Education Collaborative Research Fellows Program 2026/27: Apply for a Nine-Month African Higher Education Research Fellowship

Overview

The Education Collaborative Research Fellows Program is a nine-month fellowship designed for researchers focused on higher education, institutional transformation, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Africa. The programme investigates how African higher education institutions can implement sustainable change and improve graduate employability, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Participants transform institutional experience, programme evidence, and cross-institutional learning into practical knowledge to influence higher education policy and practice across the continent. The 2026/27 fellowship focuses on how higher education institutions in Africa can successfully initiate, implement, and sustain meaningful systems-level transformation in employability, entrepreneurship, and innovation across institutional, regional, and Africa-wide levels.

Who can apply

The programme primarily targets active researchers working at Education Collaborative member institutions whose interests align with the fellowship research priorities. Applicants should have a current affiliation with an Education Collaborative member institution or demonstrate engagement with the Collaborative research and knowledge activities. Candidates must have an active research interest in higher education, institutional transformation, education systems, or a related field, and possess experience using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research approaches. Additional criteria include strong analytical, research, and academic writing skills, a record of producing research outputs such as academic papers, reports, or case studies, and the ability to participate fully in the nine-month fellowship. Priority may be given to applicants who are already familiar with the Education Collaborative programmes, institutional engagements, and available research evidence.

What you get

Selected fellows receive tailored research mentorship from experienced researchers across the network to refine research questions, strengthen methodology, and develop high-quality outputs. Participants gain access to relevant institutional data and resources from the Education Collaborative to support their approved research. The fellowship provides opportunities to connect with researchers and higher education institutions across the member network for knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Fellows receive a guaranteed opportunity to present their work at the Research Conference during the Education Collaborative June 2027 convening, along with support for eligible research dissemination costs, including expenses associated with presenting or publishing research, subject to applicable arrangements and limits. The fellowship does not provide a salary or stipend.

Requirements

Selected fellows are expected to undertake research aligned with their approved proposals and grounded primarily in the available data, documentation, and implementation experience of the Collaborative. Participants must take part in the inception workshop, research clinics, peer-review sessions, and mentorship activities throughout the duration of the nine-month programme.