PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Provide financial support to enable UP graduate students (master’s and doctoral), at the thesis/dissertation stage and under the advisership of UP faculty, to conduct research/creative work and if possible, take advance elective courses in international partner universities through advisors/co-advisorship;
Hasten the completion of research and creative work by UP graduate students in areas/fields most relevant to the needs of the country;
Provide an opportunity for graduate students to experience high throughput laboratory environments abroad, in order to broaden and enrich their research experience; and
Promote research/creative productivity through long-term active cooperation between UP (faculty, researchers, research groups) and international partner universities.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Enrolled UP graduate students at the master’s thesis/doctoral dissertation stage with approved Thesis/Dissertation Proposal issued by the unit head or head of the unit’s graduate committee
Faculty/research adviser of a graduate student (who must have an established collaboration with international faculty/researcher)
COVERAGE OF THE GRANT
1 to 6 months duration for master’s student, 6 to 12 months for doctoral student, 2 weeks to 1 month duration for UP faculty/researcher
Round trip economy airfare
Visa fee for graduate students/Pre-departure expenses for faculty
Travel and health insurance
Stipend which includes accommodations, meals, and land transportation allowances for graduate students/Stipend which covers accommodation, meals, and incidentals for faculty
Applications must be in the prescribed format using these templates.
Applications must be submitted at least 4 months before the proposed activity. Late applications shall not be accepted.
Once you have secured the endorsement of officials up to the level of the College dean, kindly forward your application to your OIL CU (e.g., OIL Diliman) or OIL coordinator for their review and endorsement to the Chancellor's Office.
Chancellor-endorsed applications (PDF) shall be submitted to OIL System via the Document Routing System (DRS).
The OIL COOPERATE Selection Committee shall evaluate the applications submitted.
APPLICATION ATTACHMENTS
GRADUATE STUDENT
Attachment 1: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
(If the MOU/MOA is not yet available, a Statement of Research Cooperation from host university officials can be submitted using the attached template. However, the MOU/MOA is still required to be processed.)
Attachment 2: 1 to 2-page curriculum vitae
Attachment 3: Certification of Approval of Thesis/Dissertation Proposal
Attachment 4: Certified Transcript of Records/True Copy of Grades
Attachment 5: Acceptance or invitation letter from a professor at the host institution
Attachment 6: Two (2) Letters of Reference from previous/current professors
Attachment 7: Detailed work plan/GANTT chart using the attached template
Attachment 8: Line-item budget (attach basis/estimate)
BSP Exchange Rate
Round Trip Economy Airfare (inclusive of travel tax, three quotations required)
Visa fee
Travel and Health Insurance (three quotations required)
Stipend (accommodation, meals, and land transportation computed using Numbeo rates)
Attachment 9: Letter from the Thesis/Dissertation Adviser on why he/she is not joining/visiting (if applicable)
Attachment 10: Physical and Mental/Emotional readiness assessment
APPLICATION ATTACHMENTS
FACULTY ADVISER
Attachment 1: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
(If the MOU/MOA is not yet available, a Statement of Research Cooperation from host university officials can be submitted using the attached template. However, the MOU/MOA is still required to be processed.)
Attachment 2: 1 to 2-page curriculum vitae
Attachment 3: Acceptance or invitation letter from a professor at the host university/institution
Attachment 4: Appointment as Adviser/Co-Adviser of the Graduate Student Applicant
Attachment 5: Detailed work plan/GANTT chart using the attached template
Attachment 6: Certification of no pending financial obligation for any OVPRI grant (make a formal request for certification via email to OVPRI at research.ovpri@up.edu.ph)
Attachment 7: Line-item budget (attach basis/estimate)
BSP Exchange Rate
Round Trip Economy Airfare (inclusive of travel tax, three quotations required)
Pre-departure expenses (not exceeding ₱3,500.00):
Please provide receipts for the following: a) miscellaneous expenses such as taxicab/Grab fare, passport processing, immunization, medical laboratory fees, photographs, porterage, airport terminal fees, if any; b) airport terminal fees, imposed at the point/s of embarkation on the return trip to the Philippines, if any (to be allowed upon completion of the official trip; and c) visa application fees
Travel and Health Insurance (three quotations required)
Stipend (accommodation, meals, and incidentals computed using UNDP-DSA rate)
Accommodation allowance (50%)
Food Allowance (30%)
Incidental Expenses (20%)
Visiting researchers/faculty must have established, ongoing, or starting research collaboration with the host researcher/university, and should show corresponding proof.
Faculty Adviser Applicants with pending OVPRI grant obligations (e.g., return of funds, submission of liquidation reports) are not eligible to apply for the COOPERATE grant.
Graduate Student Applicants are required to undergo both physical and mental examinations. Results are submitted together with the application form and other requirements. A referral letter may be requested from OIL.
The host (international) institution has formally accepted the graduate student and/or adviser for the research visit and/or the sandwich thesis/dissertation research activities in the laboratory.
Upon approval of the application, the grantee shall sign a contract with UP.
The grantee shall attend the COOPERATE orientation 1 month before the scheduled departure.
The grantee shall immediately return to the Philippines/UP after the completion of the program. However, a grantee may apply for additional financial support 3 months before the end of the contract. The requested additional financial support will be processed based on merit and availability of funds.
The grantee may be allowed to receive additional funding support from other funding sources after receiving the grant entitlements on condition that the grantee can judiciously liquidate the COOPERATE financial grant and attach supporting documents and receipts required thereof.
The grantee should submit within 30 days a liquidation report upon completion of the program using the prescribed template. An orientation on the submission of the said report shall be conducted for the grantee and his/her adviser.
The faculty adviser grantee who has not submitted a liquidation report shall not be eligible to apply for another COOPERATE grant and shall not be eligible to recommend the application of another student/advisee. The graduate student grantee who has not submitted a liquidation report will not be cleared by the Office of the Registrar for enrollment nor graduation.
The grantee shall provide OIL an update on his/her progress and accomplishments to be endorsed by the adviser every 6 months after the completion of the program. Such information shall include the following:
Thesis/dissertation defense schedule
Date of Graduation
Publication
The grantee shall commit to completing the degree. Except for compelling reasons, failure to earn a degree shall constitute grounds for requiring the return of the full amount received under the grant.
The grantee shall produce a publication within a year after his/her graduation. The COOPERATE program shall be duly acknowledged by the grantee in the said publication.
All intellectual outputs produced in the course of or as a result of the grant shall be bound by the Governing Principles and Policies on Intellectual Property Rights of the University.
What kind of assistance can I request from OIL - COOPERATE during the application process?
Line-item budget calculation assistance may be requested through email. A referral letter may be requested from OIL for the physical and mental/emotional assessment. For particulars about the type of visa and required health insurance to acquire, kindly coordinate with your host professor/institution. Additionally, please consult with your host professor/university regarding details involving facility and equipment use.
2. How will I be notified of my application status?
We will acknowledge the receipt of your Chancellor-endorsed application via email. Should there be any need for revisions or additional documents, we will communicate the instructions for compliance via email. The result of the Selection Committee evaluation shall also be communicated via email.
Darlyn Denise Pruebas
Master of Science in Fisheries- Fisheries Biology (UP Visayas)
The opportunity of being a COOPERATE grantee has widened my network and gave me the chance to explore more research work with the guidance of esteemed academics. I am grateful for the experience and opportunity given to me and I want to pay it forward by being part of the country’s institutions that support biodiversity research.
Tim Jeff Rodriguez
MS in Materials Science and Engineering (UP Diliman)
The COOPERATE program became more than just an opportunity to finish my thesis; it became a defining part of my growth as a Filipino scientist. It helped me see what it means to do research that matters and inspired me to bring that same level of dedication and curiosity back home.
For further inquiries, kindly contact Ms. Bea Patricia Devesa (Program Manager) through email at oilcooperate@up.edu.ph.