The Humanities Fund
Call for Proposals
2010
The Humanities Fund
The Humanities Fund is a joint venture of the Planning and Budgetary Committee of
the Council for Higher Education in Israel and Yad Hanadiv. The purpose of this fund
is to support and reward scholarship which is not only of the highest quality – but
which also has the potential to strengthen teaching and foster cooperation within
and among universities. Grants will be awarded only to proposals that have a strong
pedagogical component, that add to Humanities offerings within or among
universities, and that encourage cooperation either among universities, disciplines,
or departments.
Awards will be made only to applications that fulfill all of these criteria. Awards will
not be made towards programs or positions that are currently receiving funding.
Applicants must clearly demonstrate the way in which Humanities Fund grants will
enhance Humanities programs at universities.
Governing Body
The Fund is governed by a six member Academic Committee. Members are
appointed by The Planning and Budgetary Committee (VATAT), the Israel Academy of
Sciences and Yad Hanadiv.
Grant Programs
Grants will be awarded in a number of separate grant programs. Each program
carries its own conditions and procedures. Please read the guidelines carefully as
some grant areas have changed since the previous grant cycle. Grants will be
awarded in the following areas (See below for details):
1. Grants for Innovative Humanities Teaching
2. Grants for Inter-University Cooperation
3. Senior Researcher Fellowships
Application Procedures
Detailed descriptions of program areas may be found below. Prospective applicants
are encouraged to review the guidelines for each program carefully. All applications
must be signed by the Humanities Dean and the Rector at each participating
university.
Schedule
|Page1
The Humanities Fund
Call for Proposals
2010
Applications will be processed in two stages:
Pre-proposals are due by December 1st 2009.
Results of the first stage will be made known by January 17th 2010.
Final proposals are due by March 15th 2010.
Final results will be announced after June 15th 2010.
The Academic Committee has broad discretion, including to suggest changes to
applications, recommend collaboration between applicants, request additional
documentation, interview applicants, or to make any other modifications it requires.
Institutions may submit up to five proposals in each program area.
Questions regarding proposals may be directed to Asher Ragen at Yad Hanadiv or
Maayan Gormes at the Council for Higher Education.
Dr. Asher Ragen
02-5665107 ext. 317
aragen@yadhanadiv.org.il
Ms. Maayan Gormes
02-5679980
maayan@che.org.il
All application materials can be downloaded from the website of the Council
for Higher Education (www.che.org.il)
|Page2
The Humanities Fund
Call for Proposals
2010
Detailed Grant Programs
1. Innovative Humanities Teaching
(Maximum Grant: 1M NIS for up to three
years)
Proposals in this area may relate to the teaching of Humanities at any level,
from BA courses to post-graduate frameworks of instruction and mentoring:
A) New undergraduate courses and programs: these may include
both innovations in curriculum within and across disciplines, or
programs that provide an expanded Humanities component in the
BA for all university students.
B) Graduate teaching and research training
C) Frameworks to provide mentoring opportunities for post graduate
researchers
All programs will be expected to demonstrate innovation in curricular content and
structure, and (where relevant) the removal of administrative barriers to enable
students outside of the Humanities faculty to include Humanities courses in their
studies. Special attention should be given to allowing faculty the time to engage in
innovative restructuring of university curriculua The Humanities Fund also
encourages proposals to provide public access to course materials. Programs may
be submitted by more than one institution.
2. Inter-University Collaboration
Each application in this area must be submitted by at least two institutions.
Funding may be requested towards:



Strengthening existing areas of traditional scholarship.
Establishing new degree programs
Strengthening language instruction and other basic research skills across
disciplines.
Applicants must demonstrate a significant degree of collaboration in the
planning and execution of proposals to be eligible for funding.
Applications will be expected to clearly demonstrate the intellectual as well
as institutional benefits of the collaboration.
|Page3
The Humanities Fund
Call for Proposals
2010
The Committee encourages universities to seek innovative ways of
overcoming the distance between institutions. This may be achieved through
encouraging mobility of teachers, and/or incorporating distance learning
components into the curriculum.
Funding may be requested towards the following types of activities:





Instruction
Interim support of faculty positions
Student and faculty fellowships
Extra-curricular activities
Research infrastructure (e.g. library acquisitions, electronic resources)
While universities are not required to provide matching funds towards programs,
successful applications will demonstrate the viability of programs beyond the grant
period.
3. Fellowships for Senior Researchers
The purpose of these fellowships is to encourage universities to hire outstanding
mid-career scholars currently not employed at an Israeli institution. Applicants must
be 5-12 years removed from their PhDs. Fellowships will provide interim funding for
the first three years of a Fellow’s employment in a tenured or tenure track position.
The fellowship will cover the full cost to the institution of an applicant’s salary at the
rank of Associate or Full Professor. Candidates must be submitted by a university.
Successful applications will demonstrate the following:




Long term vision for the development of the applicant’s field within the
university and in Israel (including related appointments, anticipated
retirements, number of students expected in the applicant’s field)
Ways in which collaboration with other universities was explored
Contribution of the applicant to the growth of his or her own field as well as
related fields in Israel
The university’s commitment to a speedy process for tenure decisions (no
longer than two years from appointment).
Candidacy of applicants eligible for the Alon Fellowship may not be submitted under
this grant scheme.
Successful applicants will be expected to take up positions no later than Oct. 2011.
Awards will not be granted, under any circumstances, to candidates who have
received offers of employment by an Israeli university.
|Page4