IFRS encourages faculty members to engage in innovative and pioneering research
that promote authentic Christian witness, prophetic, compassionate and transformative
ministry in the today’s world.

IFRS shall support faculty members exploring specific fields in the vast spectrum of contextualized theologies and feminist studies, using innovative approaches
and methods of study. IFRS shall allot a substantial amount of money toward those applications for research projects which show potential in innovative and fresh
insights that make theology relevant to the church and society.

IFRS shall organize timely skills training on research methodology to faculty members especially those who are doing research.

Areas of Interest
IFRS shall support and give priority to researches in the following areas:
Topics that deal with scriptural exploration, religion, spirituality, women, religious life,
catechetics and others as related to meeting the burning social issues of our time.


Eligibility: Who can apply?
IFRS welcomes proposals for research grant applications from IFRS faculty
with the following basic qualifications:
    Must have experience or involvement in research work
    Must have an MA degree and significant training and relevant experience
in teaching or its equivalent, proper to the field of specialization and in relation to the
chosen research topic/study.
    Must have verifiable character and professional references.

IFRS does not fund research projects for academic completion

All applicants will be notified in writing of the status of their application as soon as
evaluation and decision has been made, normally within 60 days after the submission
of the application.

Criteria for Assessing Research Proposals

The proposal should be guided by the following criteria and key questions:

RELEVANCE - Is the topic well chosen and clearly specified? Is it potentially useful
for an existing or future academic course of IFRS? Is it addressing/responding
to future pastoral or missiological concerns?

METHODOLOGY - Is the methodology clearly specified? Are the methods relevant and adequate to meet the objectives?

SCOPE - Is it feasible within the time and resources available?

FEASIBILITY OF PUBLICATION – DOES IT HAVE potential for wider dissemination?

Procedure:

• Eight (8) hard copies of the proposal have to be submitted to the Research Director.

• Upon the submission of the proposal, the Research Director convenes the members
   of the Research Committee to evaluate and assess the proposal based on the criteria
   mentioned above. The Committee reserves the right to consult a third party –
   an independent reader to solidify the assessment. The choice of the independent reader
   depends on the nature of the research proposal.

• There will be an Approving Committee, which is composed of the President,
   the Academic Dean, the Research Director, and the Financial Officer.

• The Research Committee, through its Director, submits its recommendations to the
   Approving Committee.

• The President, who acts as the Chairperson of the Approving Committee, convenes its
   members.

• The Approving Committee shall make the final decision.

Terms and Conditions

The IFRS through the President shall make grants to successful candidates
in accordance with the following conditions:

• The applicant (individual/team) will carry out the research, which is neither part of    contractual or commissioned research, nor part of a formal program of studies
   leading to a degree;

• Awards are normally granted only for direct costs related to the research project
   such as expenses related to gathering of data, office supplies and materials
   and the like.

• The researcher has to submit a progress report of their research project
   every six months to the Research Director for monitoring. The Research Director
   can convene the members of the Research Committee for corresponding evaluation
   and proper courses of action when he or she deems it necessary.

• The research project has to be completed within the agreed time span of the project.

• Eight (8) hard copies of the manuscript produced will be submitted to the Director
   of the Research Committee for final evaluation. It will be within the length of a normal
   scholarly journal article and with the feasibility of publication.

• The approval of the manuscript of the completed research project follows the
   approval procedures of the application.

• When it is judged appropriate, the Research Committee will recommend publication
   to the Publication Committee.

Successful candidates will be sent a Memorandum of Agreement detailing the value and conditions of the award, to be signed and returned to the Approving Committee within 30 days.

Installments of the research grant will be done in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement of IFRS.

In relation to externally-controlled research projects, the Research Committee
will exercise a constructively supportive role for faculty applicants,
not an evaluative, administrative role.