‘FLAIR for Research’ project that aims at supporting and facilitating research initiatives.
About Rs. 21 lakh has been earmarked for the new scheme that is being implemented as part of the Fostering Linkages in Academic Innovation and Research programme by the Higher Education Department in 2015-16. Teaching-learning component had received a major boost in the first phase of FLAIR launched in 2013-14.
“There would be three components in the FLAIR for Research scheme, which include travel grants for presenting research findings in national/international conferences, fellow visit programme and excellence awards in research,” said K. P. Jaikiran, Programme Director.
Faculty members who have carried out original research during the last three academic years but received few opportunities to attend conferences for presenting their work will be offered a chance through the travel grant scheme, with a budget outlay of Rs. 11.85 lakh (for 10 persons).
Selected faculty members can attend conferences/workshops in India and abroad from November 1 this year to February 28 next. An expert panel will evaluate the proposals submitted by the faculty members. The scheme is open only to FLAIR members.
The second component, ‘FLAIR fellow visit programme’, will enable faculty members involved in high quality research (those who got few chances for collaboration) to visit national/international research labs/institutions for two weeks. Selection of fellows will be based on their research portfolios and also the strength of their proposal for the lab/institution visit.
Selected faculty members can visit laboratories/institutions in India and abroad from November 1 to February 28. Teachers will have to identify the laboratory/institution and obtain permission from them for the visit programme. Financial support will be given for visits that spans 16 days, including travel time. Ten persons (FLAIR members) will be eligible to receive the benefits of the programme, with an outlay of Rs. 7.26 lakh.
‘FLAIR Excellence Awards in Research’ (open to non-FLAIR members too) is the third component of the scheme. Faculty members who have made significant contributions in research during the last three years will be considered for the achievement. Dr. Jaikiran said that significant research contributions will include patents, research findings having industry applications, research findings that offer solutions, those that impact various spheres and also those related to new discoveries.
“Five faculty members who become eligible for the award will be given a grant of Rs. 50,000 each. It can be utilised for purchase of books/research journals in their respective department libraries or for purchase of materials/equipments for laboratory use in the institution,” he adds.
