The AILC-ICLA’s research committees are international, structured groups of researchers that explore particular research questions around a theme, an issue or a subject area. There are Standing Research Committees, which concern themselves with substantial research areas of ongoing importance; and Short-Term Research Committees, which address research questions that can be effectively treated in a 3-year period. They are established through an application to the ICLA's Research Development Committee and approved by the Executive Council. Once established, they report annually to the Executive Council to give an account of their work and ensure transparency.
Short-term research committees may be renewed for a second term of three years, and then (exceptionally) for a third and final three-year term. Once the nine-year limit has been reached, a short-term research committee ceases its work and is archived, or it may apply to be reconstituted as a standing research committee. A standing committee may be formed ex nihilo, or by conversion from a short-term research committee. It is expected that research committees welcome early-career academics, including postgraduate students, and that they make it clear how ICLA members can apply to join.
Research committees benefit from the ICLA’s structures and communications network, and can receive up to €1000 every three years for research expenses, together with further funding to support open access publication
The ICLA especially encourages applications that address key research questions in comparative literature today and/or help fill gaps in the areas covered by existing committees, such as: race and ethnicity studies, cultural and social studies, intermediality, geocriticism and ecocriticism, postcolonial and decolonial studies, global virtualities, world literature studies ….
The page of Research Development Committee gives more details about these two types of committees, and explains how to apply to form a new committee.
