[IRTalk] Call for Expressions of Interest: Universities and Social Inequalities in the Global South

[Nason Bimbe]

Hope this may be of interest to some of you.

*UNRISD invites expressions of interest from researchers to prepare papers
that will feed into the development of a research proposal for a project on
the relationship between universities and social inequalities in low- and
middle-income countries.*

With the persistent and rising inequalities of our time encompassing not
only income and wealth but also inequalities across race, gender, ethnicity
and geographic region, it is critical to reinvent, reimagine and strengthen
a wide range of policies and institutions that can play a role in
overcoming inequalities. This Call, and the subsequent research project to
be developed, focuses on universities as one such institution.

The project proposal will focus on the role of universities in reinforcing
or lessening social inequalities in low- and middle-income countries. It
will explore the following questions: What potential does higher education
have today to increase social mobility, reduce inequality and contribute to
the advancement of society through the production of knowledge and skills?
Are institutions of higher education contributing to inequality rather than
equality, and if so, through what specific actions and mechanisms? How can
the transformative potential of such institutions be fully harnessed for
overcoming inequality?

Specifications of the present CallThe present Call seeks expressions of
interest from researchers to prepare the following types of papers, based
on existing research:

   1. Literature review or background research, particularly in relation to
   a region or country in the Global South.
   2. Case studies
      - exploring the ways different countries are filling the demand for
      higher education and the resulting impacts on inequality, looking
      specifically at student enrollment data in terms of socioeconomic status,
      race, gender, ethnicity and region, assessed quality of these
institutions,
      and resulting employment opportunities;
      - of specific institutional contexts, which examine ways inequalities
      are perpetuated or minimized within university settings;
      - exploring the role and influence of elite actors in shaping
      education policy in the Global South;
      - documenting how universities engage directly with the issue of
      inequality, for example through their approach to their core activities
      (such as curriculum, programmes, admission policies), engagement with
      communities/stakeholders, and support for research or advocacy focused on
      inequality.


Selected proposals will be developed into papers that will:

   - feed into the development of a full project proposal on universities
   and social inequalities, which will be submitted for funding in 2019; and
   - provide evidence and analysis, especially from the Global South, which
   can be brought to bear on ongoing UN debates and policy processes,
   including implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.


Three papers will be commissioned in total, out of proposals submitted in
response to this Call.

Papers may be single or co-authored.

Length of proposal in response
to this Call for Expressions of Interest: 500-800 words
Length of paper, if selected: 10,000 words
Language: English
*Timeline*

   - 10 March 2019, 23:59 CET – Deadline for submission of proposals
   - 1 April 2019 – Selected applicants notified
   - 1 July 2019 – First draft due
   - 1 September 2019 – Final draft due


Researcher competencies, experience and skill requirements

   - Post graduate degree in Economics, Political Science, Development
   Studies or other social science discipline (PhD desirable)
   - Experience in development policy research
   - Country expertise (Global South), thematic expertise (tertiary
   education, inequalities, social mobility, etc.)
   - Proven publication record
   - Solid methodological and research skills
   - Fluency in English
   - Ability to write clearly and concisely


*UNRISD particularly welcomes expressions of interest from women, young
researchers, and researchers from and based in developing countries.*

Submission processPlease ensure that you have read the Call for Expressions
of Interest
<http://www.unrisd.org/80256B42004CCC77/(httpInfoFiles)/9260116273413A72C12583900052CF13/$file/UnSi_Call%20for%20Expressions%20of%20Interest.pdf>
in
its entirety before completing the EOI Submission Form
<http://www.unrisd.org/80256B42004CCC77/(httpInfoFiles)/FDED08A5110F7825C125839000531AC6/$file/UnSi_EOI%20Submission%20Form.pdf>
(also
available at the bottom of the page).

All materials are available at www.unrisd.org/EOI-UnSi-2019
<http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BE6B5/(httpNews)/33946B8331DB95EBC1258390004F731C?OpenDocument>
.

Please then send the following via email to maggie.carter at un.org with the
subject line “EOI Inequality submission” by *10 March 2019, 23:59 CET*

   - the completed EOI Submission Form
   - full CV (including academic record and list of publications)
   - a sample of a recent single-authored piece of written work (published
   or unpublished) that is related to this research topic
   - the names and contact details of two referees


Due to limited staff resources, only shortlisted candidates will be
contacted.

For further information, contact maggie.carter at un.org

Nason Bimbe

Tel. +44 (0)7535 250339
Email. nasonbimbe at gmail.com
Skype. bimben
Twitter. @nbimbe
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7560-5029
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=khgE0JYAAAAJ&hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nason-bimbe-a685567/
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