The University of Queensland Grant Proposal Workshops in Partnership with UNHAS International Office
The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, hosted a knowledge-sharing session titled “Finding the Right Funding Opportunity” on Monday, 22 September 2025, engaging representatives from universities across Southeast Asia, including Hassanuddin University (UNHAS). Some faculty members, as well as the International office (IO) UNHAS staff, attended this event. The IO was represented by Andi Masyitha Irwan, Ph.D. (The Head of IO), Muhammad Ridwan, M.A. (the secretary of IO), Saaduddin, Ph.D., Khaeruddin, Ph.D, and Haniek Khoirunnisha Baja, M.Sc. (IO task forces). The session was facilitated by Maddy Devaney and Riley Moran from the UQ Research Office, who provided hands-on guidance to help institutions and researchers strategically position themselves for international research funding.
The session highlighted a variety of funding schemes, including NHMRC e-Asia Joint Research Program, Wellcome Discovery Awards, and bilateral programs such as Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre (AVSTC), Aus4Innovation, and KONEKSI Australia-Indonesia. These programs support collaboration in areas ranging from infectious diseases and health research to sustainable energy, artificial intelligence, climate resilience, and strategic technologies.
Speakers emphasized the importance of aligning research goals with funders’ missions. For instance, NHMRC e-Asia aims to promote innovation in East Asia and build a healthy Australia, while the Wellcome Trust focuses on bold, interdisciplinary projects improving human health and well-being globally. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their institutional capacity, identify gaps, and create action plans for strengthening research competitiveness. Suggestions included inviting international experts as collaborators, investing in capacity building, and setting short- and long-term goals (1, 3, and 5 years).
The UQ Research Office also shared practical tools to support researchers: Choosing the right grant: checking eligibility, feasibility, timelines, and alignment with research goals. Building synergies: leveraging shared regional challenges such as tropical climates, marine ecosystems, agricultural systems, vector-borne diseases, renewable energy, and disaster resilience, which provide fertile ground for collaboration between Queensland and Southeast Asia.Expanding opportunities: exploring not only government schemes, but also industry partnerships, foundations, NGOs, international and regional programs, and professional associations.
The session further underlined critical success factors for securing funding: being at the right career stage, finding suitable partners, and dedicating sufficient time for preparation. By applying these strategies, Southeast Asian universities can enhance their research impact and strengthen collaborations with global partners such as UQ.This initiative reflects UQ’s strong commitment to building equitable partnerships with Southeast Asian institutions, ensuring researchers across the region gain access to resources and networks that enable world-class, impactful research.
