HESPAL Research Consultant

Call for Applications: HESPAL Research Consultant

The British Council is seeking a highly skilled and experienced consultant to conduct an in-depth research study on the HESPAL Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This research will assess the impact of HESPAL over the past 15 years, identify achievements, and explore opportunities for future development.

About HESPAL

Launched in 2010, HESPAL is a flagship scholarship programme that supports academic staff from Palestinian universities to pursue master’s and PhD studies at prestigious UK institutions. The programme strengthens the Palestinian higher education sector by fostering academic mobility, institutional links, and professional networks. Since its inception, HESPAL has awarded 244 scholarships (184 master’s and 60 PhDs).

Research Objectives

• Identify and amplify the impact of HESPAL by:
  • Assessing benefits to HE in Palestine, UK HE institutions, and individual scholars.
  • Highlighting the programme’s value and outcomes for stakeholders
• Assess sectoral needs:
  • Evaluating the needs of the Palestinian and UK HE sectors (2025-2028).
  • Identifying ways to enhance HESPAL’s relevance and efficiency.
• Support stakeholder engagement by:
  • Showcasing the programme’s benefits to potential funders and partners.

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About the Consultancy

The selected consultant will be responsible for conducting comprehensive research through the following key activities:

• Desk Research: Reviewing and analysing existing statistics, reports, strategies, and policies on Palestinian higher education to develop a thorough context analysis.
• Field Research: Assessing the impact of HESPAL on Palestinian and UK universities using both qualitative and quantitative methods. This will involve face to face and online interviews with key stakeholders, including Palestinian and UK university representatives and funding partners.
• Alumni Research: Examining the long-term impact of HESPAL on scholars' careers and professional networks through structured interviews with alumni.

The consultant will be expected to prepare a detailed relevant methodology and timeline and commit to it once discussed with and approved by the British Council.

The consultant will be expected to design an interview framework and arrange meetings and interviews with stakeholders with the support and contribution of the British Council team.

Interviews with Alumni should be designed to reflect the variety of views through having proper representations of men, women, degree of study, subject fields, etc.

The consultant will be required to provide the transcript of all interviews.

Consultant Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s/PhD) or equivalent experience in Education, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Proven experience in higher education research, impact assessment, gender equality and inclusion studies.
• Strong knowledge of the Palestinian and UK higher education sectors.
• Excellent analytical, reporting, and communication skills (English & Arabic).

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: 15 May
• Notify shortlisted applicants: 26 May
• Final selection: 2 June
• Research Start Date: 16 June
• Final Report Submission: 25 August

Application Process

Interested consultants should submit:

• A technical proposal outlining methodology, work and time plan.
• A financial proposal with detailed breakdown per task.
• CV(s) highlighting relevant experience.
• Samples of previous relevant research.