UK-Vietnam Researcher Links Workshop

Call for Participation

Workshop Title: Connecting to the smart cities - Developing a road-map to explore big data analytical solutions to address Mekong Delta’s current challenges

Discipline: Computer Science, Built Environment, Engineering, Business

Dates and venue: 3rd to 6th September 2018 at Can Tho University, Ninh Kiều, Can Tho, Vietnam

The programme, ‘British Council Researcher Links’ provides opportunities for early career researchers from the UK and internationally to interact, learn from each other and explore opportunities for building long-lasting research collaborations.  As part of this programme, we are now recruiting early career researchers to participate in the above workshop, jointly organised by University of Salford, Manchester and Dragon Institute – Mekong, Can Tho University, Vietnam.

The 4-day scientific workshop at Can Tho University will address rapid urbanisation and development challenges faced by Vietnam, using cross-disciplinary Smart City and Big Data related innovations. The workshop will focus on Smart City innovations including Internet-of-Things, Cyber-Physical Systems and Ambient Intelligence, to provide a robust solution to challenges posed by rapid urbanisation and development. We intend to attract senior and early career researchers from various disciplines including built environment, engineering, smart cities, urban ecology, information systems, and social sciences.

The workshop will provide a unique opportunity for sharing research expertise and networking. During the workshops early career researchers will have the opportunity to present their research in the form of a short oral presentation and discuss this with established researchers from the UK and Vietnam. There will be a focus on building up links for future collaborations and participants selected on the basis of their research potential and ability to build longer term links.

Newton Fund will cover the costs related to the UK participation to the workshop, including: travel (both international and local), accommodation and meals. Costs for the visa, and travel insurance will be covered for UK participants; however participants will be responsible for making all the necessary arrangements. The workshop organisers accept no responsibility for any problems which may occur when the participants are in-country. The related cost for Vietnam participants will be covered by Vietnam partner from matching fund, including local travel (except airfare), accommodation and meals.

Application and Deadline:

The full application below must be completed by completing form available here and submitted by the 30^th April, 2018 by 16:00 GMT to Dr. Aziz Zeeshan (Z.Aziz@salford.ac.uk) for UK participants and Dr. Tran Van Ty (tvty@ctu.edu.vn) for Vietnam participants.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applications must be submitted using the Researcher Links application form
• Application must be submitted before the deadline of 30^thApril, 2018 by 16:00 GMT
• Participants must be Early Career Researchers: Early Career Researchers are defined as holding a PhD (or having equivalent research experience) and having up to 10 years post-PhD research experience. They are equivalent to the ‘Recognised Researcher’ and sometimes ‘Established Researcher’ categories in the EU framework for researchers’ careers.
• Participants must have a research or academic position (a permanent post, research contract, or fellowship etc.) at a recognised research institution either in the UK or Vietnam.
• Please note that participants are expected to attend all sessions of the workshop.

Quality Assessment

• Experience and relevance of the applicant’s research area to the workshop
• Motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop
• Description of the long term impact expected through the participation in the workshop
• Ability to disseminate workshop’s outcomes

Selection Procedure:

• Eligibility check
• Quality assessment

Notification of results

Applicants will be notified by email before 15^th May, 2018

Equal Opportunities

Equal opportunities and diversity are at the heart of the British Council’s cultural relations ambitions. While recognising that some research fields are dominated by one particular gender, coordinators are encouraged to work towards an equal gender balance and promote diversity. They must not exclude applicants on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religious belief, sexual orientation, or disability. Participants’ selection undertaken by workshop organisers must not contravene this policy.  Extra support to enable participation of Early Career Researchers with special needs will be given.

Contact person:

1. Dr. Aziz Zeeshan (Z.Aziz@salford.ac.uk) for UK participants
2. Dr. Tran Van Ty (tvty@ctu.edu.vn, cellphone: 0939501909) for Vietnam participants

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by a Researcher Links workshop grant, ID 2017-RLWK8-10565, under the Newton Fund Vietnam Programme partnership. The grant is funded by the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by the British Council. For further information, please visit www.newtonfund.ac.uk.