TERTIARY EDUCATION TRUST FUND (TETFund)
Guideline for Accessing Institution Based Research Fund (IBRF)
TETFUND PUBLICATION
2014
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
Table of Contents i
1.0 Background 1
1.1 The Research Funds 1
1.2 Structure of the Guideline 1
2.0 How to Access and Utilize the IBR Fund 2
2.1 IBR Fund and Disbursement 2
2.2 Thematic Areas for IBR 2
2.3 Eligibility Criteria 2
2.4 Submission of Research Proposals 2
2.4.1 At the Level of the Institutions 2
2.4.1.1 Checklist of Documents for Submission of Approved Proposals
To TETFund by Researchers 3
2.4.2 Submission to TETFund 3
2.5 Submission of Reports 4
2.5.1 Progress Reports 4
2.5.2 Final Report 4
Annex 1: Institution Based Research (IBR) Proposal Template/Format 5
Annex 2: Institution Based Research (IBR) Progress Report Template/
Format 7
Annex 3: Institution Based Research (IBR) Final Report Template/Format 8
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Guideline for Accessing Institution Based Research (IBR)
1.0 Background
Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was established by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund
Act 2011 to administer and disburse to Federal and State tertiary education institutions the
2% education tax charged companies operating in Nigeria. The areas of TETFund intervention
include the following:
Essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning
Instructional materials and equipment
Research and publications
Academic training and development
1.1 The Research Funds
One of the strategies of TETFund is promotion of research in public tertiary institutions in
Nigeria – Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. TETFund does this through two
types of research Funds– Fund for institution based research (IBR) and the National Research
Fund (NRF). This document is a guideline for accessing and utilization of the fund for IBR.
IBR was established with the objective of resuscitating research activities in the nation’s
tertiary institutions in Nigeria; the culture of research over the years has been dwindling in
most of the higher institutions in the country. The outcome of which would be the revival of
quality research among not only lecturers in tertiary institutions but also students of such
institutions.
1.2 Structure of the Guideline
This guideline is developed to increase access of researchers to the Institution Based
Research Fund of TETFund and improve implementation of researches by the researchers as
well as provide for a more effective coordination of the IBR researches. The guideline is
divided into three sections:
Background
How to access and utilize the fund
Annextures
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2.0 How to Access and Utilize the IBR Fund
2.1 IBR Fund and Disbursement
TETFund gives allocation for IBR annually. This allocation however is domiciled in
TETFund and only released for execution of the project after the proposal has been
approved.
A maximum of N2,000,000.00 is approved/project
The approved fund shall be disbursed in tranches – 85% (before commencement;
15% after submission of Final report.
2.2 Thematic Areas for IBR
There is no restriction in the thematic areas under IBR – Arts, Humanities, Science
and Technology, Education, etc
2.3 Eligibility Criteria
Lecturers in all public tertiary institutions in Nigeria are eligible to access IBR fund
The research must be conducted in the submitting institution
2.4 Submission of Research Proposals
Submission of research proposals will be done at two levels:
2.4.1 At the Level of the Institutions
Research proposals shall be submitted to the Institution’s Committee on Research
who will screen the proposals based on the following criteria:
Having followed the prescribed format (Annex 1)
Quality of content of proposal which could be assessed based on the following:
- Executive summary
- Title
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Literature Review
- Methodology that can be replicated including methods of data analysis
- Detailed work plan including estimated dates of commencement and completion
- Detailed budget not exceeding N2,000,000.00
Approved proposals shall be given back to the researcher(s) where there are
corrections. Such proposals shall be vetted by the ICR for compliance and thereafter
signed by the Chairman of the Committee
Approved proposals shall then be submitted in five copies to TETFund using this
address:
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Executive Secretary
Tertiary Education Trust Fund
No. 6 Zambezi Crescent
Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja
Soft copy of the research proposal should be sent to this email address:
[email protected]
And copy the email addresses below:
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]2.4.1.1 Checklist of Documents for Submission of Approved Proposals to TETFund by
Researcher(s):
All researchers must ensure that all required documents are attached as non-inclusion
could delay the process or lead to rejection. The following is a checklist:
Covering letter to TETFund by the Principal Researcher through the Head of
Department, the Chairman (ICR) and the Head of Institution or his representative
requesting for funding for the approved proposal
Minutes of meeting of the Institution’s Committee on Research (ICR) in which
proposal was approved
Evidence of approval of proposed research project by the ICR – an approval page
which clearly states that the research proposal has been screened by the ICR and
considered worthy of submission to TETFund for funding (this page must be signed
by the Chairman of the Committee before the proposal can be considered by TETFund
for funding)
Five copies of the approved research proposal in the prescribed format (including
the budget and work plan indicating the expected date of commencement and
completion)
Detailed profile (CV) of researcher(s)
All documents must be neatly bound and paginated for ease of reference and
filing and to avoid loss of loose documents.
2.4.2 Submission to TETFund
Here, the proposals will first of all be screened to ensure that the format has been
followed, the required documentations are provided; the content and quality of the
proposal. This will be done by an ad-hoc Committee in TETFund
Submission must be accompanied by the full complement of required documents as
indicated under the checklist above. Submissions that are not accompanied by the
required documents shall not be considered
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Proposal should not exceed the funding limit of Two million Naira (N2,000,000.00)
maximum for each project
Cost of approved proposals not exceeding the maximum allocation to the institution
(where the institution’s submissions exceeds their allocation, the checklist
becomes a critical factor that determines which proposal is funded)
2.5 Submission of Reports
Two types of reports will be submitted:
2.5.1 Progress Report
Progress report will be submitted as follows:
For a project whose duration is 3 months, a progress report must be submitted
midway into the period (i.e. six weeks from the commencement of the project).
For a project that will last 6 months, a progress report must be submitted midway
into the period (i.e. 3 months after the commencement of the project)
For a project that will last up to or two years,, two progress reports would be
submitted – First one at 6 months after commencement; the second at 10 or 16
months after commencement of one year or two years research respectively
These reports with covering letters from the researcher(s) should be submitted to
TETFund through his/her head of department, the Chairman of ICR and the Head of
Institution
Progress reports will be submitted using the format provided in Annex 2.
2.5.2 Final Report
At the completion of the research, a final report using the attached template (Annex
3) will be used to write the final report
For the final report to be accepted by TETFund, it must be submitted by the principal
researcher to the institution’s Research Committee. This final report must contain the
certification page which will indicate that the project has been completed by the
researcher(s) to the satisfaction of the following:
Head of Department
ICR (Chairman)
These will now append their signatures on this page. The researcher will also sign the
final report
The submission of the final report shall be accompanied by a covering letter duly
signed by the Researcher, the Head of Department, the Chairman of ICR and the Head
of Institution
Five copies of the final report, bound should be submitted to TETFund
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Annex 1
Institution Based Research (IBR) Research Proposal Template/Format
Principal Researcher/Investigator
Name:
Institution:
Department:
Telephone no:
E-mail Address:
Co- Researcher (s) (if any)
1. Name:
2. Name:
Project Title:
Executive Summary:
Introduction
Problem Statement/Justification
Objective(s) of the Study
Literature Review
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Methodology (Should include description of study area/site/subjects, data
collection and data analysis
Results (Expected outputs/Results
Work Plan/Time Frame (Provide activity by activity in the form of a GANTT
Chart)
Budget (Provide a budget break-down by activity/line item
References
Signature of Principal Researcher: Signature of Chairman ICR:
Signature of Head of Department: Signature of Head of Institution:
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Annex 2
Institution Based Research (IBR) Progress Report Template/Format
Progress Report No:
TeTfund Reference No:
Period of Reporting:
Title of Research Project:
Name of Principal Researcher:
Department:
Institution:
Effective Date of Starting the Project:
Expected date of completion:
Grants approved and expenditure incurred during the period of the report
Total Amount Approved:
Total Expenditure incurred so far:
Balance:
Report of the Work done (please attach a separate sheet):
Brief Objective of the Project:
Work done so far and results achieved:
Challenges/difficulties if any, experienced in implementing the project:
Estimated time of completion:
Status of Activities in the Work Plan (completed; on-going; yet to start):
Signature of Principal Researcher: Signature of Chairman ICR:
Signature of Head of Department: Signature of Head of Institution:
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Annex 3
Institution Based Research (IBR) Final Report Template/Format
Title of Research Project:
Name and Address of Institution:
TeTfund Reference No:
Name and Address of Principal Researcher:
Tenure of the Project:
Total Amount Approved:
Total Amount Received:
Final Expenditure (give details on a separate sheet):
Objective(s) of the Project and whether objectives achieved (give details):
Summary of the findings of the study (Use separate sheet):
Value added to knowledge
Challenges/difficulties if any, experienced in implementing the project:
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Dissemination of the findings (publications of the results in journals, monographs,
etc; presentation in conferences & seminars, etc)
Signature of Principal Researcher: Signature of Chairman ICR:
Signature of Head of Department: Signature of Head of Institution:
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