The IAMSCU Strategic Committee on Institutional Collaborations has been at work identifying individuals and institutions to be involved in programs promoting multilateral collaborations. The committee also partnered with the Southlands Methodist Trust in the United Kingdom (UK) to raise resources and encourage people to become involved in new ventures connecting IAMSCU-related institutions worldwide. Committee members discussed possibilities to support existent collaborative programs within IAMSCU and create new initiatives. The Call for Applications for a new grants program is open and the deadline for submitting grant requests is June 15, 2026.
One of the committee’s priorities is to communicate with IAMSCU member institutions, so they can learn about one another, to learn about opportunities for collaboration, and to engage in conversations about how to nurture a collaborative environment. Among the types of collaborative ventures, there are “Research-focused,” “Student-focused,” and “Practice-based” activities.
Presidents of schools, colleges, and universities discuss about inter-institutional cooperation (Photo: Amos Nascimento)
This new initiative of the IAMSCU Strategic Committee on Institutional Collaborations consists of two components:
Research Network Grants: These support international research networks and are designed to catalyze new areas of collaboration. They are limited to three years of funding to encourage sustainability.
Collaborative Research Grants: These support specific collaborative projects focused on partnerships between Methodist-related institutions. They are designed to produce tangible outputs and shared learning.
Together, these programs represent a structured mechanism for funding collaboration, with a strategic shift from conversation and encouragement to the practical enabling of activity. The deadline for applications for these is June 15, 2026. For more information on the IAMSCU Strategic Committee on Institutional Collaborations, please contact the Chairperson, Dr. Christopher Stephens (christopher.stephens@roehampton.ac.uk), who is also seeking volunteers to help select and evaluate the applications. Details on types of grants and on the application process can be found through the website of Southlands Methodist Trust in the UK: https://southlandsmethodisttrust.org.uk/2026/03/26/funding-opportunities-from-iamscu-smt/