Malaysia: Digital Society Research Grant 2023 – Cycle 2

This grant aims to grow the evidence base necessary for the nation to optimise the advancements made in communications infrastructure and service deployment. This base will assist the development of policy, programmes, and interventions to promote the inclusion and participation of all population segments as the nation transitions towards being a fully digitally connected and informed society.

The DSRG builds the research evidence base necessary to promote and improve the understanding of the human and social factors which affect and contributes to the adoption and usage of digital technologies and services. In so doing, 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).

Research Focus Areas

• The research proposals are guided by the following two (2) Focus Areas:
  • Digital Citizenship & Cyberwellness (DCC): Aims to elicit research clarifying regulatory and developmental gap areas influencing participation, positive uptake and wellness in an increasingly digitally dependent world; and
  • Digital Inclusion (DI): Seeks to clarify regulatory and developmental gaps in 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.

DSRG 2023, Cycle 2 Research Titles

• List of research related to Digital Citizenship and Cyberwellness (DCC)
  • DCC-1: Comparison of Consumers’ Awareness, Perception, Intention and Participation of E-Waste Recycling Amongst Rural and Urban Malaysian Users.
  • DCC-2: Enhancing Digital Media and Information Literacy in Malaysia: A Framework and Roadmap for Klik Dengan Bijak Initiative.

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).
• Duration of Project
  • 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 sixth month. The flow of the six (6) month project period.
  • All research must commence within two (2) weeks of signing the Letter of Award (LOA) and stamping1 the same. The project shall be completed according to the duration and deadlines stipulated in the LOA. Applicants shall indicate the project duration in the proposal, including each phase of work.

Eligibility Criteria

• The grant is open to a 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, subjected to the general terms and conditions for granting.
• The following rules apply to the applicant:
  • Lead Researcher must hold a doctoral degree;
  • Lead Researcher must have an appointment with a local IHL for (at least) the duration of the proposed research project;
  • The salary of the researcher(s) cannot be financed from this grant;
  • The researcher(s) may request the grant on her/his behalf and on behalf of any possible project consortium; and
  •  The researcher(s) is responsible for research and financial matters.
• Researcher(s) can only submit one (1) proposal as the Lead Researcher within this call, and each researcher can act no more than twice as an applicant (as Lead Researcher or co-researcher).
• The research team must comprise at least two (2) 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 broader body of knowledge on the topic specified.

For more information, visit DSRG.