From Idea to Grant: Project Planning and Writing a Successful Research Grant Proposal

The course provides PhD students with comprehensive training in project identification and planning in the context of project and grant management as well as grant proposal writing, essential for successful research funding and project execution. The course begins with a focus on identifying the project and planning, emphasizing the fundamental procedures, methodologies, and techniques for preparing and managing research and innovation projects. Participants will learn to navigate the structure and requirements of projects in both internal university contexts and external national and international grant schemes, with particular attention to programme schemes (e.g. Horizon Europe), grant proposal documentation and standard practices used in the EU grant management. The practical component includes working with project templates, case studies, and best practices to develop essential skills in project design, budgeting, and documentation.
Following the planning phase, the course shifts to practical instruction in grant proposal writing in English. Students will acquire key vocabulary, cultural considerations, and stylistic practices tailored to grant writing. They will learn about the differences between academic and grant texts, the structure of successful proposals, and how to effectively address project instructions and review criteria. Students will develop the ability to draft, revise, and pitch grant proposals, enhancing their communication skills and understanding of the evaluative process.

Upon completion of the course, PhD students will be able to:

• Master the basic terminology and standards of project and grant management
relevant to EU and US practices.
• Understand basic management principles, methods, and techniques of
preparing and planning projects, as well as the financial aspects of funded
projects.
• Understand the content of the essential documents for preparing and planning
co-financed and publicly funded projects.
• Develop proficiency in writing, evaluating, and revising grant proposals in
English tailored to target audiences and review criteria.
• Gain practical skills in pitching research ideas.

Entry requirements for the course: English B2 +

Requirements for course completion:
• 80% in-class attendance
• 100% completion of assignments (Logical Framework Matrix, Work Breakdown Structure - project planning templates), first draft of a mini-grant proposal, revised draft of a mini-grant proposal, grant proposal presentation).

Applications: http://czv.vsb.cz/kurzy

1. Theoretical minimum of project and grant management.
2. Grant resources and grant opportunities for PhD students.
3. Grant sources and project financing from national and European public sources
in the Czech Republic.
4. Grant sources and financing of international projects and grants in the Czech
Republic.
5. The most used methodologies, techniques, and tools in project preparation and
planning.
6. Identifying the project (initialisation, launch, examples of good practice).
7. Project planning (planning processes, cultural influences and impact on
planning, time planning, resource planning, and financial aspects of the project,
and examples of good practice).
8. Work with project documentation templates (Project Proposal/Grant Application,
Statement of Work, Project Charter, Project Logframe, WBS, RAM/RACI matrix,
Gantt Chart, Communication Plan, Project Budget, Project Financial Plan, Risk
Assessment Matrix).
9. Opportunities to incorporate Artificial Intelligence into project preparation and
planning.
10. Academic versus project writing, clear and concise style.
11. Grant proposal structure: Abstract, Excellence, Impact, and the Quality and
efficiency of the implementation (draft of a grant proposal narrative).
12. Evaluation criteria.
13. Grant proposal presentation – recommended structure: Problem statement, State-of-the-art, Goals, LFM, WBS, Impact.



Available study materials:

• Moodle VŠB-TUO
• Presentations given by lecturers.
• Templates (methodologies and tools for project preparation and planning & the HE project proposal template).
• International project management standards.
• Examples of project documents for subsidy and grant projects.
• Sample grant proposals

Recommended literature:
1. BADIRU, Adedeji B. Project Management for Scholarly Researchers: Systems, Innovation, and Technologies. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press, 2023. ISBN 978-1-032-08096-3.
2. BINDER, Jean. Global Project Management. Communication, Collaboration and Management Across Borders. London: Routledge, 2024. ISBN 13-978-0-566-08706-6.
3. EUROPEAN COMMISSION. PM² Project Management Methodology – Guide 3.0.1. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021. ISBN 978-92-76-31380-9.
4. FRANKLIN PUBLICATIONS. The Project Management Blueprint: How Any Beginner Can Thrive as a Successful Project Manager with This Stress-Free, Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Essentials. Franklin Publications, 2024. ISBN 979-8334596603.
5. HAYDEN, Jack. Project Management Mastery. A Comprehensive Guide to Successfully Implementing the Core Principles of Project Planning and Scope Management from Concept to Completion. Huntingdon: EB Publishing House, 2023. ISBN 978-1916726017.
6. KERZNER, Harold. Project Management Case Studies. 6th edition. New Jersey: Wiley, 2022. ISBN 978-1119821991.
7. KOGON, Kory and Suzette BLAKEMORE. Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager. Updated and Revised Edition. Dallas (TX): Franklin Covey Book. 2024. ISBN 978-1637740507.
8. LESTER, Albert. Project Management, Planning and Control: Managing Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing Projects to PMI, APM and BSI Standards. 8th edition. Oxford (UK): Butterworth-Heinemann, 2021. ISBN 978-012-824339-8.
9. NIETO-RODRIGUEZ, Antonio. Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook. Boston (MA): Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. 2021. ISBN 978-1-64782-125-8.
10. PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) and the Standard for Project Management. 7th edition. Pennsylvania: PMI, 2021. ISBN 978-1-62825-664-2.
11. RUELL, James. Winning Grants. How to Write Winning Grant Proposals That Will Get You Funding for Your Nonprofit. James Ruell, 2022. ISBN 979-8814404626.
12. WYSOCKI, Robert K. Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme, Hybrid. London: Wiley, 2019. ISBN 978-1119562801.