Workshop to propose a framework to enable Algerian doctoral students to
study in UK universities
The Algerian Government is committed to support financially up to 100 new doctoral
students a year for five years to train in English Language and Literature, and in Applied
Linguistics in UK universities. The Training Gateway and British Council invite applications
from UK universities to participate in a one-day workshop to take place in London on 19
March to propose a framework for this programme.
Background
The Algerian Government wishes to increase the quality of spoken and written English
amongst its young population to facilitate its integration in the world economy. Algeria began
to restructure its university education in 2004 to align it with the Bologna Process, so
replacing the so called ‘classical’ French system in which students frequently studied for 12
years to obtain a doctorate. The new system is referred to as LMD (Licence – Magistère –
Doctorat).
These changes are taking place against a backdrop of rapid expansion in the number of
students and universities. There are now 100 universities enrolling 1.34 million students. It
is planned that 2 million students will be participating by 2017. This has led to a shortage of
qualified university teachers, only 28% of whom have a doctoral degree, which the
Government attaches a high priority to addressing.
The Algerian Government has turned to the UK for support to realise its ambitious agenda.
The Prime Minister visited Algiers in January 2013 during which he announced joint action
on trade, investment and education, including a promise that the British Council would open
a teaching centre in Algiers before the end of this year.
Earlier this month the Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, signed a MOU with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific
Research (MHESR) to place up to 100 students per annum holding Algerian Masters’
degrees in doctoral programmes in UK universities.
The applicants will be selected by the Ministry on the basis of a national competition.
Successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend of €1,428 and have their tuition fees
met in full; both will be paid directly by the Algerian Embassy in London. While it is not part
of the formal agreement, the Ministry understands that some candidates may be required to
undertake preparatory English Language training, the costs of which will also be covered.
While not the subject of an MOU, MHESR is also seeking the support of UK universities fully
to introduce the Bologna Process in English Language and Literature, and in Applied
Linguistics. Help is particularly needed to develop a learning outcomes approach to
learning, teaching and assessment.
The workshop
Location
The University Women’s Club, 2 South Audley Street, London W1K 1DB
Attendees
The workshop will be attended by c30 faculty members representing university departments
in the UK and Algeria. They will be joined by senior officials from MHESR and a senior
member of the British Council’s EFL team. University departments are asked to cover the
travel and any accommodation costs of their representatives.
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Aims
1. To help the British Council operationalise a programme to prepare and place up to 100
potential doctoral students per annum from Algeria to study in English Language and
Literature, Applied Linguistics and Education departments in the UK in order, as far as
possible, to ensure successful completion.
2. To increase mutual understanding of current approaches to, and standards of, learning
and teaching of English Language and Literature, and Applied Linguistics in the UK and
Algeria.
3. To facilitate networking and the development of bi-lateral partnerships between relevant
departments in the UK and Algeria.
Questions to be addressed
Relevant questions to be addressed at the workshop will include:
 Are very able students with an Algerian Masters’ degree likely to be able to enter
straight into a doctoral programme; is their likely to be a difference between
‘classical’ and LMD students in this respect?
 Insofar as there is the need for additional academic preparation, how is this best
delivered?
 What IELTS score will be required, and how is this likely to differ between
departments; is English Language training when necessary, cultural preparation and
study skills best delivered in host universities or in Algeria?
 How should the British Council approach its role of filtering the applications
presented to it by MHESR?
 How are students best supported through the application process?
 What principles and practices should the British Council adopt in placing applicants in
appropriate university departments?
 What is the potential role of university partnerships in both doctoral training and
developing pedagogy in Algeria?
Application
Application should be made on behalf of a university using the attached template and,
nominating a representative with significant experience of doctoral training programmes. If
the application comprises several departments in the same university, it would help if more
than one representative were nominated to enable the British Council to balance the
expertise of UK delegates.
If demand exceeds the c15 places available for the UK, preference will be given to
representatives from departments which are judged to be likely to bring the most relevant
and varied experience to the discussion and to complement the Algerian university
representatives.
Any university departments not selected for the workshop will have the opportunity to
network at a launch event (see Associated Activities below).
All departments will be treated equally in the placement of doctoral students provided that
they meet the criteria, if any, which are established for participation.
Application should be made by email to Training Gateway (info@thetraininggateway.com) by
Friday, 21 February, specifying ‘Algerian Workshop Application’ in the subject line.
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Associated activities
Two separate activities are planned around the workshop.
Launch of doctoral programme
The new doctoral programme will be formally launched following the workshop on
Wednesday, 19 March at 17.30. The launch will be followed by a networking reception. All
workshop applicants will be invited automatically; if you would like to attend but are not
applying for the workshop, please email Martin Daltry, British Council Director Algeria for an
invitation (martin.daltry@britishcouncil.org).
University visits
The British Council wishes to organise a series of university visits for groups of Algerian
delegates to departments relevant to the doctoral programme on Monday, 17 March and/or
Tuesday, 18 March. If you would like to host a group of between five and eight people,
would you please indicate this in your workshop application.
5/02/14
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EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR: Workshop to plan a framework to enable up to 100
Algerian PhD students per annum to study in UK universities
Please return this form to info@thetraininggateway.com no later than 21/02/14
ORGANISATION
BRIEF BACKGROUND TO
YOUR ORGANISATION
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Please indicate your
area/s of research and
teaching expertise from
the following:
English Language
training
English Literature
Linguistics
Supervision of Research
Teaching of English as a
second language
PhD Application
Procedure
Number of PhD students
from non-Anglophone
backgrounds
Please indicate the number of PhD students from nonAnglophone backgrounds who have successfully completed a PhD
in relevant disciplines in the last five years, (broken down by
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department if appropriate).
PLEASE PROVIDE AN
INDICATION OF PHD
FEES
PLEASE LIST THE
TITLES OF ANY TAUGHT
COURSES/MODULES
OFFERED AS PART OF A
DOCTORAL DEGREE
Yes
No
DELETE AS APPROPRIATE
ARE YOU INTERESTED
IN ATTENDING THE
WORKSHOP ON 19th
MARCH IN CENTRAL
LONDON
If you wish to attend the workshop on 19th March are you also
interested in hosting a group of Algerian delegates on 17th or
18th March so that they better understand the UK’s approach to
doctoral training in English Language, English Literature and
Applied Linguistics
Yes
No
DELETE AS APPROPRIATE
ARE YOU INTERESTED
IN RECEIVING
APPLICATIONS FOR
PHD STUDENTS
Yes
No
DELETE AS APPROPRIATE
ARE THERE ANY
SPECIFIC RESEARCH
AREAS IN WHICH YOU
ARE LOOKING FOR PHD
APPLICATIONS
OTHER (If you wish to
include anything else,
please use this area)
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CONTACT DETAILS,
ALONG WITH JOB TITLE
AND AREAS OF
EXPERTISE, OF THE
REPRESENTATIVE(S)
WHO WILL ATTEND THE
WORKSHOP
(Please provide the
name, address, phone
number/s and email
address of the main
contact.)
DATE
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