Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal for the final project of the UNU/FTP

Thor Asgeirsson

Thor Asgeirsson

What is a proposal?• Suggestion of a project• Describes the reason for the project• Reflects on the current knowledge of the subject• Describes the organization of the project• States the essential resources for the project and

the cost involved• Serves as a base for the project

evaluation/approval• Contract between stakeholders (unu-ftp,

fellows and supervisor)• Guideline for the project

Thor Asgeirsson

What is included in proposal?• The scope of the project• A rationale for the project• Literature review on the subjects covered in the project

(with citations and a list of references at the end)• Main research questions, hypotheses, and objectives• Main methods and tools for data gathering and analysis

(how will the neccessary information be gathered?)• Resources and budget/cost for the project• A work plan• List of References

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal components• Introduction:

– A short background description (local situation)

– Identification of current problems and why you see them as problems

– Project statement

– Why do you select the topic for a project (rationale)

– The suspected outcome of the project

– OBJECTIVES and more specific goals

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal components cont.

• Literature review– Give an overview of the current knowledge of

the topic (not extensive lit. search) 2-3 pages– Use citations and put the literature used in a

special reference list– This is not waste of time – this part will be used

in the final report!!

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal components cont.

• Methods– Describe how you are going to conduct the

work– What resource are needed to carry out the work– Is there any cost involved?– Do you need to travel or conduct part of the

work outside Reykjavik

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal components cont.

• Work plan:– Describes how the project will be carried out.– Defines the tasks involved

– Describes the order of the tasks– Identifies phases (steps) – Has milestones– Has dates when certain parts of the project will

be delivered (deliverables)– Time schedule for all tasks

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal components cont.

• Work plan-Time plan– Time plan for each part of the project

• Data collection• Data analysis• Meetings• Writings (write along the project work)

– When do I finish each part of the report

• Deliverables

Thor Asgeirsson

The Work Plan (cont.)• The work plan must show a time schedule for the

following phases:– Literature review– Data collection– Data analysis– Results– Interpretation of results– 1. draft– 2nd draft– Final draft – Deliverables– 3 formal meetings with the supervisor and Tumi/Thor

Thor Asgeirsson

The three meetings• At the first meeting (after collection of information), the

fellows should present data, how it was obtained and how it is structured, stored, checked and managed.

• At the second meeting the fellow should present some analysis, graphs and tables (of some aspects of the data) including a written description of the methods applied and of the results (2-3 pages)

• At the third meeting the fellow should present some data analysis, description of the results and an interpretation and discussion in relation to previously published studies. He/she should also at this meeting account for the literature search and how the information is stored and managed.

Thor Asgeirsson

Time Plan (Schedule)

Formatting

Discussion written

9.12Results finished

Methods written

30.111st meeting

Data analysis

Data collection

Literature review

1110987654321Phase\week

13.12

Deliverable

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal components cont

• Reference list– List of all the literature used in the proposal in

an alphabetical order

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposal plan

Introduction Literature review Methods

WORK PLAN

Thor Asgeirsson

Proposals Delivered

• November 15 and 16 : Draft of proposal ready

• Nov. 18 and 19: Proposal oral presentation (Reykjavik) within specialist groups

• Nov. 22: Oral presentation in Akureyri

• Nov. 24: Final draft of proposal handed in

• Proposals will be introduced by fellows in a short (10-15 min) presentation to the specialist group.