Under the Researcher Links scheme offered within the Newton – Al-Farabi Partnership Programme, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with cooperation of University of Abertay will be holding a British Council workshop on the above theme in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 27 June to 1 July 2016. The workshop focuses on the key dimension of energy security that is the expansion of energy production from renewable energy sources (RES). The workshop addresses Kazakhstan’s need to better understand why RES are critical for its energy security, and how to create conditions for expanding their use, as the nation’s decreased reliance on oil will ensure greater economic and environmental sustainability. 

The main objectives of the workshop are to:

Enhance the participants’ capacity in the field of RES, identify key research gaps and emergent themes, and focus participants’ research agendas on clean energy and sustainability;

Develop recommendations to support Kazakhstan’s energy security and disseminate them to stakeholders;

Foster long-term sustainable collaborations between participants and the partner institutions aimed at joint research projects and publications on renewable energy sources.

The workshop will provide a unique opportunity for sharing research expertise and networking. During the workshop early career researchers will have the opportunity to present their research in the form of a short oral presentation and discuss this with established researchers from the UK and Kazakhstan. There will be a focus on building up links for future collaborations and participants will be selected on the basis of their research potential and ability to build longer term links.

​​The Newton – Al-Farabi Partnership Programme will cover the costs related to the participation to the workshop, including: travel (both international and local), accommodation and meals. Costs for the visa will be covered; however participants will be responsible for making all the necessary arrangements. Although this cost will not be covered by the British Council, participants are encouraged to purchase an adequate travel and medical insurance. The British Council accepts no responsibility for any problems which may occur when the participants are in-country.

The full application below must be completed and submitted by the 15 April 2016. Both UK and Kazakhstan applicants should sent their applications to both Dr Anastasia Koulouri (a.koulouri@abertay.ac.uk) and Dr Zhibek Bimagambetova (z.bimagambetova@inbox.ru).

Participants from various fields, such as economics, management, business, human and physical geography, energy, sustainability, ecology and others are very welcome to apply.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applications must be submitted using the Researcher Links application form;

Applications must be submitted before the above deadline;

Participants must be early career researchers: Early Career Researchers are defined as holding a PhD or having equivalent research experience, and having up to 10 years post-PhD research experience, where applicable (though allowances are made for career breaks). Kazakhstani participants must have a Candidate of Science degree or a Doctor of Science degree or a PhD or equivalent research experience;

Participants must have a research or academic position (a permanent post, research contract, or fellowship etc.) at a recognised university or research institution either in the UK or in Kazakhstan.

Quality Assessment:

Experience and relevance of the applicant’s research area to the workshop;

Motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop;

Description of the long term impact expected through the participation in the workshop;

Ability to disseminate workshop’s outcomes.

Selection Procedure:

Eligibility check;

Quality assessment.

Notification of results:

Applicants will be notified by email by 26 April 2016.

Equal Opportunities:

The British Council is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in all its activities and this includes the avoidance of any bias in the assessment of applications due to gender, disability, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Participants’ selection undertaken by workshop organisers must not contravene this policy. Extra support to enable participation of early career researchers with special needs will be given.