DOWNLOAD REF RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP TOR
Deadline Extended: April 17, 2020
The Roma Education Fund (REF) is seeking applications for Research Fellow (s) to support the organization’s research and evaluation activities. The six-month opportunity will support the building of research and data analysis skills of the fellow, while advancing REF’s knowledge creation and learning capacities. We encourage individuals interested in building a career within research, data analysis, and measurement and evaluation to apply for this opportunity. Those who are present or past REF beneficiaries who are currently attending graduate school are particularity encouraged to apply.
About Roma Education Fund
The Roma Education Fund’s (REF) mission and ultimate goal is to close the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma. In order to achieve this goal, the organization supports policies and programs which ensure quality education for Roma through scholarships, grant making and advocacy activities. The objectives of REF include:
- Expanding Romani children’s access to quality early childhood education and care
- Improving primary education outcomes for Romani children aged six to fourteen
- Boosting academic performance and graduation rates from secondary education for Romani pupils
- Supporting access to tertiary education, improving graduation levels and strengthening identity of Romani university students
- Expanding employment opportunities for young Romani adults
The Roma education fund operates its activities in close links with civil society and institutional partners in 16 countries of central, eastern and south-eastern Europe
About REF Research Unit
REF research activities provide a powerful evidence-based background to inform and guide its advocacy, scholarships, mentoring and grant-making. Connected to REF’s grants and scholarship programs that span from early childhood education to tertiary education, REF research aims to break down the individual, institutional, and structural barriers Roma face in gaining quality and equitable education. Through the research activities, REF operations have impacts beyond the individual beneficiaries as they identify challenges and provide recommendations for long-term systemic change to influence social and institutional levels, leading to long-term improvement in education for Roma individuals and communities.
REF research unit strives to achieve its above mission through activities which have the following objectives:
- Create knowledge and expertise in inclusive education
- Influence public and expert opinion on inclusive education
- Establish a leading role in shaping educational systems
- Build the evidence needed for policy change through external research and community engagement
Description of Fellowship Position
The research fellow will work on the following projects:
(Time allocated to certain projects will be determined by applicant’s skills, experience, and interests)
Impact evaluation of REF’s RMUSP
The project has the goal to evaluate the impact of REF’s RMUSP (Roma Memorial University Scholarship Program). The main goal of Roma education fund’s scholarship program (REF SP) is to contribute to the emergence of a critical mass of Roma, higher education graduates, confident and proud of their Roma identity, academically and socially adept, equipped with skills and competences that enable them to become professionals in their fields, as well as remain solidly connected to the Roma community and support its further advancement and inclusion into the wider society. In addition to evaluating the RMUSP impact, the project will attempt to build a dataset which can answer additional research questions.
SHAPYR longitudinal study
REF is implementing a secondary school scholarship and mentoring program aimed at assisting Roma students transition to employment or higher education. The Shaping Academic and Employment Skills for Young Roma (SHAPYR) incorporated longitudinal study uses quazi-experimental research methodology to evaluate the projects impact and beneficiary results.
Goals of the research fellowship
The research fellowship has the following multidimensional purpose:
- Train and build research and data analysis capacity of young professionals and academics.
- Practice research methodology within a concrete research project together with senior researchers.
- Provide REF with valuable contributions in conducting research, as well as data collection and analysis.
Structure of the fellowship
Full-time or part-time: Full-time engagement in the project is desirable. Part-time is a possibility
Start Date: May 2020
Duration: The duration of the fellowship will be up to 6 months.
Location: The fellowship will be participating in the projects remotely due to COVID-19 travel and gathering restrictions. Remote work will be re-evaluated if circumstances change that allow for safe participation in a REF office.
Responsibilities
- Collect and log data
- Conduct statistical analyses of data sets
- Prepare data visualization of data including, graphs and tables.
- Prepare interview questions
- Recruit and/or interview subjects
- Conduct literature reviews
- Collect and analyze data
Fellowship Requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelors’ degree in one of the relevant subjects, such as education, political science, sociology, public policy, or economics.
- Previous experience in working with quantitative and qualitative research methods;
- Ability to collect analyze and process data.
- Ability to manage multiple projects while ensuring attention to detail.
Experience
- 1-2 years of experience in data analysis
- Knowledge of minority education and Roma studies will be an advantage.
Language requirements
- Proficiency in English and excellent writing skills
- Knowledge of at least of the following languages is required: Slovakian, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Hungarian. Macedonian, or Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian is highly preferred due to language needs of the projects.
Other
- Ability to work in a multicultural team in various contexts
- Current and former beneficiaries of Roma education fund scholarships are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Gender sensitivity and respect for diversity
Organizational Values
In order to develop and deliver our education programs that provide quality, inclusive education for Roma children and youth, we believe in five core values that join us together and that mirror the work, actions and ideals of our organization and its culture:
- Tenacity; Integrity; Justice; Accountability; Inquisitiveness
Stipend
The amount of the stipend is dependent on full-time or part-time, as well as the location where the applicant is based.
Application process
Complete application includes:
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of interest
- At least 2 references. We do not require letters of recommendation, only names and contact information of at least 2 professional references that can speak about your past professional or academic experience.
Applications must be submitted in English at the latest by 17th of April, 2020 at the address recruitment@romaeducationfund.org with the subject line “Research Fellowship Application”.
Applications will be examined with regard to the requirements of this call and applicants will be informed in due course of the outcome of your application. Preselected candidates may be invited to take written tests before an interview.
