Deadline: 8-Sep-21
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is pleased to announce Digital Society Research Grant Programme(“DSRG”) that aims to contribute towards the enhancement of information resources that are necessary in line with changing community expectations.
The DSRG builds the research evidence base necessary to promote and improve their understanding of the human and social factors, which affects and contributes to the adoption and usage of digital technologies and services.
DSRG funded research works provide inputs in ensuring that the advancements in communications infrastructure and services contribute to the inclusion and participation of all segments of the population in the realisation of a Digitally Connected and Informed Society (Digital Society).
The term of a project is up to nine (9) months including six (6) months of research activities until the submission of the research report at the end of the 6th month.
All research must commence within two (2) weeks of the date of the signing of the Letter of Award. The project shall be completed according to the duration and deadlines stipulated in the Letter of Award. Applicants shall indicate the project duration in the proposal including each phase of work.
The outcomes of research should nonetheless align to National Policy Objectives to promote a civil society where informationbased services will provide the basis of continuing enhancements to quality of work and life post-pandemic even as they endeavor to manage the realities of life today.
Objectives
The objective of this grant is to grow the evidence base that is necessary for the nation to optimize on the advancements made in the deployment of communications infrastructure and service.
This will in turn inform policy, programmes and interventions aimed at promoting the inclusion and participation of all segments of the population as the nation transitions towards being a fully digitally connected and informed society.
Categories
- For 2021, MCMC is seeking a combination of both OPEN and GUIDED research projects to clarify regulatory and developmental gaps and inform actionable outcomes in the following two categories:
- Digital Citizenship and Cyberwellness: aimed at clarifying gap areas influencing participation, positive uptake and wellness in an increasingly digitally dependent world
- Digital Inclusion : aimed at gap areas related to factors that impede equality of access and challenge the paradigm of ensuring that no one is left behind or is deprived of digital connectivity and its benefits.
Research Focus Areas
Interested researchers are invited to submit project proposals on one of the 6 research titles:
- Digital Citizenship and Cyberwellness
- User Rights and Protection for Subscribers of Telecommunications Services through the Provision of an Automatic Compensation Framework
- Understanding the Behavioural Aspects of Cyberbullying and Interventions for Victims, Perpetrators, Parents and Stakeholders
- Effectiveness of Initiatives and Enforcement of Laws in handling, managing and countering false news proliferation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Communications and Multimedia (C&M) Industry Compliance Competency Gap Analysis
- Digital Inclusion
- Impact of Internet Access and Accessibility Initiatives in facilitating Students’ M40 and B40 groups’ needs during COVID-19 prevention measure period
- An Impact Study of Klik Dengan Bijak (KDB)
Funding Information
The grant amount shall depend on the type and scope of the research project and subject to the guidelines herein and may be of a sum of up to Ringgit Malaysia ten thousand (RM10,000).
Eligibility Criteria
- The grant is open to full-time academic faculty member in schools of communications, social sciences, humanities or related fields of private and public institutions of higher learning (IHLs). Each proposal must have a Lead Researcher who will be subject to the general terms and conditions for granting. The following rules apply to applicant:
- Lead Researcher must hold a doctoral degree;
- Lead Researcher must hold an appointment with a local IHL for (at least) the duration of proposed research project;
- The salary of the researcher(s) cannot be financed from this grant;
- The researcher(s) requests the grant on her/his own behalf and on behalf of any possible project consortium; and
- The researcher(s) is responsible for research and financial matters.
- Researchers can only submit one proposal as Lead Researcher within this call and each researcher can act no more than twice as applicant (as Lead Researcher or co-researcher).
- The research team must be comprised of at least two researchers (a Lead Researcher and a co-researcher).
- Researcher(s) in professions other than academia are allowed to be part of the research team to complement the expertise and with the expectation that the product of the research will contribute to the wider body of knowledge on the topic specified.
For more information, visit https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/grants/2021-digital-society-research-grant-call-for-propo