SoLA funding (ไทย)
Research Regulations in SoLA
SoLA allocates approximately 1,000,000 baht per year to support and promote research. There are 8 main ways in which this funding can be used:
- Research project funding
- Minor cost research project funding
- Research funding for postgraduate student projects
- Funding for conferences for staff
- Funding for conferences for students
- Funding for staff research training
- Funding for staff to join academic societies
- Funding for proofreading articles
- Funding for journal submission and publication fees
- Strategic project for developing mid-level researchers
Although the amounts will vary year by year, it is expected that on average funding for research projects will account for about half of the total funding and conference funding will account for about a quarter.
In addition to these, FTERO funding is used for Staff Research Development Funding (see Appendix).
All cases of SoLA research funding are assigned a code number, and, where appropriate, this should be used in acknowledgements of sources of funding in publications. Decisions about funding are made by either the Research Funding Board or the Associate Dean for Research, as detailed below.
Research Project Funding
Funding applications are welcomed for research projects. Applications can be made for funding of between 10,000 and 500,000 baht. Four types of research project are funded:
1. Publishable research
This type most closely matches traditional interpretations of research. Typically, the product of this research is, ideally, an article for publication in an international refereed journal. The paradigms of research covered here, however, are not restricted to traditional psychometric approaches, but also include, for instance, ethnographic research, policy research and document research.
Product for evaluation of funding: academic article.
2. Developmental research
The purpose of this research is to collect information useful to the development of the department, faculty or university. For this reason, the results may not be publishable, but should be targeted at real-world applications for developing the department etc.
Product for evaluation of funding: report written for a targeted audience (e.g. the Dean)
3. Socially active research
This research is usually much smaller in scale than traditional research, and so does not necessarily produce results reportable in a traditional article format (although this is possible). Rather, the purpose of the research is to highlight some aspect of society/culture that is a cause for concern. The results of the research may be disseminated through social, rather than academic, media, such as newspapers.
Product for evaluation of funding: short report plus some form of social dissemination (e.g. newspaper article)
4. Product research
The purpose of this type of research is not to conduct an investigation, but rather to produce some new product of use to the faculty, university or society. This may include computer programs, databases, and the like. An example is producing a computer program such as the KeyBNC program to generate keywords from a corpus.
Product for evaluation of funding: the product itself plus a short report.
Even where there is no explicit statement of the need for conducting traditional-style research, all four types should include a clear research element (such as the collection and analysis of data). Note that there is no need to submit a formal research report to SoLA, but any publications resulting from funding should be reported.
Proposals for funding should include the following information:
1. Name of project
2.
Name(s) of researchers
3.
Justification for research
The justification for conducting the research may differ depending on the type and purposes of the research:
Publishable academic research
The justification is likely to consist of a literature review indicating a reason for conducting the research (e.g. a gap in the knowledge of the field).
Developmental research
The justification is likely to consist of a summary of the current situation together with some evidence of problems which the proposed research could solve.
Socially active research
A reason for why the social concern is of interest and why an investigation will lead to interesting data is needed. This justification may include academic literature, media reports or informant data.
Product research
Depending on the nature of the product, the justification may include a literature review, an analysis of a current situation or previous informal data collection or experience.
4. Project procedures
The procedures should give a clear picture of the stages of work in the project. For academic research, the procedures are likely to mirror the research methodology. For other types, clear stages of procedures with justifications for key decisions are needed.
5. Project product
Especially for product research, a clear description of the expected product with its uses is needed.
6. Budget
Priority in funding will be for staff who have either not applied previously or who have a record of successfully completing projects. Decisions about Research Project Funding are made by the Research Funding Board.
Minor Cost Research Project Funding
To expedite funding decisions, for projects where only minor funding is needed, a simpler process can be used.
Regulations for minor-cost project funding
- Proposals can be submitted by any full-time working member of staff of SoLA.
- Proposals can be submitted at any time.
- Proposals can ask for funding up to a maximum of 10,000 baht.
- Only one proposal can be submitted for one research project.
- Proposals should include the following information: researcher's name, title of research project, concise (1 paragraph) description of the project, and details of budget required.
- Proposals can be written in either Thai or English.
- Decisions about Minor Cost Research Funding are made by the Associate Dean for Research (ideally within one week of submission of the proposal).
- Standard receipts for reimbursements of costs are needed (as with normally funded research projects).
- If costs are for the purchase of a book or similar text, the book should be donated to the Resource Centre on completion of the research.
- Costs can only be reimbursed within the financial year in which the proposal is approved (i.e. before the end of August (to allow clearing) of the financial year).
Research Funding for Postgraduate Student Projects
To maximise the potential for SoLA-based publications, postgraduate students of SoLA can apply for funding to facilitate their research. Any funds for postgraduate student research should result in products matching key indicators, such as research publications.
Regulations for disbursement of research funding for postgraduate student projects:
The funds to support SoLA postgraduate student research will be disbursed based on the following regulations:
- The maximum amount for a PhD student is 20,000 baht, and for an MA student is 7,000 baht if studying for a 12-credit thesis and 5,000 baht if studying a 3-credit special study or 6-credit thesis.
- The funding must be essential for completion of the research.
- A research article must be written for the funded research and a serious attempt made to publish the article.
- The student's supervisor(s) must be closely involved in the research.
- The research article must be published as a joint publication between the student and the supervisor(s).
- Before asking for SoLA funding, an attempt to find funding from outside SoLA should be made.
- The student and supervisor(s) must apply jointly for the funding.
- Funding will typically be given to cover travel costs or essential purchasing costs (for products not otherwise available in SoLA). Costs for hiring people (such as transcribers) will NOT be covered, except for DASU and proofreading of an article for publication (NOT the thesis), and work which involves skills not expected of the student (e.g. computer programming).
- Reimbursements for costs can only be made on production of formal receipts.
- If the funding is for books, software or other concrete products, at the end of the project these must be given to SoLA.
- Decisions about Research Funding for Postgraduate Student Projects are made by the Associate Dean for Research.
For Research Funding for Postgraduate Student Projects, Application Forms 21E (English) and 21T (Thai) can be used.
Funding for Conferences for Staff
SoLA staff may receive funding for conferences from two sources.
1. University funding for international conferences
Conditions for allocating funds:
1.1 Maximum funding of once per year
1.2
A maximum of 50,000 baht (or the actual costs)
1.3
If the staff have already been granted such funding 2 times, they will be eligible for the next application for conference funding only if they have academic work published in a refereed international journal.
2. SoLA funding
SoLA funding is restricted to 1) registration fees 2) travel expenses between cities/countries and 3) accommodation. Two types of SoLA funding are:
2.1 For conferences in Thailand, staff can apply for funding for costs not exceeding 20,000 baht per year. For conferences in Bangkok and neighboring provinces, SoLA funding only covers registration fees.
2.2
For conferences abroad, the applicant must be the main presenter (first author). Staff can apply for funding 1 time per year (2 times per year for new staff in their first
3 years of employment). Maximum cost for conferences outside Asia is 50,000 baht or 30,000 baht for conferences in Asia (staff will be reimbursed for the actual costs).
Staff can apply for SoLA funding under the following conditions for allocating funds (see diagram on page 5):
a. If total costs for conferences do not exceed 20,000 baht, staff can apply for funding from SoLA (for the actual expenses).
b. If total costs are more than 20,000 baht and up to 50,000 baht, an application must be made for university funding (for the actual expenses).
c. If total costs are more than 50,000 baht, the staff apply for university funding first and apply for costs over 50,000 baht from SoLA (for the actual expenses).
d. If the staff are not eligible to apply for university funding or not eligible to apply for funding in a specific fiscal year, the application can be made to SoLA funding.
Other conditions for allocating funds:
- SoLA conference funding covers registration fee, transportation between cities/countries and accommodation. Costs for per diem or transportation within cities are not covered.
- SoLA conference funding covers costs where payment is made after the date of approval of the application for funding. Payments made before the application is approved will not be covered.
- SoLA provides funding for conference abroad for one conference per year per person, except
1) For new academic staff (in the first 3 years of employment), funding for
2 conferences is provided per year.
2) Staff can ask for a specific exception for specialized conferences that allow the
staff member to gain specific skills and knowledge. Staff must submit a proposal
which provides a clear justification for potential benefits that will be derived from
the conference.
3) Decisions on Funding for Conferences for Staff will be made by the Associate
Dean for Research, except in cases where staff have asked for a specific exception
to be made, in which case the decision is made by the Research Funding Board.
3. SoLA provides funding for conferences announced on the monthly conference list on the SoLA website. Conditions for allocating funds are as follow.
(1) Application for conferences coded as green will be funded.
(2) Application for conferences coded as red will NOT be funded.
(3) Application for conferences coded as orange or other conferences not included in the monthly conference list may be rejected. Preference is for conferences with published proceedings. If not, the applicant must promise to write an article concerning the presentation and try to publish the article within 1 year after the conference.
4. For conferences in Thailand, staff have the right to spend 20,000 baht per year with no regulations governing number of conferences. There are no constraints on being the main presenter for conferences in Thailand (first author).
5. For conferences abroad, the applicant must be the main presenter (first author).
6. For Funding for Conferences for Staff, the Application Form for Conference Funding for Staff can be used. Decisions are made by the Associate Dean for Research.
Funding for Conferences for Students
To promote publications and enhance student development, students can request funding for conference registration fees from the SoLA research funds.
Conditions for allocating funds
- Maximum funding of once per year per person (unless there is a persuasive reason otherwise).
- Each PhD student can only receive funding twice, and each Masters student only once.
- For students in the Department of Language, the conference must be an international conference. For students in the Department of Social Studies, international conferences are preferred, but national conferences are acceptable.
- The applicant must be presenting a paper at the conference.
- Funding will cover registration fees only (at Student or Early Bird rates where applicable).
- The applicant must promise to write an article concerning their presentation (either for conference proceedings or for journal publication). The research article must be published as a joint publication between the student and the supervisor(s).
- Funding will only be provided for conferences where the student has not applied for any other sources of funding.
- The maximum amount allowed is 5,000 baht.
- The applicant should be able to show that their attendance at the conference will raise the profile of SoLA and/or lead to useful new contacts.
- SoLA conference funding covers costs where payment is made after the date of approval of the application for funding. Payments made before the application is approved will not be covered.
- Priority will be given to requests for smaller amounts of support.
The application should be made before the conference, and the actual conference receipt used to claim reimbursement afterwards. Decisions on Funding for Conferences for Students will be made by the Associate Dean for Research. For Funding for Conferences for Students, Application Forms 22E (English) and 22T (Thai) can be used.
Funding for Staff Research Training
This funding aims support SoLA staff to upgrade their research skills and knowledge.
Purposes of funding for research training
While most academic staff in SoLA have received training in research methods, it is important that staff's skills and knowledge are kept up-to-date and that new research skills and knowledge are learnt. While some funding is available through departments, this funding is used primarily to support staff to present at conferences, and little is available for attending workshops. Also, although SoLA attempts to run research-focused workshops on a regular basis, these are limited in topic, scope and frequency. Therefore funding is available for SoLA academic staff to attend workshops to upgrade their research skills and knowledge.
There are frequent workshops run by other universities, by the National Research Council, and by other organisations aimed at upgrading participants' research knowledge and skills. Typical topics covered include statistics, qualitative data analysis, using computer programs in research, and writing research proposals. Most workshops last 1-2 days (with a maximum of 5 days) and cost 500-2,000 baht (with a maximum of 8,000 baht). Information about such workshops is distributed to staff by e-mail.
Regulations for receiving funding for research training
- Funding is available for all full-time academic staff in SoLA.
- Funding is available for research training workshops up to a maximum of 5 days and a maximum of 10,000 baht per workshop. Priority will be given to workshops held in Bangkok and nearby provinces.
- Funding covers reimbursement of the registration fee for the workshop.
- Staff receiving funding should submit a copy of the registration form and a receipt of payment for reimbursement.
- Any useful handouts from the workshop should be copied so that they can be accessed in the Resource Centre by other interested parties.
Decisions on Funding for Staff Research Training will be made by the Associate Dean for Research. For Funding for Staff Research Training, Application Forms 13E (English) and 13T (Thai) can be used.
Funding for Staff to Join Academic Societies
At the CRS Board meeting in July 2010, it was proposed that funding should be provided for SoLA staff to join academic societies related to research, to enable staff to gain new knowledge, to provide networking opportunities, and to promote KMUTT.
To calculate the amount of funding needed, typical costs for joining academic societies need to be investigated. Generally, costs for Thai academic societies are low, so funding considerations depend more on costs for joining international academic societies. Typical costs are:
British Association of Applied Linguistics 55UKP (2,750 baht)
American Association of Applied Linguistics $115 (3,700 baht)
Society for Personality and Social Psychology $38 (1,250 baht)
European Association for Social Psychology 72EU (3,000 baht)
There are likely to be extra money transfer costs for international transfers (say, 100 baht).
Regulations for funding
- The association for which membership is being applied for must concern research. For example, IATEFL is primarily concerned with teaching and so would not be appropriate (unless the application was for the Research SIG), whereas BAAL would be appropriate.
- One staff member can only apply for one membership per year.
- Any journals, materials etc. which the staff member receives through their membership should be donated to the Resource Centre within 2 months of receipt.
- The maximum amount of funding per application is 10,000 baht.
Decisions on Funding for Staff to Join Academic Societies will be made by the Associate Dean for Research. For Funding for Staff to Join Academic Societies, Application Forms 14E (English) and 14T (Thai) can be used.
Funding for Proofreading Articles
As more staff attempt to publish in higher-quality places of publication, there is an increased need for professional editing and proofreading services.
SoLA will provide funding for professional editing/proofreading in cases where:
- The article to be edited has been provisionally accepted for publication on condition that professional editing is completed.
- The place of publication is either an international refereed journal in a major database or a collection of articles published by a major international publisher.
The author should use an editing/proofreading service recommended by the editor/publisher. The author should engage the service and pay for it. The author can then submit an application for reimbursement. Only standard rates will be reimbursed. The application should include the following:
- A copy of the communication from the editor/publisher requesting that the article be edited professionally.
- A copy of the invoice for the editing services.
- A copy of the payment slip.
Applications for reimbursement for proofreading articles can be approved by the Associate Dean for Research up to the value of 15,000 baht. Application Form 15E can be used.
Funding for Journal Submission and Publication Fees
With the move towards open-access publishing of research, many journals now require authors to pay submission and/or publication fees. The university provides funds to cover fees for journals in major international databases, but fees for Thai journals are not covered.
Sample fees for Thai journals are:
| The BU Academic Review |
Submission: 3,000 baht |
Journal of Urban Culture Research |
No fee |
Journal of Business Administration |
Submission: 4,000 baht |
Human Resource and Organization Development Journal |
Submission: 1,000 baht
Publication: 2,000 baht |
Hatyai Academic Journal |
Thai language: 3,000 baht
English language: 4,000 baht |
SoLA will provide funding to cover submission and publication fees for Thai journals as follows:
- Funding is available for all full-time staff in SoLA.
- The journal must be in the TCI Tier 1 database. Staff for whom the article is their first published article can receive funding for both TCI Tier 1 and TCI Tier 2 journals.
- Fees are reimbursed after acceptance of the article. In other words, fees payable on publication are automatically funded, but submission fees are only reimbursed if the article is accepted (if the article is rejected, staff have to cover the fees themselves).
- Fees for publishing in either Thai or English are covered, but fees for express publication are not covered.
- The SoLA staff member applying for funding must be the first author or corresponding author, or the second author if the first author is a postgraduate student in SoLA.
- Maximum funding of once per year per person.
- The maximum amount of funding per application is 5,000 baht.
The author should pay the fee first. On acceptance of the article, the author can then submit an application for reimbursement. The application should include the following:
1. A copy of the letter of acceptance from the editor.
2. A copy of a document stating the journal fee required.
3. A copy of the payment slip.
Applications for reimbursement for journal publication fees can be approved by the Associate Dean for Research. Application Forms 16T (Thai) or 16E (English) can be used.
Strategic Project for Developing Mid-level Researchers
To promote international collaboration and publication in Q1 international journals, this project aims to provide substantial support for a promising mid-level researcher (SoLA academic staff). A promising staff member is selected by SoLA administrators and invited to submit a proposal for this project. It is likely that one staff member will request funding for this project every 2 years.
The selected staff member should contact a well-known well-published researcher to collaborate on a research project aiming at a joint international refereed journal publication. The collaboration involves a lengthy visit to work with the international researcher (exposing the staff member to a non-Thai university environment and promoting contacts beyond the researcher). International researchers should be chosen based on additional benefits beyond the conducting of the focus study.
The staff member needs to submit a project for research project funding (as above) initially. Once passed, the staff identifies potential collaborators and submits a second proposal to the Associate Dean for Research justifying the choice of collaborator. After approval, the staff member contacts the collaborator to confirm that the project is possible. If the collaborator agrees, the staff member then submits a budget for consideration by the Research Funding Board. In addition to the research project funding already submitted, funding can cover travel costs for the staff member, accommodation, other necessary expenses (e.g. visa, passport, travel insurance), and a fee for the collaborating university or an honorarium for the collaborating academic.
It is expected that the staff member will spend up to a month at the collaborator’s university. A major research publication is expected to result from the project, and the staff member receiving funding is expected to give a presentation about their experiences on their return (for example, in Research Discussions).
Appendix
Funding for SoLA Staff Research Development
This funding aims to help SoLA staff create research networks with international researchers, collaborate on research projects with international researchers, and gain international experience. Staff wishing to apply need to contact an international researcher and collaboratively develop a plan for research and staff development. The funding is intended to cover costs of travelling to visit and work with the international researcher.
Regulations for receiving funding for staff research development:
- Funding is available for full-time academic staff in SoLA.
- The expected length of a visit is one to two weeks.
- Funding covers travel and accommodation costs and other necessary expenses (e.g. visa, passport, travel insurance) up to a maximum of 40,000 baht per person.
- A maximum of 3 staff members can receive funding in a year.
- A staff member has the right to funding once in a 3-year period.
- Applications for funding should include details of the international researcher, a description of the plan for research/staff development, a communication by the international researcher indicating a willingness to collaborate, a rationale justifying the benefits of the collaboration, and an expected budget.
- Staff receiving funding are expected to give a presentation about their experiences on their return (for example, in Research Discussions).
- A research publication should result from the collaboration with the international researcher.
Decisions on funding for SoLA staff research development are made by the Research Funding Board.
