Institute of Development Policy

Mobility Window

The IOB offers an international mobility program called Mobility Window (MW) with our partner universities:

  • Mzumbe University in Tanzania
  • Uganda Christian University in Uganda
  • Université Catholique de Bukavu in DR Congo

The Mobility Window program targets IOB Master Students with strong prior research skills. The objective is to allow these students to apply their knowledge in research methods in an actual research setting as well as to develop intercultural skills through a study period/field research experience outside Belgium. The research stay will last about 5-6 weeks (from mid-November until the Christmas break) at the end of Module I.  

Students need to apply and be selected to participate in the mobility window research experience. Acceptance into the MW programme is based on the students’ profile (i.e. previous knowledge of research skills, language skills, motivation and number of available places) and the congruence with the requirements specified for the internship (see Table 1). Students will be selected by IOB & Ugandan/Tanzanian/ Congolese academic staff based on their application file and a face to face selection interview. Students can also apply for a Mobility Window travel grant, which covers a return economy class flight ticket.

The research internship at Mzumbe University/Uganda Christian University or Université Catholique de Bukavu mainly entails the participation in on-going research activities of different research institutes and faculties. IOB students can apply to participate in one or more of the proposed research projects (see table below). In most projects, IOB students will be teamed up with a  junior researcher/ master student from the host university during the research stay to jointly engage in data collection and/ or analysis and report writing (i.e. twinning).

Four research projects

Mzumbe University (Tanzania): Citizen science: study effect on children (download detailed information here)

The research stay at Mzumbe University (Tanzania) mainly entails the participation in on-going or new research activities within the faculty of Social Sciences and the Institute of Development Studies, which focus (though not exclusively) on the following themes:  service delivery, natural resource governance, community based monitoring, gender.  The research activity will be linked to the citizen science project Women Water Watch. At the beginning of the mobility period, Mzumbe university will organize a short introductory session on the research themes proposed, methodological issues and administrative and logistics aspects.

  • Research theme proposed: Citizen science in Tanzania
  • Type: Desk based  + Field visit (to be confirmed)
  • Research methods & techniques: Data analysis (qualitative research methods ( visual/ narrative research methods) and/ or quantitative research methods)/ report writing.
  • Specific prerequisites (Language and other skills): Proficiency in English ( knowledge of Swahili is a plus) & Extensive knowledge of qualitative research and/ or quantitative research methods

Uganda Christian University (Uganda): Conspiracy beliefs and covid-19 vaccination hesitancy in Uganda (download detailed information here)

The research stay at Uganda Christian University (UCU - Uganda) mainly entails the participation in on-going or new research activities within the Department for Research and Post-graduate Studies, School of Social Sciences , which focuses (though not exclusively) on the following themes:  community based monitoring, sustainable cities, Covid vaccination willingness.  At the beginning of the mobility period, the research team at UCU will organize a short introductory session on the research themes proposed, methodological issues and administrative and logistics aspects.

  • Research theme proposed: Conspiracy beliefs and vaccination hesitancy in Uganda
  • Type: Desk based  + Field visit ( to be confirmed)
  • Research methods & techniques:  Data analysis ( qualitative research methods and/ or quantitative research methods) report writing
  • Specific prerequisites (Language and other skills): Proficiency in English &  Extensive knowledge of qualitative and/ or quantitative research methods

Université Catholique de Bukavu (Democratic Republic of Congo)

The research stay at Université Catholique de Bukavu (UCB – DRC) entails the participation in ongoing research of the Centre d’Expertise en Gestion Minière (CEGEMI). CEGEMI research focuses on natural resources governance. More specifically, students can link up with ongoing research on labour, environmental or material dimensions on construction materials supply chains (see project website), or on small-scale producer participation in ethical supply chain regulation (see project website).  At the beginning of the mobility period, the research team at UCB will organize a short introductory session on the research themes proposed, methodological issues and administrative and logistics aspects.

  • Research theme proposed:
    • Mapping the sand/stone value chain for construction materials (download detailed information here)
    • Perceptions on transnational supply chain initiatives for ‘responsible minerals’ (download detailed information here)
  • Type: desk based + field work
  • Research methods & techniques:  Data collection & Data analysis ( qualitative analysis skills) & report writing
  • Specific prerequisites (Language and other skills): Proficiency in French is required / knowledge of Swahili is a plus &  Extensive knowledge of qualitative research methods

 Timeframe and schedule

  • Presentation of Mobility Window: during Introduction week
  • Application deadline for MW: 18 September
  • Interviews with students: 22 September
  • Notification of selected students: 26 September
  • Preparation of practical arrangements (travel, insurance, accommodation): end September
  • Specific preparation for the research project (virtual exchanges with Southern partner, basic literature review etc..): 2 October
  • Travel to Tanzania/Uganda/DRC: 18 November
  • Research stay: 20 November - 22 December
  • Oral presentation in Tanzania/Uganda/DRC: 21 December
  • Departure from Tanzania/Uganda/DRC: third week of December
  • Deadline submission Research and Internship reports: second week of January
  • Lunch debriefing: third week of January

More information will be available in Research Methods II course description and an information session will be held about the details and specificity of the MW during the Introduction week.