Short Initiatives (SI)

Short Initiative (SI) foster innovation and creativity among new and young promoters, offering a platform for academics and researchers within the VLIRUOS community to lead projects with fresh perspectives on global sustainable development challenges.

By focusing on short-term, targeted issues, SI Projects enable higher education institutions to respond quickly to pressing themes, ensuring immediate, solution-driven impact while laying the foundation for future long-term partnerships in the VLIRUOS portfolio.

SI project activities are expected to deliver results across six key domains:

1. Research programmes and methods: Develop new knowledge and technologies, produce high-quality research outputs, promote gender balance, integrate innovative methods, and enhance professional practices through practice-based research.
2. Education programmes and methods: Implement updated Master programmes, introduce new courses and trainings for both academic and non-academic stakeholders, adopt innovative teaching methods, develop research-based education, and integrate equity, inclusion, and gender equality into curricula.
3. Outreach and policy support: Facilitate the use of research evidence through policy briefs, collaborations, engagement strategies, improved communication, regular exchanges, and by developing and applying skills and knowledge through scholarships and workplace integration.
4. People: Develop and apply critical skills and knowledge, reduce staff turnover, and promote global citizenship and awareness of gender, environmental, and sustainability issues.
5. Systems, policies, and infrastructure: Establish efficient structures, policies, and procedures, improve research and education facilities, enhance software technologies, and implement measures to support vulnerable groups and reduce environmental impact.
6. Networks and partnerships: Promote regional and international cooperation, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, develop new research partnerships for societal impact, and establish stakeholder platforms engaging private, public, and civil society actors.

Eligibility:

• Flemish promoter: professor/specialist employed at a Flemish university or a professor/lecturer at a Flemish university of applied sciences and arts. 

• Partner promoter: employed at a recognised higher education institution or national public (not for profit) research institute located in a VLIRUOS project partner country. 

Additional criteria:

• Applicants (Flemish/partner) can submit a maximum of 2 SI projects in case they have no ongoing TEAM 2022 or TEAM 2024 project. Promoters of a TEAM 2022 or TEAM 2024 project can submit only 1 SI 2025 project.
• At the level of the partner institutions, no further criteria apply. Former and present IUC partner institutions are fully eligible, without any restriction.