Research and knowledge exchange

KEI Fellowships

Attention - Please Read If You Are Interested In Applying For the KEI Fellowships - Please click the drop-down arrow for important updates

Please note the following:    

1. Link to spec and forms:  

Details of the Fellowship programme, and specifications for the individual categories, can be found on the KEI Fellowship page: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/sussexresearch/keis-programme/keis-programme-fellowships 

2. Applications through Worktribe mandatory: Only Applications set up via Worktribe approvals and additionally submitted to research.initiatives@sussex.ac.uk by the 10th of January 2025, 5pm will be considered  

  • You must first complete the Worktribe training course on Learn Upon before your access to Worktribe is set up, and you should see that you are enrolled in this course on your Learn Upon: https://sussex.learnupon.com/dashboard .  
  • The last round of staff having their access setup before the break will happen this Thursday 19th December 2024 so if you complete the course before midday on Thursday and email your certificate to Worktribe@sussex.ac.uk then you will be given access to Worktribe before the university-wide break. 

 3. Updated Application forms for Public and Community Engagement:  

Please note that Early stage engagement and Follow on forms for Public and Community Engagement Fellowships category have been updated slightly in the call specifications on the website. Kindly use this if you have down loaded the earlier versions. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. 

4. Drop in sessions in January: 

In the new year, there will be daily drop-in sessions between Monday 6th January and Wednesday 8th January between 3pm and 3.30pm on Microsoft Teams to support applicants. 
To join the drop-in session, click here – If you have trouble joining, please contact Ian Sinclair. Please note that the drop-in sessions operate a ‘waiting room’ 

 

Background

The ‘Knowledge Exchange and Impact Support Programme’, supported by funding allocations from Research England (Policy Support Fund, Participatory Research Fund and HEIF) will be delivering a suite of ‘Knowledge Exchange and Impact’ Fellowships

 Purpose of Fellowship Scheme

A key purpose of the KE & Impact fellowships is to develop a pipeline of projects being nurtured and developed to support growth and scale of impact activity. The scheme aims to encourage using KE as a vehicle in achieving impact by involving creating safe spaces for innovation and experimentation, supported by coaching and mentoring to build confidence. It also focuses on building meaningful relationships with external organizations to collaboratively address contemporary challenges and finding diverse methods to sustain the ongoing impact of research.

 Aims of the Fellowship Scheme

  • To enable the aims of  Knowledge Exchange and Impact Strategy
  • To develop individual KE and impact skills and experience in relation to how researchers work with research users and non-academic partners in the research process
  • To be an agile, flexible scheme that supports greater planning of KE and impact activities
  • To champion transdisciplinary and innovative ways of working across the institution;
  • To support the strategic themes of Sussex 2035 (environmental sustainability, human flourishing, and digital & data futures)
  • To support priority areas of civic engagement
  • To encourage collaboration with stakeholders to co-create knowledge integrating participatory approaches

 What will be on offer?

The below categories of Fellowships are on offer:

  • Policy
  • Public and Community Engagement
  • Participatory Research
  • Innovation

 General Eligibility

  1. Evidence of Knowledge Exchange Activities: Demonstrate impact and research work using KE activities and or participatory research approaches.
  2. Collaboration with Non-Academic Partners: Show evidence of external partnerships.
  3. Range of Projects: Include projects from early to developed stages, fostering creative, innovative, and interdisciplinary research.
  4. Leadership and Career Development: Include academics from early to senior career stages, fostering creative, innovative, and interdisciplinary research . Offers opportunities to build new skills and connections.
  5. Capability Building for External Funds: Potential to secure external funding.
  6. Alignment with Strategic Themes: opportunity to align with any of the University of Sussex’s strategic themes (environmental sustainability, human flourishing, and digital & data futures); Knowledge Exchange and Impact Strategy; and/or priority areas of Civic Engagement thematic areas.

 Timescales

Call opens

Call ends

Assessment

Awards start

w/c 25th November 2024

5pm on 10th January 2025.

w/c 20th January 2025, with decisions expected to be communicated w/c 3rd February 2025

w/c 10th February 2025

 

Activities are expected to start by 1st March 2025 at the latest and must be concluded by 30th June 2025. Unspent funds cannot be rolled beyond 30th June 2025.

General Eligible Costs

  • The use of research assistants to support delivery of the activity (Please contact Ian Sinclair (Research Development & Initiatives Officer) i.sinclair@sussex.ac.uk for advice on casual staff cost)
  • Suppliers & Consultants: Please check the University of Sussex Procurement and Commercial Services if you are intending to arrange payments for anyone or anything outside the university IR35 policy and procedures).
  • Materials for the delivery of activities: the development of materials to support communication with research users –non-academic publications and communications (e.g., policy briefings, videos/podcasts).
  • Small capital expenditure: this is permitted but limited to £1000 incl VAT
  • Travel support and accommodation: e.g. travel costs to networking or engage and build relationship with research users

General Ineligible costs

  • Paying PhD students
  • Salary buy outs or permanent staff time
  • Estate and indirect costs
  • Conference participation or
  • Costs for delivering or attending at public lectures
  • Publications, journals or book launch
  • Projects that involve another HE external partner only.

Things to consider

  • Please consider any risks that you might encounter as part of your project
  • Please consider data protection issues
  • Please ensure that the underlying research and associated activities are in accordance with University ethics policies
  • Please check the University of Sussex Procurement Policy
  • Due diligence: if working with any external partner, we must conduct due diligence checks before contracts are agreed – please contact Ian Sinclair - i.sinclair@sussex.ac.uk for further guidance and details
  • Please note that you might incur out-of-pocket expenses, which could take some time to be reimbursed
  • The award is non-transferable and cannot be deferred

Application process

The below Fellowships are available. Click on the links below to download the individual specification for each category; the application forms are downloaded directly from the specification documents.

Applicants can only submit a single application to this call. 

Applications will need to be set up, costed and approved on Worktribe, the University’s research management system. Worktribe approvals must also be submitted and completed by 5pm on 10th January 2025.

Applications and Worktribe approvals received after this date will not be considered. Applicants need to complete the relevant application forms (downloaded via the links below) and email them to research.initiatives@sussex.ac.uk by 5pm on 10th January 2025 after completing approvals on Worktribe

You can contact Nana Yankah via ny95@sussex.ac.uk . All enquiries can be made to Nana Yankah, Programme Consultant, Sussex Knowledge Exchange and Impact Support - ny95@sussex.ac.uk.

How will we assess your application?

The application process is overseen by Prof Debbie Keeling, Deputy PVC for Knowledge Exchange, and managed by Nana Yankah, Programme Consultant, Sussex Knowledge Exchange and Impact Support Programme.

Applications will be reviewed and assessed by a panel of academics and representatives from the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Teams within professional services, based on the criteria for each category. Decisions will be communicated to applicants within three weeks after the call closes.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Sussex is committed to equality of opportunity and will consider applications solely on the basis of merit.

Post award processes

Funds will be held in Research and Innovation Services and award holders will be allocated a code to spend against. All codes will close on 31st July, 2025 with no spending permitted after that date (please note that there is no facility to rollover unspent funds into the next financial year). We will periodically monitor your progress on the spend throughout the period of your Fellowship award. If funds are not spent within 4 weeks after confirmation of awards, funds may be allocated to others.

Further Support

Please note these funds can be used alongside other funding to help you scale up your KE and Impact work (e.g. School-based HEIF funds, HEIF contigency and the AHRC IAA).

Reporting

All recipients will be required to complete a short evaluation and report at the end of the funding and may be asked to provide comments and other content for internal and external communications, to demonstrate the short/medium/long term impact of the Fellowships. 

The Fellowship awards and reports will be noted at the Knowledge Exchange Steering Group.