International internship program 2019-2020

1. Objectives

The FRQNT’s (Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies) international internship aims to foster international mobility of students whose research activities are part of the scientific program of a strategic cluster funded by the FRQNT.

The internship is a supplementary tool available to a strategic cluster to strengthen its position at the international level through research projects and partnerships that have already been established or which are under development.

2. Applicants

The international internship is intended for Master’s or doctoral students enrolled full-time in a Quebec university or in an university outside Québec who meets the requirements of their program.

The proposed research outlined in the application as part of the internship must be part of the scientific program of the strategic cluster. In a first step, the strategic cluster recommends a candidate and then the candidate can apply for the scholarship.

3. Eligibility conditions

All of the strategic clusters supported by the FRQNT may submit an application to this program.

The applicant proposed by the strategic cluster must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed here after.

Citizenship

For full-time students enrolled in a Québec university

The applicant must have Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status in Canada, or foreign student status with a valid study permit to study in Quebec

For foreign students enrolled in an university outside Québec

The applicant must have valid study permits or visas for the entire duration of the internship;

The applicant can’t be enrolled in a co-degree from more than one institution including a Québec university. For the students enrolled in a co-degree see the rules of the Frontenac program.

Location of the internship

The internship must take place outside Quebec for students enrolled in a Quebec university. The internship must occur in Quebec for students from abroad.

Duration of the internship

The internship must be of a minimum duration of 2 months and a maximum of 6 months.

Start date of the internship

The internship must start no later than September 30th, 2020.

Restrictions

Students who are jointly supervised by a researcher in a foreign university (co-degree) are not eligible to apply for an international internship scholarship to visit one of their home universities

4. Application process

Candidates interested within this program must file their application within their strategic cluster (see list on FRQNT’s Web Site) Validate the list of documents required for this application with the specific strategic cluster.

The strategic clusters which recommend a candidate must fill the specific form available on FRQNT’s Web site as well as transmit it electronically. The form includes the complete addresses of the student, the academic supervisor, and the internship supervisor. A brief description of the nature of the internship is also required.

The strategic clusters must also submit the selection committee report that states the results for each of the three criteria in effect, the assessment process and the names of the committee members. This report should briefly explain the efforts taken to ensure a fair and inclusive selection process, thus fostering the support of diversified interns.The strategic clusters must also send in the electronic form, a letter signed by the supervisor of the student specifying the start and end dates of the internship.

Any internship application must be filed by the strategic cluster and approved by the FRQNT before the leaving of the trainee.

Application deadlines

Each strategic cluster may submit applications form at all time from mid-November until March 1, 2020.

Limited number of applications

Each strategic cluster may generally submit up to two applications until the contest deadline. In no case should the total financial assistance of the two candidates exceed the total amount of $ 15,000. This limit can be re-examined and increased at all time until the contest deadline.

Each strategic cluster can propose the application one foreign students enrolled outside Québec maximum, so they can pursue their internship within the strategic cluster in Québec The rules are the same for evaluating the candidate, the duration of his or hers internships and the value of the scholarship apply. The application of a foreign student enrolled outside Québec doesn’t modify the total limit of two candidates and the total amount of 15 000$ per cluster.

5. Value of the scholarship

. The scholarship is an allowance of $ 2,500 CAD per month. The maximum value of a scholarship or both of the scholarships is $ 15,000 CAD.

6. Review process

Criteria

Applications are evaluated by the strategic clusters according to the following criteria:

7. Scholarship attribution and announcement of results

Candidates are selected by the strategic clusters which recommend them to the FRQNT. Then, the strategic clusters announces the results, by mentioning that the FRQNT is the organization awarding the scholarship to the candidates. It is the FRQNT that makes the final decision on the grants to be awarded under the international internship program. The allocation of internships by the FRQNT is made according to the order of receipt of applications and the funds available for this program.

The FRQNT reserves itself the right to refuse any application that does not meet eligibility requirements or for which the selection committee report is not sufficiently detailed.

8. Internship Expenses

The Strategic cluster must be able to provide to the FRQNT, if required, supporting documents related to the internship expenses (ex.: airfare, room rental agreement, etc.).

9. Internship Report

A report detailing the activities carried out during the internship must be sent to the FRQNT’s program administrator no later than one month after the end of the internship. This report is done in an open format of about one page and must present the following:

1. a presentation of the training site;
2. a description of (or) project to which the trainee worked and contribution;
3. a general assessment of the course and acquired research skills;
4. a presentation of collaborations and potential impacts for the strategic cluster that have been developed, if applicable

The clusters, whose student will be in default of having submitted the internship report according to the rules, cannot file new applications to the international internship program as long as the situation is not rectified.

10. Research Ethics and Conformity

Any individual or institution that receives funding must demonstrate the highest standards of research ethics and scientific integrity. You must refer to the Common General Rules for further details.

11. Integrity of the Evaluation Process

At no time may applicants or their institutional authorities make contact with evaluation committee members, unless such contact is specified as part of the evaluation process. Similarly, evaluation committee members must not make contact with applicants, unless such contact is specifically indicated in the evaluation process. The identities of evaluation committee members are kept confidential to avoid any attempt at collusion. The Fonds reserve the right to withdraw an application from competition if there is any inappropriate intervention, lobby, undue influence or collusion during the evaluation process, as stipulated in the Policy for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

12. Liability of the Fonds

The Fonds make all reasonable efforts to ensure optimal service. However, they cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect damage resulting from their handling of applications for funding. Furthermore, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Fonds are not liable for any direct or indirect damage resulting from the disclosure of personal or confidential information that was not authorized by the Fonds.

13. False or Misleading Information

The Fonds presume the good faith of the declaration provided in funding applications or in any other document submitted at any time during the funding cycle, from the initial funding application to the final report. Applicants and funding holder must be transparent and provide accurate and precise information. They must be conscientious about advising the Fonds of any changes in their situation, where applicable. Such qualities are essential to maintaining the trust of the Fonds in its funding holders.

Under the Act Respecting the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie (CQLR, c. M-15.1.0.1), any individual who submits an application containing false or misleading information to obtain or procure financial support is committing an offence, is liable to a fine and could be barred from receiving financial support for a period of up to five years. Where a legal person commits such an offence, every director or representative of that legal person who was aware of the offence may be liable to a fine. Furthermore, such a declaration constitutes a breach of responsible research conduct, as set forth in the Fonds de recherche du Québec Policy for the Responsible Conduct of Research, and may be subject to sanctions in accordance with this policy.

The Fonds reserve the right to take immediate measures to stop the use of public funds obtained through false or misleading information, and to take legal action to recover fraudulently obtained funds and claim compensation for damages caused where appropriate.

14. Open access policy for the dissemination of research

In accordance with the Fonds de recherche du Québec open access policy for the dissemination of research, all funding recipients must agree to provide open access to their scientific publications no later than 12 months after publication. To learn more about the FRQ’s requirements on this subject, please visit our page on Open science.

15. Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Fonds de recherche du Québec wish to contribute to supporting a research ecosystem based on equity, diversity and inclusion. Measures have been put in place to strengthen the integration of these principles. Funding recipients are also encouraged to consider them in the context of their research activities. For more information, please consult our statements on equity, diversity and inclusion.

16. Other aspects

You should refer to the Common General Rules for any matter related to responsible conduct in research, privacy and confidentiality, intellectual property and the protection of academic freedom.

17. General considerations