FAQs
VinUniversity provides its faculty and researchers with accounts on PIVOT-RP – new comprehensive global funding opportunities database. The database includes funding from all over the world for various types of activities related to research, teaching and other scholarly work and collaborations. You can log in using a single sign-on to start exploring. Materials and instructions to utilize the platform are available here.
In addition, researchers are invited to actively look for external funding relevant to their fields of research. Some prominent funding programs are:
To apply for an external grant, you must read the terms and conditions of the proposal opportunity carefully and make sure that you comply. Most often funders will have their own proposal template, budget template and a submission portal. Please use these to complete your proposal draft. All budget proposals must be reviewed by the Dean of the College, and staff in the Research Management Office to ensure compliance with university policies for overhead and use of university staff, students and resources. Please complete your proposal and send it for review to the RMO. We will work with you to submit the final proposal to the sponsor as per their requirement.
Yes, you can apply for funding from any outside sponsor. If you wish to apply, please consult the Research Management Office to make sure that there are no requirements that we cannot comply with.
No special permissions are needed to apply for funding to an external agency. We strongly suggest conferring with your Dean and the Research Management Office staff to ensure that there are no unacceptable terms in the call for proposals (for example, proprietary research or research that may be in conflict with Vietnamese rules/laws).
For finance-related questions, please start with your Academic Assistant who should have the information necessary to put together the budget in accordance with the cost norms. Please also consult with the Research Management Office staff who can work with the Finance and Accounting Department to make sure that the budget is consistent with VinUni policies.
For the scientific part of the proposal, please consult with your co-PIs and other colleagues.
The staff in the Research Management Office can also help with reviewing the final proposal to make sure that the proposal addresses the terms and conditions of the proposal, and help to liaison with the agency in case there are points of confusion.
From AY 24 to 25, requests for assistance from the Research Management Office should be made at least five working days before the deadline of the call for proposals, so that the department staff can devote sufficient attention to your needs. Requests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Requests for assistance that come at the last minute are highly discouraged and may not be entertained.
Congratulations! After the initial approval, there is usually a negotiation period during which the PI can ask questions about any changes that the sponsor may be requiring. For example, if the awarded amount is not the same as the proposed amount, or if the time frame is different or if the sponsor is asking for additional or different outcomes.
We recommend that the PI contact the Research Management Office staff who can help with these negotiations in accordance with international best practices.
The Research Management Office must review the final budget and ensure that the approved budget is acceptable.
Once both sides are in agreement, the Provost of VinUniversity must provide the final sign-off, which indicates that VinUni has accepted the terms of the award. Only after both sides have provided the official signatures can the grant be considered as approved.
No. You may not accept any funding for research without the review and approval of the Research Management Office and the VinUni Provost. This is because a research grant is given to a university, not to an individual. PIs cannot sign off on such agreements on behalf of the institution.
No. Please see response above.