About

The Strategic Institutional Partnership (SIP) between Ghent University and the University of Toronto converges the research capacity and expertise at both institutions to explore and test interdisciplinary responses to global challenges. This partnership builds on the research excellence of both partners as well as technical cooperation with the public and private sectors, and international organisations, including the World Health Organization Collaborating Centres housed at both institutions. This partnership leverages the complementary research strengths in the two academic communities to deliver a high-quality programme of research and to offer sustained and high-impact scientific and real-world outcomes.

The SIP conceptualizes its work in three thematic areas that align with the strategic research interests of the University of Toronto and Ghent University:

1. Health equity & impact,
2. Citizenship & societies, and
3. Sustainable systems.

Please note that the SIP is also willing to fund collaborations between researchers at the University of Toronto and Ghent University that also promote different research outcomes beyond these three strategic interests.

Call for seed funding

With funding from the UGent Special Research Fund, the Strategic Institutional Partnership between the University of Toronto and Ghent University has launched a rolling call for seed grant funding.

Purpose

Seed grants serve to broaden and deepen research collaboration between faculty and staff at the University of Toronto and Ghent University. This seed grant aims to support new or ongoing research or educational partnerships in 2023. Examples of seed grant activities include but are not limited to:

• Initiating a jointly organised seminar, webinar, workshop, conference, or another academic event
• Fostering research collaboration between a UGent Masters or PhD student or post-doctoral researcher with peers at the University of Toronto
• Supporting the mobility of a UGent Masters or PhD student, post-doctoral researcher, or professor to the University of Toronto

Eligibility criteria

Professors and post-doctoral researchers at Ghent University may apply for a seed grant. Proposals must be supported by a University of Toronto supervisor who holds a PhD and a professorial function at the partner university.

Practicalities

• Deadline: rolling application.
• Applicants can apply for up to 2.800 EUR.
• The requested funding must be used by December 31st, 2023.
• Please submit your completed application form via email to Andrew Bricker and Ibrahim Muammar.

What do we do?

The SIP’s activities include but are not limited to:

• Joint research collaborations or the joint publication of scientific papers and educational materials
• Joint courses or graduate and post-doctoral mobility
• Exchange of faculty, trainees and staff
• Participation in and the co-hosting of lectures, meetings, seminars, symposia and conferences
• Exchanges of knowledge
• Joint applications for funding for future or ongoing collaborative projects
• Collaboration in other areas that foster research and educational cooperation
• Joint education programmes, e.g. MOOCs

Members

The SIP is a living partnership. Therefore, its membership may change and those changes may not immediately be reflected below. The steering group members are indicated in bold

From Ghent University:

• Faculty of Arts & Philosophy: Prof. Andrew Bricker, Prof. Pierre Schoentjes, Dr. Hannah Cornelus
• Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences: Prof. Pauline Boeckxstaens, Prof. Sara Willems
• Faculty of Engineering & Architecture: Prof. Mark Saeys, Prof. Lieven Eeckhout, Prof. Roel Baets, Prof. Patrick Segers, 
• Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences: Prof. Ruben Vanderlinde, Prof. Bram De Wever, Prof. Daniele Marinazzo
• Faculty of Law & Criminology: Prof. Georges Martyn

From the University of Toronto:

• Dalla Lana School of Public Health: Prof. Lisa Forman, Prof. Erica Di Ruggiero, Prof. Andrew Pinto, Dr. Katrina Perehudoff, Dr. Carolyn Steele Gray,
• Faculty of Medicine: Prof. Tara Kieran, Prof. Nav Persaud
• Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy: Prof. Jillian Kohler
• Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Prof. Andreas Moshovos, Prof. Natalie Enright Jerger, Prof. David Steinman, Prof. Amr Helmy
• Faculty of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry: Prof. Cathy Chin
• Ontario Institute for Studies in Education: Prof. Jim Slotta
• Faculty of Arts & Science: Prof. Barbara Havercroft, Prof. Pascal Riendeau and Prof. Pascal Michelucci
• Faculty of Law: Prof. Simon Stern

For further information concerning the SIP between UGent and the University of Toronto, please contact either the chairman of the partnership, Professor Andrew Bricker, or the interim coordinator of the partnership,  Ibrahim Muammar.