Visiting Fellow program attracted 99 applications in January!

The Science Council at University of Jyväskylä opened a call for International Visiting Fellows to make a brief visit to co-operate in research with JYU research hosts. By end of January the call attracted 99 applicants with excellent research plans. University is ably to invite 73 Fellows, who will visit JYU during this year. 

The geographical coverage was very good, including researchers from EU, USA, Canada, Brasilia, Australia, Ukraine, Asian countries like China, Turkey, Israel and Japan as well as African countries Kamerun, Nigeria, Algeria and South-Africa. 

IVF is part of the agreement between JYU and the Ministry of Education and Culture to increase international activities. Other activities within this program include the Finland Grants (Suomi-stipendi) for Master and Doctorate level studies at JYU. The agreement has some special focus countries to increase co-operation and they are African countries, China, India and USA.

Almost all departments will receive Fellows and Faculty of Human and Social Sciences got most applications (34) and largest number of Fellows (28). HYTK, as well as Faculties of Information Technologies and Natural Sciences and Mathematics appointed their own funding for the program. In order to invite more Fellows, many applicants will be invited only for one or two months even their original application was for three months research period. 

IVF2021 enabled JYU to invite 63 Fellows and all the visits were implemented during Autumn 2021. This year the visiting periods spread much more evenly during the year and that helps a lot the work that International Staff Services and assistants are doing. ISS and assistants have been and will be crucial to ensure that the Fellows have had as easy arrival and efficient stay as possible so that they and their hosts have been able to concentrate on research. 

 There is an initial allocation for funding of International Visiting Fellow program 2023. The Science Council will consider the impact and operation of previous programs when for example the criteria of the visiting fellows will be decided. The main goal to increase international research co-operation will certainly still be valid!