Call for Applications: British Academy Writing and Mentoring Workshop 2025 for Early Career Researchers in West Africa (open to researchers from any social science discipline)
Workshop Locations:
- University of Lomé, Togo: 25-26 June 2025
- Central University, Mile 91, Sierra Leone: 30 June – 1 July 2025
Application Deadline: 15 May 2025, 17:00 GMT
The British Academy is pleased to announce two interactive workshops aimed at supporting Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in West Africa.
These workshops will take place in Lomé, Togo and Mile 91, Sierra Leone in June and July 2025, and are designed to provide cutting-edge research training and development opportunities for ECRs in the region.
The workshops are part of a broader initiative to address the gap in capacity development for early career academics in Africa, which has emerged despite the increasing demand for higher education.
Workshop Goals
The two workshops are aimed at providing personalized mentorship and research training for ECRs in West Africa. The workshops will help participants:
- Enhance their research capabilities and learn how to publish in international, impactful peer-reviewed journals.
- Write competitive grant proposals to secure funding for future research.
- Receive personalized mentorship and feedback on their submitted manuscripts from experienced academics and journal editors.
- Network and collaborate with fellow researchers, leading scholars, and journal editors, creating opportunities for joint publications and projects over the next two years.
- Gain sustained support for submitting their work to international journals after the workshops.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are invited from Early Career Researchers who have either completed their PhD in the last 8 years or are nearing completion to apply for this valuable opportunity. The workshops are open to researchers from any social science discipline, including but not limited to:
- Finance
- Management
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Tourism
- Sustainability
- Public Health Management
- International Business
- Human Resources
Applicants should be no more than 30 in number, with a special encouragement for female researchers to apply.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:
- PhD Completion: Applicants must have completed their PhD within the last 8-10 years or be nearing completion of their PhD.
- Research Proposal: Applicants must submit a full CV along with a proposal/idea paper (maximum of 1500 words) outlining the following:
- Motivation for the study
- Research question
- Theoretical background
- Methodological approach
- Sources of data The proposal can focus on any social science discipline (see examples above).
- Conference or Journal Submission: Applicants should be prepared to submit one paper to an international conference and/or an international journal at the end of the workshop.
- Application Deadline: Submissions must be made online by 15 May 2025, no later than 17:00 GMT.
How to Apply
To apply, submit your CV and proposal to the online application portal by the deadline: 15 May 2025, 17:00 GMT.
Ensure your application meets all the requirements before submitting.
What to Expect
These workshops will feature leading UK-based academics alongside their distinguished counterparts from Togo, Sierra Leone, and Ghana. Through a combination of expert-led sessions, peer interactions, and personalized feedback, participants will gain the skills necessary to advance their academic careers and produce high-quality research for publication in international journals.
Follow-up Support
After the workshops, participants will receive ongoing support in refining and submitting their manuscripts to international journals, as well as guidance on future research opportunities and career development.
Workshop Organizers
The workshops are organized in collaboration with distinguished academics from the UK, Togo, Sierra Leone, and Ghana. The goal is to equip West African ECRs with the tools and networks needed to achieve success in the global academic arena.
Call to Action
This is a unique opportunity for Early Career Researchers in West Africa to sharpen their research and writing skills, receive mentorship from experienced academics, and become part of a dynamic research community.
Don’t miss the chance to advance your academic career and contribute impactful research to the global academic dialogue.
Apply before 15 May 2025, 17:00 GMT. We look forward to receiving your applications.
