ASTRA aims at contributing to one of the most common difficulties that HEIs face in developing countries, which is securing enough financial resources for promoting their research and development activities. The proposed project aims at enhancing the financial sustainability of 4 HEIs in Laos and Thailand by utilising 2 sources: programmes funded by international donours and provision of R&D consulting services to private clients and NGOs / CSOs. Particular focus in given to R&D related with ICT and Social Sciences, which are very popular in Laos and Thailand.The basic outputs / outcomes of the project involve:- The establishment of dedicated structures in each participating university for incubating applications for research funding from various international donours, as well as designing and offering consulting services to private clients.- Capacity building of the academic personnel involved in those structures through various means (transnational workshops, study visits, mentoring - coaching).- The development of processes and guides on how the established structures should operate and relevant practical issues.- Facilitation of networking with various stakeholders, such as international donours, other universities with significant experience in exploiting funding from international donours, the private market etc.Envisaged impact includes the development of a comprehensive mechanism empowering the financial sustainability od HEIS, as well as the development of the capacities of research and support staff in utilising alternative sources of funding. Moreover, the 4 HEIs in Laos and Thailand will improve their financial management capacities (especially their governance and fundraising models), being able to diversify and differentiate their available sources of funding, being brought also closer to the private market of the Region and stakeholders active in Social Sciences and ICT.
ASTRA promotes modernisation, internationalisation and accessibility to funding of the higher education field in the eligible Partner Countries by improving the fundraising and governance systems of the participating HEIs for utilising funds from international donours and the private market. It also supports Laos & Thailand to face the critical challenge of limited funding for R&D purposes.
ASTRA aimed at contributing to the most common difficulty that HEIs face in developing countries: securing enough financial resources for promoting their research and development. The project enhanced the financial sustainability of 4 HEIs in Laos and Thailand by utilising 2 sources: programmes funded by international donours and provision of R&D consulting services to private clients and NGOs. Particular focus was given to ICT and Social Sciences, which are popular in Laos and Thailand.
<< Background >> ASTRA aimed at contributing to the most common difficulty that HEIs face in developing countries: securing enough financial resources for promoting their research and development. The project enhanced the financial sustainability of 4 HEIs in Laos and Thailand by utilising 2 sources: programmes funded by international donours and provision of R&D consulting services to private clients and NGOs. Particular focus was given to ICT and Social Sciences, which are popular in Laos and Thailand. << Objectives >> ASTRA promotes modernisation, internationalisation and accessibility to funding of the higher education field in the eligible Partner Countries by improving the fundraising and governance systems of the participating HEIs for utilising funds from international donours and the private market. It also supports Laos & Thailand to face the critical challenge of limited funding for R&D purposes. << Implementation >> WP1 Needs Analysis-Needs Analysis ReportWP2 Development-1 Regional and 2 National Fundraising strategies-Operational Guide for the ASTRA Hubs-Learning Material and e-learning platform WP3 Capacity Building-Three-week Leadership course in Italy and Greece (12 participants)-4 National trainings (75 participants)-WP4 Official Launch and one year pilot of the Hubs operationWP5 Quality assurance processesWP6 Online Outreach activities – 4 promotional events and Final Conference << Results >> - Establishment and official integration of 4 ASTRA R&D Hubs in the HEIs for incubating applications for research funding- Capacity building of the HEI personnel (more than 100) involved in those structures- Development of Regional Strategies and operational guide for the R&D Hubs - Facilitation of networking with various stakeholders, such as international donours and the local private market-More than 2000 HEI staff directly engaged through events and trainings and outreach