1. University of Wolverhampton, Institute of Education to host researcher workshop in Almaty, Kazakhstan
The University of Wolverhampton will host a three day workshop from 11th to 13th February 2015 entitled:
Implementing mobile learning in Kazakhstan:
Combining British experience and Kazakhstan possibilities. Studying mobile learning projects and initiatives in the United Kingdom and creating appropriate conceptions and strategies for Kazakhstan
The workshop has been organised in collaboration with Almaty Management University and is being funded by the British Council. The workshop will bring together researchers and practitioners in mobile learning and participants will discuss the latest developments in their research.
Contributions are invited from relevant areas of mobile learning research, including for example,
1. The impact of language and culture
2. Strategy and policy, institution and sector
3. Research paradigms and approaches
4. Research techniques and methods
5. Research ethics, emergent and cross-cultural
6. Contextual, situated and authentic learning
7. The challenges of scale, equity, sustainability and embedding
8. The sociologies of mobility
9. Future directions, possibilities, demographics and technologies
There will also be contributions from experienced research mentors and from the British Council, intended to build sustainable research links between UK researchers and the hosts. Part of the programme will include innovative empirical work.

2. Applications are invited from UK-based early career researchers (currently enrolled PhD students or those who have completed a PhD in the past 10 years) to participate in the workshop.
Applications must submit a position paper (1000 words max) to share with other participants, outlining their work, its direction, its challenges and its relevance to the workshop.
The British Council will cover return airfares, local transport, visa fees, accommodation and meals during the workshop. Application forms can be obtained from Ellen.Bagley@wlv.ac.uk.
Further information
UK Application and Deadline:
The application form must be fully completed and submitted by 5pm on 18th December 2014 to Ellen.Bagley@wlv.ac.uk (for UK applicants only).
Eligibility Criteria:
• Applications must be submitted using the Researcher Links application form
• Applications must be submitted before the above deadline
• Participants must be early career researchers: Early Career Researchers are defined as enrolled on or holding a PhD (or having equivalent research experience) in mobile learning or a related field, and having up to 10 years post-PhD research experience. They are equivalent to the ‘Recognised Researcher’ category in the EU framework for researchers’ careers. http://bit.ly/1k8ot06
• Participants must have an academic affiliation (either: a post, researcher association, fellowship or PhD enrolment) at a recognised research institution in the UK.
Quality Assessment
• Experience and relevance of the applicant’s research area to the workshop themes
• Motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop
• Description of the long term impact expected through participation in the workshop
• Ability to disseminate workshop outcomes

3. Selection Procedure:
• Eligibility: see eligibility criteria above.
• Quality assessment: evidence of top quality research should be presented, eg. publications in peer reviewed journals, presentations at refereed conferences or equivalent, contributions to policy or professional documents
Notification of results:
Applicants will be notified by email as soon as possible in January 2015.
Equal Opportunities
The British Council is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in all its activities and this includes the avoidance of any bias in the assessment of applications due to gender, disability, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Participants’ selection undertaken by workshop organisers must not contravene this policy. Reasonable extra support to enable participation of early career researchers with special needs will be given.