Using Generative AI to Write Project Proposals Efficiently and Ethically (Beginner)
- Description
- Curriculum
- Reviews
In its ‘Living Guidelines on the Responsible use of Generative AI in Research’, the European Commission recommends researchers to “continuously learn how to use generative AI tools properly to maximise their benefits, including by undertaking training”. In light of this recommendation, this course will teach you to use general Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude to write research proposals faster and better, while complying with the guidelines from the European Commission as well as general ethical principles.
Designed for experienced Horizon Europe proposal writers with little or basic knowledge of GenAI tools, this course offers a step-by-step, interactive learning experience. You will learn:
- how GenAI systems function, including their capabilities and limitations
- what GenAI tools can be used in writing project proposals, complementing your expertise
- how to direct your GenAI Chatbot effectively by creating clear prompts that lead to effective outputs, specifically tailored to writing project proposals
- how to assess the AI-generated results for accuracy, validity and appropriateness (an explicit requirement for Horizon Europe proposals!)
- how to use GenAI ethically and responsibly, protect confidential information and comply with EU guidelines
You will discover how GenAI can be used to analyse call texts, make your objectives SMART, generate project timelines, or refine and optimise draft text for your Excellence, Impact, and Implementation sections. You will also learn to use specific features of ChatGPT and Claude to structure your work better and get more detailed feedback.
Throughout the session, you will engage in live demos and hands-on exercises to integrate AI-generated outputs into your proposal, while critically assessing them and maintaining your own voice. By the end of the course, you will have concrete results (such as checklists and example prompts) that you can directly apply to your next proposal.
While the course is focused on Horizon Europe, the knowledge is also applicable to other national or EU funding proposals. Similarly, the course focuses on ChatGPT and Claude as main GenAI tools, but the knowledge is also applicable to other chatbots (such as Gemini or CoPilot).
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2
Introduction to Generative AIIn this lesson, David explains the basics of how Generative AI works. This will help you to understand how to better use GenAI in your proposals, and how to avoid common pitfalls resulting from a poor understanding of LLMs and other GenAI tools.
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3
Ethical issues when using GenAI in proposal writing
In this lesson, David presents various ethical issues when using GenAI for proposal writing, grouped into four areas that need attention: protecting people, protecting knowledge, protecting rights and protecting trust.
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4
Best practices for using GenAI in proposal writing
In this lesson, David explains when to use GenAI in proposal writing, and when not to. He also discusses several guidelines and recommendation for using GenAI in proposal writing, including the official EU guidelines, and proposes an approach to responsible GenAI use.
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5
How to use GenAI in each HE proposal section
In this lesson, David gives a brief overview of how GenAI can be used in each section of a project proposal: excellence, impact and implementation, as well as for analysing the call text and other aspects of writing project proposals. While the presentation is specific to Horizon Europe proposals, it can easily be applied to other types of project proposals.
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6
Getting started with ChatGPT and Claude
David presents an overview of different chatbots and their features, including the difference between paid and free versions. He also shows how to customize ChatGPT and Claude, especially for protecting your (consortium's) privacy.
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7
Zero-shot, one-shot and few-shot prompting
David shows how to use zero-shot, one-shot and few-shot prompting. This lesson contains a hands-on exercise.
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8
Prompt priming
David explains the importance of using context in your prompts, and how to use prompt priming. He also briefly explains the usefulness of role-based prompting.
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9
Information rich prompting
David shows how to use information rich prompting to get more accurate results. This lesson contains an exercise.
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10
Define the output
David shows how to define the output more clearly in your prompt to get better results. This lesson contains an exercise.
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11
Prompt chaining and iterative prompting
David explains how to improve the outcome of your prompts by using prompt chaining and iterative prompting, instead of using one big prompt. He also offers some quick tips for working more efficiently with ChatGPT or Claude.
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12
Critical prompting
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13
Meta-prompting
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14
What to check for and correct in LLM output
- Experience with writing Horizon Europe proposals (or other national or EU funding proposals)
- Having a ChatGPT or Claude subscription (free or paid) is necessary to be able to do the exercises. It is however not needed to already have a paid ChatGPT (“Plus”) or Claude account. You will still be able to follow the course and do most of the exercises. However, to fully benefit from the course, it is recommended to get a paid account before or after the course.
- You have used (free versions of) ChatGPT, Claude or other LLM chatbots at least a few times
- You are not expected to know how to code or have a technical background
- If you are a complete beginner, and have never used any chatbot, then work through a free intro before the course
Proposal writers, research managers, professors and academics preparing EU funding applications that have experimented with GenAI but want to use it more systematically and responsibly