Higher Education > Office of Higher Education International >

Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme

The Queensland Government Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme offers Queensland 's educational and academic communities the opportunity to interact and maintain contact with distinguished Australian alumni living abroad.

What are the Smart Returns Fellowships?
What is the purpose of the program?
Who pays?
What do participants gain?
Which universities are involved?
Who can apply?
How do I apply?

What are the Smart Returns Fellowships?

The Queensland Government Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme supports short stay return visits to Queensland of two to three months duration for accomplished Australian alumni who have spent extensive time abroad.

While in Queensland, Smart Returns Fellows will:

invigorate research and scholarly links with colleagues in the university to which they are attached;
build links between Queensland 's universities and the wider international community of scholars;
participate in lectures, research seminars, workshops, master classes and/or public lectures to promote the latest developments in their chosen field of research;
interact with school students to provide a source of inspiration and encouragement to those undertaking relevant studies in a related discipline; and
be a public resource promoting the best traditions of scholarly endeavour and the virtues of educational aspirations for young and developing minds.

^ Top of page

What is the purpose of the program?

The purpose of Queensland 's Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme is multi-faceted. It seeks to enrich the educational culture and fabric of our schools and universities by bringing our educators, researchers and students into contact with talented expatriate academics, researchers, scientists and other professionals whose careers have taken them abroad. The Scheme will serve to internationalise further the experience of Queensland 's best and brightest whether they are in their primary, secondary or tertiary phase of education.

By sharing their international experiences with our school and higher education communities, Smart Returns Fellows will serve to enlighten the studies of young people and academics alike, fire their imagination for the breadth of opportunity that is possible, and inspire and broaden their thinking about new career dimensions.

As our school and university communities become more international in their focus, the Scheme will provide a mechanism to deepen our collaborative links with other countries and educational systems where expatriates have found opportunities and where our futures have both common and complementary strengths.

^ Top of page

Who pays?

The Queensland Government in partnership with host universities in Queensland will provide funding for a program of visits to be undertaken in 2007-2008. Typically, these costs might consist of the following:

Salary or allowance component;
Travel and relocation expenses;
Equipment and local travel; and
Insurance and incidental expenses.

The overall value of a fellowship, based on a 3 month stay, is estimated to be in the vicinity of AUD$40000.

^ Top of page

What do participants gain?

The Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme offers Australians abroad a unique opportunity to return to Queensland for a short stay to share the knowledge and experience they have gained overseas. It is no longer a choice between going overseas or staying in Australia - this Scheme offers the best of both worlds.

^ Top of page

Which universities are involved?

All Queensland universities are participants in the Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme:

ACU National (Banyo)
Bond University
Central Queensland University
Griffith University
James Cook University
Queensland University of Technology
The University of Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland
University of the Sunshine Coast

Participating universities share the cost of the visiting fellow they host with the Queensland Government. The Fellowships are open to distinguished alumni of Australian universities who have achieved positions of leadership (at professorial or equivalent level) in any discipline.

Smart Returns Fellowships will be offered through a system of visiting Professorial appointments to participating institutions.

^ Top of page

Who can apply?

Graduates from Australian universities who have been living abroad for a period greater than 3 years are invited to apply for a Smart Returns Fellowship. The criteria that will be used to assess applications are as follows:

the academic quality of the applicant 's research, scholarly or professional history;
the relevance and potential benefit of the applicant 's research, scholarly or professional activities to the host university, local schools, collaborative industry and other partners; and
the demonstrated ability of the applicant to communicate effectively with school students in relevant fields of study.

In particular, Smart Returns Fellowships will be awarded on the basis of the applicant 's capacity to undertake the following:

a specific program of activities which embrace university lectures, workshops, collaborative research activities and master classes in a higher education setting;
school visits and teaching sessions in the school sector;
at least one public lecture on a relevant topic accessible to the wider community;
the completion of a short written report to the State Government on the conclusion of the Fellowship; and
other activities as determined by Fellows, host universities and local schools.

^ Top of page

How do I apply?

Applications are welcome all year, and should be submitted to:

The Director
Office of Higher Education
PO Box 15033
City East QLD 4002
Fax: +61 (07) 3237 1444

Step one:
Consider how as a Smart Returns fellow you may fulfil your duties, including your capabilities in undertaking the activities listed and how might a program be developed to correspond with your skills.

Step two:
Nominate the Queensland university you have the strongest ties with and contact their fellowship coordinator.

Step three:
In consultation with your coordinator, complete the Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme application form, including a draft program. Your fellowship coordinator should be able to assist in the coordination of activities undertaken in the community and schools sector.

The draft information sheet and application form can be downloaded below, however, please be advised that they will be updated in the coming weeks.

Information Sheet (new window) 66k
(Credentials, contact information, referees, program proposal etc)

Application Form (new window) 101k
(Background, purpose, costs, assessment information etc)

Step four:
The fellowship coordinator at your nominated university will submit your application to the Queensland Office of Higher Education who will arrange for the Smart Returns Fellowship Scheme panel to assess.

For further information, please contact Vanessa Lao or phone +61-7-3237 0363, International Programs and Services, Department of Education, Training and the Arts.

^ Top of page