The PQSB Advisory Committee at the Academy held a meeting with the PQSB Steering & Evaluation Committees on the 7th Feb 2023. The committees discussed the evaluation and selection processes and statistics of the 4th PQSB applications and evaluation results and outcomes.

The discussed results covered statistics of the 4th PQSB call applicants, and followed procedures and mechanisms. Reported results included data on beneficiaries by university, by gender, by Field Speciality, and by Governorate.

The evaluation and selection of applications were conducted in accordance to the recommendations from the FRQ that included: priority to First Time applicants, relative balance between specialities, and fluency in English or French. The evaluation and selection criteria also included the quality of research proposals, their value and impact, and competence and compatibility with the hosting researcher/department, with priority given to young and active researchers (recent publications).

The evaluation and selection processes were undertaken by three different evaluation committees: Science and Technology, Health Sciences and Society and Culture Sciences. The three committees were formed, from domain specialist members, from several and different West Bank and Gaza institutions. Interviews were conducted face-to-face for candidates from the West Bank and online for candidates from Gaza. 

Lastly, the advisory, steering and evaluation committees discussed logistics issues and approved the results and procedures to inform respective applicants, accordingly, and to facilitate their scientific mission.