The Office of International Relations, Partnerships & Prospects (IRPP), University of Lagos (UNILAG) wishes to inform the university community about the ongoing call for applications for the 2026 SGroup Intercontinental Academic Exchange Programme (ICON). The programme is designed to encourage professional development, international collaboration, research cooperation, and institutional linkages.
The ICON Programme provides academic and administrative staff, as well as Ph.D. candidates from SGroup member universities, of which UNILAG is an associate member of the programme, with the opportunity to undertake a short-term mobility at partner institutions abroad.
Programme Benefits include:
– Grant funding of up to €3,000 to support mobility-related expenses (travel, accommodation, visa, insurance, etc.)
Opportunity to:
– Develop institutional partnerships
– Engage in research cooperation
– Exchange professional knowledge & good practices
– Support internationalisation initiatives
In 2026, following the approval of the SGroup General Assembly, the number of available ICON grants has increased, with a total of 18 grants available across participating regions.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
‎• Academic (teaching or research) staff‎
• Administrative/professional staff
‎• PhD candidates enrolled at an SGroup member university
Applications are open to:
- European full-member universities for mobility outside Europe (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Americas)
- Associate-member universities for mobility to European full-member universities
Full eligibility requirements are available in the ICON Programme Guide 2026
Why Apply?
This mobility programme is ideal for eligible individuals seeking to:
✓ Initiate or strengthen research collaborations
✓ Develop joint academic/educational initiatives
✓ Enhance PhD-level cooperation
✓ Support internationalisation at department or institutional level
✓ Gain exposure to global higher education environments.
To read more about SGroup, click https://sgroup-unis.eu/
Call Timeline
1st Call
• Opens: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
• Closes: Monday, February 23, 2026
2nd Call (subject to grant availability after Call 1)
• Opens: Monday, April 6, 2026
• Closes: Friday, April 25, 2026
All mobility must occur between January 7 and December 31, 2026.
Application Process
Applicants are required to:
1. Review the ICON Programme Guide 2026 (available here)
2. Consult the 2026 ICON To-Do Checklist (available here) for step-by-step guidance
3. Identify a suitable host institution
4. Secure two support/acceptance letters:
o One from home institution
o One from host institution
5. Submit the online application form via the ICON platform: 👉 Apply here: https://sgroup-unis.eu/icon_form
Upon submission, applicants will receive an automated confirmation email.
Required Documents
Applications must include:
• Online application form (with objectives, work plan & expected impact)
• Short CV (max. 2 pages)
• Letter of support from home institution
• Letter of acceptance/support from host institution
• Cost estimate for mobility
More details provided in the ICON Programme Guide.
Enquiries
For questions or institutional endorsement procedures, please contact Professor Ismail Ibraheem via iibraheem@unilag.edu.ng & inter_rel@unilag.edu.ng Or Dr. Victor Onifade vonifade@unilag.edu.ng
