b) Selection process and criteria The SRHE Research and Development Committee will be responsible for deciding upon the refereeing process and criteria for judging the successful proposals. A Selection Panel drawn from a range of research scholars in the field will determine the awards and their decision will be final. At this stage the Society does not take a view about which of the 3 themes set out above is of most importance to its work. The Society’s commitment to capacity building in higher education and in developing a body of new research of wide application will be important factors in the selection criteria, as will be the Society’s public role in underpinning research impact and in supporting public engagement and public benefit. These criteria set out by the Society’s Research and Development Committee include: Clarity of the aims of the study Relevance to the themes proposed by the Society Conceptual framework for the study, and relevance to the known research evidence or literature Suggested research methods or approach including ethics Feasibility of the study in the terms of the timescale and funding Likely impact of the study on policies or practices through dissemination. Public benefit, research impact and research engagement for the public. The Awards are intended for work of an empirical and/or conceptual nature, which have the potential to make a contribution to the field of higher education research, contribute to the work of the Society and be of public benefit. Applicants for these awards would normally be expected to be researchers in the field of higher education research and to have published in the field. A Selection Panel drawn from the SRHE Research and Development Committee and other experienced researchers has been established to reach selection decisions with respect to all research awards conferred by the Society. The Panel will convene (electronically and/or face-to face) on an ad hoc basis to make timely decisions in respect of the Society’s Research Awards and Scoping Study Awards. The Selection Panel will: Receive research proposals Develop a scoring pro-forma using the criteria set out by the Research and Development Committee and develop a refereeing procedure which will provide a record of the process by which successful proposals are decided Agree which proposals will be awarded funds according to the criteria set out by the Research and Development Committee Appoint one member of the Panel to be the named link person between the award holder and SRHE Report its decision-making processes to the Research and Development Committee following each award decision. The decisions of the Selection Panel will be final.
c) Requirements from supported research projects Recipients will be required to produce the following: Reports: An interim report of 1,500 words (normally after 6 months) A final report on completion of the research of approximately 4,000 words (normally after 12 months). Two nominated outputs: (6-12 months after submission of final report) one for an academic audience (such as a journal article or book chapter) one for a more general audience (such as a press article, blog, or policy guide). Additional requirements: (6-12 months after submission of final report) contribute a short article for the SRHE member newsletter, SRHE News provide a presentation or other contribution to a network or similar event produce a paper/presentation for the SRHE Annual Research Conference. Projects will be expected to start within 3 months of the outcome being notified to successful applicants. d) Application procedures for SRHE Research Awards The application form is available separately via the SRHE website at Applicants are requested to detail the scheme of research, proposed methods, time plan, budget, proposed outcomes and outputs, and research benefits for the understanding of higher education and for the Society. The details of two referees and a brief Curriculum Vitae are also required to support each application. Applicants will also be asked to address any ethical issues arising from their research proposal as part of the application process. All award holders will be required to demonstrate that they have conformed to any institutional (and/or professional) requirements concerning ethical approval. Where an applicant is successful but does not have any institutional designation they may be asked to provide further information with respect to ethical protocols. Completed applications (including CVs and references) must be e-mailed to by 1st September 2017. e) Funding Funds will be awarded in two stages; an initial award of up to one half of the funds with the remainder to be awarded on successful completion of the project including receipt of reports and