Deadline: 31-Dec-2026
The Aubrey Barker Fund Smaller Grants programme supports education, training, and professional development in surveying and land management across developing countries. The initiative funds students, educators, and institutions working to improve skills, curriculum, and access to professional opportunities in the land and surveying sector.
Grants are designed to strengthen long-term capacity in education and professional practice, with emphasis on inclusive participation and practical field-based learning.
About the Programme
- The programme supports education and capacity building in surveying and land management.
- Funding is targeted at developing countries.
- It strengthens academic institutions and professional development pathways.
- Support is provided to students, educators, and organisations.
- The programme promotes inclusive access to surveying education.
- Grants focus on practical, educational, and institutional development.
- Emphasis is placed on long-term sectoral impact.
Programme Objectives
- Improve surveying and land management education quality.
- Strengthen professional institutions and training systems.
- Support students facing financial barriers to study.
- Enhance practical fieldwork and technical learning.
- Promote global access to surveying education.
- Build capacity in developing country institutions.
- Encourage participation from underrepresented groups.
- Support career development in land management professions.
Focus Areas
The Smaller Grants programme includes:
- Curriculum development in surveying and land management.
- Creation of teaching and learning materials.
- Strengthening professional institutions.
- Student bursaries for study support.
- Fieldwork and research project support.
- Equipment support for academic field studies.
- Conference attendance for students and professionals.
- Capacity building for educational organisations.
Funding Information
- Smaller Grants value: up to £3,000 GBP.
- Project Grants: up to £1,000 GBP (equipment and fieldwork).
- Bursaries: up to £3,000 GBP per student.
- Capacity Development Grants: up to £3,000 GBP.
- Conference Attendance support: up to £3,000 GBP per application (max £1,000 per individual).
- Funding is released after acceptance of a Letter of Offer.
- A monitoring form is required after project completion.
Types of Grants
Capacity Development Grants
- Support educational or professional organisations.
- Fund curriculum development and teaching materials.
- Include online and digital learning resources.
- Strengthen institutional capacity in surveying education.
Bursaries
- Support students from developing countries.
- Cover study costs that would otherwise be unaffordable.
- Require academic supervisor endorsement.
- Limited to one grant per academic institution per academic year.
Project Grants
- Support fieldwork and equipment needs.
- Primarily for Master’s level or higher students.
- Equipment remains property of the institution.
- Require academic supervision and approval.
Conference Attendance Grants
- Support participation in professional events.
- Available for students and young professionals.
- Applications submitted by event organisers.
- Promote exposure to global professional networks.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Students from developing countries.
- Educational and professional institutions.
- Academic supervisors (for student-supported applications).
- Conference organising organisations.
- Early-career professionals in surveying and land management.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Relevance to surveying or land management fields.
- Clear educational or professional development purpose.
- Institutional or academic support where required.
- Feasible project design and implementation plan.
Assessment Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Completeness and eligibility.
- Alignment with fund objectives.
- Educational and professional impact.
- Contribution to capacity building.
- Community and institutional benefits.
- Sustainability of outcomes.
- Promotion of good professional practice.
- Support for underrepresented groups.
Priority Considerations
The fund gives special attention to applications that:
- Support women in surveying and land management.
- Include indigenous communities.
- Address minority participation challenges.
- Promote inclusion in the profession.
- Strengthen under-resourced institutions.
- Enhance equitable access to education and training.
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to deliver:
- Improved educational quality in surveying disciplines.
- Stronger institutional training capacity.
- Increased access to professional education.
- Enhanced practical field skills.
- Broader participation in the profession.
- Long-term capacity development in developing countries.
- Stronger global professional networks.
Why This Programme Matters
- Surveying and land management are critical for sustainable development.
- Many students lack access to essential training resources.
- Capacity building strengthens professional systems in developing regions.
- Inclusive education improves representation in technical fields.
- Field-based learning enhances practical competence.
- Conference exposure supports global knowledge exchange.
- Institutional strengthening improves long-term sector resilience.
Application Tips
- Clearly define the educational or professional need.
- Demonstrate strong alignment with surveying or land management.
- Include academic or institutional endorsements where required.
- Show how the grant will improve long-term capacity.
- Provide a realistic and detailed budget.
- Emphasise inclusion and community benefit where relevant.
- Ensure project feasibility within grant limits.
- Highlight sustainability and knowledge transfer outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Aubrey Barker Smaller Grants programme?
- It is a funding scheme supporting education and capacity building in surveying and land management in developing countries.
How much funding is available?
- Grants range up to £3,000 GBP depending on category.
Who can apply?
- Students, educational institutions, supervisors, and conference organisers in the surveying and land management field.
What types of activities are supported?
- Curriculum development, bursaries, fieldwork support, equipment, and conference attendance.
Can students apply directly?
- Yes, for bursaries and project grants with required academic support.
Are there restrictions on equipment funding?
- Yes, funded equipment remains the property of the educational institution.
What happens after funding is awarded?
- A monitoring form must be submitted after project completion.
Conclusion
The Aubrey Barker Fund Smaller Grants programme provides targeted financial support to strengthen education, training, and professional development in surveying and land management. By funding students, institutions, and capacity-building initiatives, the programme helps improve access to technical education, build institutional strength, and support inclusive participation in a critical development sector.
For more information, visit Aubrey Barker Fund.