The Graduate Research Grant: Process from Announcement to Completion
Background:
The Graduate Research Grant (GRG) is a significant initiative aimed at supporting Master's level students studying in Nepal who are pursuing research in the field of health science. The primary goal of this program is to broaden the scope of health-related knowledge in Nepal and to encourage young researchers in their academic pursuits. From the initial announcement of the grant opportunity to the final disbursement of funds into the students' accounts, every stage of the process is meticulously planned and executed under the careful supervision of a dedicated body known as the Grant Secretariat. The Grant Secretariat's responsibility is to ensure that the entire process remains fair, transparent, and ultimately impactful, allowing deserving students to advance their research without unnecessary obstacles.
Phase 1: Call for Proposals and Submission Process
Following the annual announcement of the grant, comprehensive guidelines are disseminated to potential applicants through various channels, including university notice boards, websites, and networks of health-related organizations. These guidelines provide detailed information regarding the thematic focus areas that the grant will prioritize, the eligibility criteria that students must meet to apply (such as academic background and proof of university enrollment), and a step-by-step explanation of how to prepare and submit their research proposals. Eligible Master's level students are then invited to develop a well-structured research proposal that clearly outlines their research objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and a detailed budget. These proposals must be submitted within a defined timeframe, which usually falls around July-August, and must strictly adhere to the specific format and instructions provided by the Secretariat.
Phase 2: Pre-Screening and Anonymization Process
Once the deadline for proposal submission has passed, all the received proposals undergo a thorough initial screening process. The main objective of this stage is to verify whether the proposals meet the basic requirements, such as alignment with the specified thematic areas, adherence to the prescribed formatting guidelines, and the inclusion of all necessary information. Only those proposals that successfully pass this initial screening are moved forward for further evaluation. Subsequently, a crucial step is taken to ensure impartiality: the identities of the applicants are concealed by assigning unique identification codes to each proposal. This anonymization process is vital in preventing any form of bias during the subsequent expert review and evaluation.
Phase 3: Expert Review and Evaluation Process
The anonymized research proposals are then forwarded to a panel of external reviewers who are carefully selected based on their specialized knowledge and expertise in the relevant subject matter, as well as their demonstrated impartiality. Along with the proposals, these reviewers receive a standardized evaluation form. This form is designed to facilitate a consistent and objective assessment of each submission based on predefined criteria, such as the originality of the research idea, the clarity of the methodology, the feasibility of the proposed work, and the potential impact of the research findings. To further safeguard confidentiality, each reviewer is also assigned a unique identification code.
Phase 4: Shortlisting and Presentations
After all the reviews have been completed and the scores systematically compiled, the top-ranking proposals, typically ranging from 6 to 8 depending on the total number of submissions received, are shortlisted for the next stage: virtual presentations. This presentation round is coordinated by the GTA The Grant Secretariat takes full responsibility for managing this entire presentation process, which includes scheduling the presentations, coordinating the necessary technical arrangements and materials, and maintaining clear and consistent communication with all the participating candidates to ensure a seamless and equitable experience for everyone involved.
Phase 5: Final Selection and Grant Agreement
Following the presentations, the final selection of grant recipients (4-5) is made based on a comprehensive evaluation that takes into account both the scores obtained from the written proposals and the performance during the presentations. Each successful candidate then enters into a formal grant agreement. This legally binding document clearly outlines the terms and conditions of the grant, the individual responsibilities of the grantee, and the reporting obligations that they must adhere to as stipulated in the agreement. This agreement ensures that both the grantor and the grantee have a clear understanding of their respective roles and expectations.
Phase 6: Fund Disbursement and Mentorship
Upon the completion of presentation and submission of an initial progress update on their research, the first installment of the grant money NPR 50,000, is disbursed to the grantee to facilitate the commencement of their research implementation. Furthermore, starting in 2024, each grantee has been strategically paired with a dedicated academic supervisor upon request from GTA. This mentorship provides structured guidance, academic support, and valuable advice throughout the entire research period to the grantee.This initiative aims to further enhance the quality of the research being conducted and contribute to the professional development of the grant recipients, ensuring they receive expert guidance as they navigate their research journey.
This robust and thoughtfully orchestrated process has been successfully implemented for three consecutive years from 2022-2024, culminating in the awarding of 12 research grants to 12 deserving Master's students by the end of 2024. This track record clearly demonstrates the program's strong commitment to fostering and advancing health science research within Nepal.