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Scholarships and grants
Research scholarship and grant opportunities for 2022 The common facts of today are the products of yesterday’s research –Duncan MacDonald
Apply now! Travel, education and research scholarship and grant opportunities for 2022 For more information, visit surgeons.org/scholarships Last year was undoubtedly a challenging one as the world grappled with the onset of COVID-19. While many of our scholarships, grants and Fellowships (scholarships) were put on hold, we now look with optimism at this year’s program. Thanks to our Fellows’ dedication and donors’ generosity, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) scholarships, grants and Fellowships have grown over the decades. RACS and the Foundation for Surgery are proud to offer up to 64 scholarships this year. This represents a significant philanthropic contribution to surgical research and training in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. Following Council approval in 2019, a series of program activities (following) have been undertaken to ensure that as our Scholarships and Grants Program grows, it achieves maximum impact for our members and the surgical community. RACS is now poised to be an international leader in the provision of scholarships for the surgical community. On behalf of the Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) Scholarship and Grant Committee, I thank the many Fellows who commit their time and expertise to the program. We can be proud that these opportunities benefit not only the individuals who receive them, but also contribute to the development of research, surgical practice and leadership in our local and global surgical communities. Professor Henry Woo Chair, Australia & New Zealand Scholarship and Grant Committee
The scholarships and grants program year ahead Streamlining our governance Scholarships have now been consolidated from across the College into one program, under the ANZ Scholarship and Grant Committee’s governance, supported by expert selection panels. New policies and procedures will ensure a robust approach to program administration through the RACS Scholarships and Grants department. Research and Learning and Development opportunities To support our streamlined governance, scholarships are now offered in two rounds: Research (opening in March) and Learning and Development (opening in August). Research scholarships provide opportunities to pursue major research projects of between one and three years duration. They are usually undertaken through an approved research institute in Australia or New Zealand. Research opportunities are paid as a stipend, often via the institute, on behalf of RACS and may include departmental maintenance. Learning and Development grants offer the opportunity to pursue professional development, training or small investigative research activities in Australia, New Zealand or overseas. They are usually undertaken over a shorter timeframe of several weeks or months and are paid as a lump sum directly to the recipient. All scholarship recipients are required to report on their activities. Improving the digital experience Planning is underway for the development of a dedicated online platform that will enable streamlined applications, selection, recipient reporting and administration. Importantly, the platform will allow RACS to improve the delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the program to steer the strategy for future success. The scholarships web pages are also being redeveloped with new search functionality, allowing easier navigation and updated content. Promoting social inclusion and gender equity A series of affirmative actions are being implemented to encourage equity and diversity in our processes and communications. Boosting our marketing and promotion Our marketing and promotion efforts will be boosted as we include multimedia to promote scholarships through our partner networks, social media and online. This will raise the program’s profile and encourage high-quality applications.
