Staff Notices

The St. Augustine Campus continues to attract opportunities that allow our staff, researchers and academic teams to respond to real national, regional and international needs through consultancies, contracted research, requests for proposals and rolling funding calls.

To help colleagues move from opportunity to submission with greater clarity, support and success, the Campus is introducing a Proposal Writing and Submission Process. View this process in as flow chart by clicking here.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

When an external funding or consultancy opportunity arises, we want the right people involved early, the right approvals secured in a timely fashion, the assurance that there is adherence to the rules of the funder and that the final submission made in a way that protects the reputation, the intellectual property, among other attributes of the researcher, the Campus and The University of the West Indies.

This process is not intended to slow down the responsiveness but it is intended to help proposals move forward smoothly, more effectively, confidently and with the institutional support needed to strengthen the submission.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

Before responding to a funding call, consultancy, contracted research opportunity or request for proposals, colleagues are asked to engage the St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE) early in the process.

STACIE will help you to prepare the strongest proposal (technical and financial), route the opportunity accordingly and connect you, where applicable, with the relevant support offices, including Bursary, Legal, Human Resources and other institutional and strategic support as needed.

HOW DOES IT MAKE THINGS EASIER?

The process will help you to:

- Confirm whether the call is national or international

- Determine whether the proposal can be submitted through the campus or must be coordinated through the university office of research

- Access technical, financial, legal and proposal-writing support

- Ensure that the correct authorising signatures are obtained before submission;

- Reduce the risk of duplicate or competing submissions from The UWI

- Ensure that contracts, Human Resources requirements, marketing needs and project management support are considered once funding is approved. 

FOR NATIONAL CALLS, REMEMBER:

Where the opportunity is national and the full research team is based on the St. Augustine Campus, the proposal will require the appropriate Campus-level authorising signatures before submission.

Where the research team spans more than one campus, the proposal must be routed through STACIE. The University Office of Research will then be notified for the relevant authorisation.  

FOR INTERNATIONAL CALLS, KEEP IN MIND:

International opportunities require early notification to both STACIE as well as the University Office of Research. This is especially important where funders permit only one institutional submission, or where multiple concepts must be assessed to determine which may proceed.

In some cases, concept notes may be required before a full proposal is developed. 

AFTER A FUNDER RESPONDS

If the proposal receives conditional approval, the draft must be revised in keeping with the funder’s requirements before moving forward.

If approval is unconditional, the relevant contract and post-award processes will begin. Depending on whether the opportunity is national or international, the main contract may require authorisation either by Campus authorities or by the University Office of Research.

Individual contracts, HR matters, marketing needs and project management support should then be engaged as applicable.

WHY THIS MATTERS

A strong proposal is not only about the idea. It is also about institutional readiness, clear responsibility, compliance, good financial planning, legal protection and reputational care.

This process helps us present The UWI St. Augustine as coordinated, credible and ready to deliver.

Colleagues who are considering an external funding opportunity, consultancy, contracted research proposal or request for proposals are encouraged to contact STACIE as early as possible in the process.

For additional information, please contact:

Ms. Ena Siew Persad 

Extension: 82483 (via 662-2002)

Email: STA-DirectorStacie@sta.uwi.edu