NOVA Newsletter No 11, 2008-06-18

Funding of intensive MSc courses
Applications to the first call for funding of intensive MSc courses should be submitted to NOVA not later than 30 June. Deadline for the second call is 15 October 2008.

The course should preferably be held during the NOVA mobility windows (week 2-3, 33-34). The course must last for minimum five days and preferably not more than two weeks. There should be visiting students from at least two NOVA member universities. Read more in the application instructions.

NOVA Erasmus Mundus Planning Grants
An additional call for NOVA Erasmus Mundus Planning Grant applications with deadline 15 October is planned. However, due to the uncertainties on timing and procedures for the next Erasmus Mundus application round, this date is subject to change.

The minimum number of partners required to apply for NOVA Erasmus Mundus Planning Grants has been lowered to two. The two partners should be from different countries.    

PhD courses 2009: 15 granted - second call
15 PhD courses running 2009 have been granted. A list of the granted courses is available here. Decisions will be sent to the head applicants during week 26.

There will be second call for application for PhD courses running 2009 with deadline 15 October 2008. The web-based application system will be open from 1st of September.  

Cooperation with the Baltic universities within BOVA
The cooperation with BOVA (NOVA’s Baltic sister network) is deepened. In practice this has lead to that

• no fee will be charged BOVA students participating in NOVA PhD courses. BOVA students will still need to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.
  
• a BOVA network can be counted as one of the three required partners in NOVA project applications.
  
• a joint NOVA / BOVA board meeting will take place in Jelgava, Latvia in October.

Unfortunately, NordForsk will stop giving financial support for travel and accommodation to Baltic students participating in NOVA PhD courses. NOVA encourages course organizers to place courses at BOVA institutions in order to facilitate for Baltic students to participate.

New central coordinator
From 1 May, Ulf Jonsell is appointed as central NOVA coordinator with office at SLU in Uppsala.  Ulf comes from Stockholm University and will hold this position until the chair of NOVA is handed over from SLU in 2010.

Questions regarding already funded projects running during 2008 should still preferably be directed to Knut Wålstedt. New matters should be directed to Ulf – see contact information below. 

Email: ulf.jonsell@adm.slu.se

Phone: 004618671506

Postal address:
NOVA secretariat
BOX 7070
750 07 Uppsala
Sweden