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Jacobs Foundation Research Grants

Due: this is perpetual, applications may be submitted at any stage
WWW: www.jacobsfoundation.org/cms/?id=funding

description

The Jacobs Foundation is an international charitable foundation, with a base in Switzerland, whose mission is to use science-based knowledge, understanding and education to foster the welfare, social competence and human potential of future generations of young people. The foundation has a particular interest in strengthening the competence and potential of youths who are at risk because of economic, social or educational disadvantage, or because of chronic psychosocial adversity. As part of the range of activities designed to fulfil its mission, the foundation makes grants to support research, research training, research collaborations and policy or practice innovations.

At present, the foundation is particularly interested in receiving applications on the following three main themes:

1. The development of human competence, with a focus on the values, goals, knowledge and life skills that are important to young people in order to live their lives effectively, to relate to others as human beings in a spirit of respect and co-operation, and to make a valuable contribution to society.
2. The enhancement of nature and culture, meaning the knowledge, values, attitudes and skills that permit and encourage young people to understand and protect both their culture and their natural and constructed environment in a caring and forward-looking way.
3. The fostering of practically useful and constructive computer literacy, meaning the knowledge and skills that, in the modern information-based world, are likely to enable young people to participate successfully in education, work and citizenship.

The foundation has identified six more specific topics within these three broad themes that they wish to encourage particularly:

1. Overcoming deprivation and disadvantage in the inner city. This particularly includes a focus on resilience and success in the face of stress and adversity; on optimising the transition from school to work; and on the benefits of mentoring.
2. Reduction of the rates of psychosocial disorders in young people and an understanding of the factors in society that foster adaptive functioning or prevent maladaptation. This includes the study of societal, institutional and school effects on the behaviour of young people.
3. The emergence of self-efficacy, self-identity (both personal and social), social problem-solving and coping skills than enable young people to respond positively to life stresses and challenges. This includes the development of life skills and life planning.
4. The fostering of ethical values and altruism, the prevention of discrimination and the development of community interests and styles of co-operative working.
5. Increasing the investment of older people in youth. This includes the study of intergenerational continuities and discontinuities and of intergenerational caring and commitment.
6. The cost-effectiveness of technology-enhanced learning and the use of information technology to aid the development and potential of young people.

The foundation welcomes proposals from all disciplines. It is interested in supporting research that is qualitative or quantitative, but it encourages a combination of the two and expects high standards in each. Interdisciplinary collaboration will often be an advantage; also, research that involves co-operation between researchers and practitioners, or between professionals in different countries, will often be valuable. Pilot studies and pilot innovations are encouraged and the foundation will also accept proposals for studies that capitalise and build on some larger already-funded research programme.

The foundation sets no limits on the size of its grants, but successful applications are likely to involve funding in the approximate range of CHF 5,000 to CHF 300,000.

Grants for dissertations focused on promoting computer literacy among disadvantaged adolescents are offered in the amount of up to US $10,000 in research support, excluding stipends, but including travel and equipment.

The foundation welcomes proposals from all countries of the world.

Applicants must have an affiliation with a college or university, or a cultural or educational institution. Ordinarily, applicants are expected to hold a doctoral degree.