NOTICE NO. 044/2026

COMPETITION FOR THE AWARD OF A GRANT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE RESEARCH GRANT REGULATIONS OF FCT

Title: Call for applications for the award of one (1) Research Grant for a bachelor’s degree holder

A call for applications is open for one (1) Research Grant (BI) for a graduate within the scope of project UID/05739/2025 – CEAD, a scientific activity of the R&D institution Centre for Research in Adult Education and Community Intervention (THELMA - "Transition from Higher Education to the Labour Market: Employability of African graduates"), funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Educational Sciences.

2. Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Educational Sciences, grades obtained in Research Methodology modules during the undergraduate degree, and proficiency (oral and written) in the English language.  

Taking into account paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 6 (Research Grants) of the Research Grants Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology. 

2. The scholarships referred to in this article may also be intended for the performance of R&D activities by graduates or masters enrolled in non-degree courses integrated into the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units.”

3. Project Objectives: The project aims to analyse the transition of African graduates from the University of Algarve to the labour market in Portugal, taking into account their academic and professional trajectories, as well as the individual, institutional and structural factors that influence their employability. The specific objectives are: (i) to characterise the academic and professional trajectories of African graduates from the University of Algarve; (ii) to identify the individual, institutional and contextual factors associated with the transition to the labour market; (iii) to analyse the difficulties and barriers in accessing and integrating into the labour market, including perceptions of discrimination, recognition of qualifications and inequalities of opportunity; and (iv) to understand the strategies developed by graduates in the transition to the labour market. The tasks to be carried out by the research fellow include: (i) conducting a scientific literature review on employability and the transition to the labour market of African graduates; (ii) supporting the design and validation of data collection instruments (questionnaire and interview guide); (iii) supporting quantitative data collection (online questionnaire); (iv) participating in semi-structured interviews with African graduates; (v) transcription of interviews; (vi) analysis of quantitative and qualitative data; and (vii) contributing to the preparation of scientific articles and a policy and institutional recommendations document.

4. Applicable Legislation and Regulations: Research Fellow Statute, approved by Law No. 40/2004 of August 18, as amended by Decree-Law No. 65/2024 of October 1, and the University of Algarve Research Grant Regulations (https://files.dre.pt/2s/2021/10/210000000/0013700149.pdf). Or the Foundation for Science and Technology Research Grant Regulations (https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf).

5. Workplace: The work will be carried out at Research Centre for Adult Education and Community Intervention (CEAD) of the University of Algarve, under the scientific supervision of Professor/PhD Catarina Sofia da Silva Doutor.

6. Duration of grant(s): The grant will last 12 months, with the start date scheduled for September of 2026. The research grant contract is non-renewable and will terminate on 31 August 2027. 

7. Monthly maintenance allowance amount: The monthly maintenance allowance is €1.090,98. The        maintenance allowance will be paid monthly by bank transfer. (https://www.fct.pt/wp-   content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf).

8.Candidate evaluation: In accordance with the provisions of Article 11.2 of the University of Algarve        Research Grant Regulations OR the Foundation for Science and Technology Research Grant Regulations In the          Science and Technology field, the evaluation of candidates will be based solely on the following criteria: curriculum evaluation (80%) and interview (20%). 

       9. The evaluation process may include an interview with the candidates or a portion of them, to be selected by    the Evaluation Panel, which will have a maximum weighting of 20%.

10. Composition of the Application Evaluation Board: The Application Evaluation Board is composed of three full members and one alternate (all PhDs):

- Dr Sandra Cristina Andrade Teodósio dos Santos Valadas (President);

- Dr Carla Isabel Franco da Cruz Cardoso Vilhena (effective member);

- Dr Catarina Sofia da Silva Doutor (effective member);

          - Dr Liliana Sofia Sequeira Paulos (alternate member).

         11. Publication/Notification of Results: The final evaluation results will be published on the Ualg website, in a list ordered by the final grade obtained, and the successful candidate will be notified via email.

          12. Application Deadline and Submission Method: The competition is open from 16/06/2026 to 03/07/2026.

          13. Applications must be accompanied by the following documents:

1. Official identification document (simple copy or legal equivalent). Applicants of non-Portuguese nationality must present a residence permit, permanent residence certificate, or long-term resident status, valid on the scholarship start date. Any of these may be replaced, in its absence, by a declaration of honor by the candidate. However, this must be submitted during the scholarship contracting phase, under penalty of forfeiture of the scholarship award;
2. Curriculum Vitae;
3. Copy of the qualification certificates for the academic degrees held, specifying the final grade and, if possible, the grades obtained in all courses taken;
4. Other documents deemed relevant due to the type and modality of the scholarship.

5. The Application for Application to the Competition, dated and signed, must be addressed to the President of the Competition Evaluation Panel, https://www.ualg.pt/sites/default/files/documentos/2022-12/anexo-iii-requerimento-para-candidatura-bolsa-pt.pdf),  for the following address: CEAD (a/c Catarina Doutor), Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais (Edifício 1), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro or by email to cdoutor@ualg.pt. (REF: Edital nº 044/2026) In the aforementioned application, you must expressly consent to all notifications related to the bidding process being sent to the indicated email address.

             14. Documents to be submitted for the scholarship agreement:

   1. Individual Taxpayer Registry (INV) information, if the applicant is a nationality other than Portuguese, must   be submitted during the scholarship agreement process, under penalty of forfeiture of the scholarship award;
   2. Documents proving that the applicant meets the requirements for the respective type of scholarship, namely,  proof of enrollment and registration and the study cycle or course that does not confer an academic degree;
   3. Declaration of the advisor(s) assuming responsibility for supervising the work plan, in accordance with Article 5-A of the Research Scholarship Statute, as well as guaranteeing the necessary conditions for the successful development of the work and compliance with the duties set forth in Article 13 of the Research Scholarship Statute;

   d.    Declaration of Commitment to the Exclusive Dedication Regime.

             15. Deadlines and Procedures for Complaints and Appeals:

             Candidates may, if they so wish, comment on the draft decision to award the requested scholarship, at a hearing for interested parties within 10 business days, under the terms and for the purposes set forth in Article 121 of the Code of Administrative Procedure.

             Candidates have the right to complain to the evaluation panel within 10 business days regarding the commission or omission of any act.

             An appeal may be filed against the final decision of the application evaluation panel to the Rector within 10 business days of notification.

             16. Scholarship Contract:

             After receiving all required documentation, a scholarship contract will be signed with the selected candidate(s) in accordance with the attached template.

             17. Evaluation of Fellow(s):

             At the end of each fellowship contract period, the advisor will evaluate the fellow(s)' work by applying the following criteria, in accordance with the attached template:

   a) Activities carried out during the scholarship period

   b) Conference presentations and publications

The University of Algarve reserves the right to cancel the scholarship award procedure, within the scope of the aforementioned Project, whenever funding does not materialize or the scholarship duration exceeds the project completion date.

University of Algarve, 1 of June of 2026

The Principal Investigator

Profª. Doutora Sandra Cristina Andrade Teodósio dos Santos Valadas