OLnet-TESSA Fellowships

The OLnet project is offering four (4) special Fellowships in partnership with the TESSA project.  The closing date for applications to this scheme is 9:00 BST on Monday 20 September 2010.  Full details of how to apply are on http://olnet.org/TESSAFellows.

General OLnet Fellowship Scheme

OLnet fellowships are offered for researchers and practitioners who wish to contribute to the understanding of Open Educational Resource (OER) design and use worldwide.

(Word cloud produced on www.wordle.net using text from OLnet Fellowships guidance notes. )

On this page:

• OLnet Fellowship Programme
• Types of OLnet Fellowship
• Application Process
• Examples of the Experiences of OLnet Fellows
• Other Open University Fellowship Schemes
• Other Useful Information

OLnet Fellowship Programme

OLnet invites applications for fellowships. OLnet fellows are expected to work on projects that help identify the value and evidence for use of OER, either a research project of their own or by joining one of the ongoing OLnet research projects. The fellowships are flexible but usually last up to three months, with funding provided by OLnet. Fellows are expected to spend the first month researching alongside the OLnet Research Team (based on the Walton Hall campus of the Open University, in the United Kingdom). This will enable fellows to familiarise with the OLnet goals and with the team, as well as with the Open University's infrastructure to support research. The remaining two months of the program may be spent flexibly.

Fellowships feature:

• Support infrastructure for research.
• Connection with experts.
• Output to the community via publications and online dissemination.

Types of OLnet Fellowship

OLnet offers three levels of fellowships:

Expert fellowships

Bringing in expertise and skills to address key issues.

Fellowships

Working alongside researchers to develop skills and apply them in practice.

Internships

Developing skills through helping OLnet. 

Application Process

Closing date: HAS PASSED (was 16:00 GMT on Monday 18 January 2010) details of next deadline to be announced

It is intended that there will be a further two rounds of competition at approximately 6 month intervals. Dates for future rounds will be announced on the OLnet website on this page.

Each applicant must submit the following documents:

• Fellowship Application Form (download application form here: Word)
• Research Proposal (download guidance notes here: Word PDF)
• References (also covered in guidance notes)

In order to receive visiting academic status, candidates for fellowships must meet the Open University’s eligibility criteria for visiting research academic appointments as well as the eligibility criteria set out for this fellowship scheme (see OU Visiting and Honorary Academic Appointments Statement of Policy and Procedures)

Over the length of the project, OLnet intends to offer a total of 18 fellowships (split into fellowships, expert fellowships and internships). The fellowships are open to scholars and other educational professionals around world, who are affiliated to an academic institution or organisation involved in the formation and delivery of eductional policy or practice, and have an interest in researching Open Educational Resources.

Examples of the Experiences of OLnet Fellows

• Feedback from Yannis Dimitriadis: http://olnet.org/node/56
• Cultural Exchange from Engin Kursun: http://olnet.org/node/256
• Presentation from Engin Kursun (team minutes): http://olnet.org/node/195
• Feedback from Svetlana Knyazeva http://olnet.org/node/422

Other Open University Fellowship Schemes

• Support Centre for Open Resources in Education (SCORE) OER Teaching Fellowships (England Universities only)
• The Open University Business School International Fellowship
• International Study and Research at the OU

Other Useful Information

• Living in Milton Keynes