SEAMEO QITEP in Science has provided research grants for science teachers and education personnel since 2015 through SEAQIS Research Grant (SRG) programme. This programme aimed at encouraging science teachers and education personnel to conduct research as well as creating innovation in science teaching and learning. In 2020, SEAQIS invites science teachers across the region to participate in the SRG 2020 programme by conducting research related to STEM learning. This year programme’s theme is Innovation in Science Teaching and Learning in the Era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Society 5.0.
This year, SEAQIS received 140 proposals from all around Indonesia and 1 proposal from other SEAMEO member countries. The submitted proposals were being reviewed and evaluated by reviewers containing external and internal reviewers. The external reviewers were independents experts which consisted of Prof Agus Suyatna and Dr Dewi Lengkana from Universitas Lampung, Dr Harry Firman from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, and Dr Sediono Abdullah from the Ministry of Education and Culture. On the other hand, the internal reviewers were SEAQIS’ academic teams which provided second opinions and gave the independent experts notion to choose the potential proposals. The main task of the reviewers was to propose 40 best proposals to be selected as research grant grantees.
All the proposals were evaluated based on several categories such as the innovation to support learning in the industrial revolution 4.0 and society 5.0, research ideas’ originality and its potential impacts on the student learning experience. Moreover, the reviewers also gave a detailed look at the adaptability of research ideas to be implemented during this pandemic time. Proposals which have an online classroom approach or developing online learning media gained a better light in the selection process.
The 40 best proposals proposed by the reviewers then were discussed and deliberated by SEAQIS’ Board of Directors, Head of Divisions as well as the reviewers themselves through an online Focused-Group Discussion (FGD). The FGD was conducted on 6 and 13 April 2020 using an online platform to minimize a spread out of COVID-19.
After a long discussion, 40 proposals were enacted and selected as SRG 2020 grantees. The selected grantees will be contacted directly on the third week of April and the official announcement will be published on the website and social media.
