Research BV training

We give a thorough training in the Logical Framework Approach (LFA), a methodology used for designing, monitoring, and evaluating international development projects, as well as for the assessment of grant proposals.

Content and learning goals: The training will give you an insight into the LFA methodology, assist you with using it in your own work, and teach you how to facilitate a session with a consortium to design a research project. You will work on your own case(s), and your colleagues will provide feedback to strengthen your research proposal by applying the same LFA methodology.  

The training consists of the following modules:

• getting familiar with the LFA: You will learn i) how to apply the LFA methodology step by step, by working on a number of cases to prepare award winning proposals; ii) how to use the LFA approach to structure the implementation of the project, once awarded.
• training in the use of the LFA methodology: You will work on your own cases using the LFA approach together with your colleagues, under guidance of the training team.
• interactive facilitation training: You will learn how to facilitate an LFA discussion, get to know and to practice facilitation techniques enabling you to lead stakeholders from idea creation towards project design.
• coaching and feedback from the trainers in applying the LFA in your work, on request for the duration of 6 weeks.  

At the end of the training you will receive a booklet on the LFA methodology. If you attend at least two days of the training, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Duration
3 days of 8 hours and coaching on request.

Participants
Research project managers/funding advisors/research support staff and researchers involved in designing at least two research proposals per year; no prior knowledge of the LFA is required; the minimum number of participants is 8, the maximum 12; the training is given in English.  

Costs
The training costs are approximately €1495,- excl. VAT per participant. UMCG participants are exempted of VAT and can get €1000,- subsidised by the UMCG Research Office.

Trainers
Karen van Eunen, Sascha Le Large, Niek Bakker (MDF Nederland)

We provide tailored writing advice for different types of research proposals.

Content and learning goals: the training is a tailored advice in the craft and art of proposal writing. The objectives are the following:

• to understand the ‘rules of the game’ of individual grant writing;
• to write an individual grant application following the Marie Skłodowska-Curie action (MSCA)-Postdoctoral Fellowship programme;
• improve grant application based on feedback.  

At the end of the training, when all assignments have been finalised, participants will receive a certificate of completion and will be able to gain 1 ECTS in their Research Training Programme.

Participants
Early-stage researchers with little to no grant writing experience; the minimum number of participants is 10; the training is given in English.  

Duration
A one-hour plenary meeting including documentation, template and explanation of assignment. The individual assignment costs approximately 26 hours. There will be an individual feedback on the  assignment in writing and a final one-hour general evaluation meeting.  

Costs
Approximately €495,- excl. VAT per participant.  

Trainers
Research BV Team

We organise grant-specific training for different funding opportunities.  

Content and learning goals: the training will give specific advice on MSCA-DN, Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions and KWF Kankerbestrijding, and will include Q&A sessions. In these training sessions we share the latest knowledge and ins and outs with regard to these grant schemes.  

Participants
Researchers and project managers applying for the specific grant; the training is given in English.

Duration
Two sessions of two hours.

Costs
Participation is free of charge. The training is fully sponsored by the UMCG Research Office.

Trainers
Research BV Team

We arrange peer group meetings to improve our professional effectiveness.  

Content and learning goals: These meetings help gain insights in our way of working; see alternative ways of dealing with situations at work; offer a safe environment to discuss situations and give feedback to each other, allowing us to learn and grow on a personal as well as professional level. A professional external facilitator supports the group meetings in order to get most out of it for all its participants.

There is a general introduction meeting (free of charge), in which the intervisie technique and its benefits will be presented. For the following 6 peer group meetings you can sign up by contacting us. The meetings will be subsidised by the Grant Support Hub, reducing the total costs to 150 euro per person for UMCG participants. If interested, colleagues from the UG or Hanze can also join by contacting us.

Participants
UMCG project managers active in research project management at all levels of their career; the language will be either Dutch or English, depending on the composition of the group; the size of the group is limited to 6 participants.

Duration
A one-hour general introduction meeting followed by 6 peer group meetings of 2 hours every 6 weeks.  

Costs
The course is partly sponsored by the UMCG Research Office and can therefore be offered for € 150,- to UMCG participants. The introduction meeting is free of charge.  

Trainer
John Wiering (More information, Dutch only)