New details have emerged about the AHRC/ESRC Public Policy Fellowships Pilot scheme. 

Last month the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) announced a co-funded pilot Public Policy Fellowship Scheme. AHRC/ESRC Public Policy Fellowships will provide opportunities for arts and humanities and social science researchers to spend time within partner organisations to undertake policy relevant research, to develop research skills and facilitate knowledge exchange within Government, public sector organisations and across academic networks. Public Policy Fellowships also encourage colleagues from partner organisations to spend time within academic units to work on an agreed project(s) and to increase their research skills. Fellowships will be jointly-funded by the AHRC and/or ESRC as appropriate, and with Public Sector partners while the Fellows will remain employed by their institution or organisation.

Public Policy Fellowship opportunities are normally for 3-6 months in duration but placements up to 12 months might be considered. Fellowships can be on a full or part-time basis. Applicants should currently be employed at a university (or have a university willing to manage the award on their behalf), other similar research-based organisations or a recognised Independent Research Organisation.   

In addition to Public Sector partners, Public Policy Fellowships with business and Third Sector partners are encouraged where the research has a policy focus.

Academic Focus of Public Policy Fellowships

The Public Policy Fellowships will be developed by the hosting partner organisations, in conjunction with AHRC and/or ESRC. The academic focus of each Fellowship will therefore reflect the policy needs of the partner organisation and each Fellow will be recruited to conduct a specific programme of work.

The Fellowships will undertake work that falls within either AHRC’s subject domain, ESRC’s subject domain or a combination of both.

Academics within the arts and humanities who wish to develop their own knowledge transfer programme based on their own research expertise may like to consider the Knowledge Transfer Fellowship scheme. This scheme supports academics to “make a difference” by delivering a knowledge transfer project based on existing high quality arts or humanities research that will bring tangible benefits to non-academic organisations. These benefits may be economic, social or cultural in nature. The next round of the KT Fellowships scheme will be launched on 24 August and will have a closing date of 12 November.

Output and Impact

ESRC and AHRC require Fellows to submit a short end of award report within one month of the end of the Fellowship stating the benefits of the Fellowship to the Fellow, the HEI and the partner organisation and any short or longer term impacts that are anticipated. A short report is also required from the Fellow's line manager.

Fellows are encouraged to hold seminars during their Fellowship to pass on their methodologies, skills and knowledge to the partner organisation and to other stakeholders where appropriate.

Key details about the new scheme include the following:
• Fellowships will be jointly funded by the AHRC and/or ESRC as appropriate, and with Public Sector partners while the Fellows will remain employed by their institution or organisation.

• Policy Fellowship opportunities are normally for 3-6 months in duration but placements up to 12 months might be considered. 

• Fellowships can be on a full or part-time basis. 

• Applicants should currently be employed at a university (or have a university willing to manage the award on their behalf), other similar research-based organisations or a recognised Independent Research Organisation (this includes some think tanks or organisations like National Archives, British Library, British Museum etc.)  

• ESRC and AHRC will advertise  individual fellowship opportunities simultaneously on their websites.

• All applications will be assessed by independent academics with a working knowledge of the research area. 

• Membership of the interview panel will be agreed between AHRC and ESRC and will include partner organisation and academic representation.

• The partner organisation will assign a line manager to oversee the Fellowship and to provide a line of reporting/responsibility. 

Further information on the scheme will be posted as soon as the first Public Policy Fellowship opportunities are available. We expect the first call to take place later in 2009.

For further information about the scheme, please contact Kezia Parry at AHRC  k.parry@ahrc.ac.uk or Lesley Lilley at ESRC  lesley.lilley@esrc.ac.uk   

END

Notes for Editors:
Media contact: Jake Gilmore, Communications Manager, j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk T: 0117 9876 773

About Arts and Humanities Research Council: Each year the AHRC provides approximately £102 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Arts and humanities researchers constitute over a quarter of all research-active staff in the higher education sector. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.