SRHE Prize for Newer Researchers

Each year the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) invites applications from Newer Researchers to enter a research proposal for a small scale project under an SRHE Prize scheme. All entries are reviewed by an expert panel of experienced researchers. The successful SRHE prize winner receives a number of benefits from the Society in addition to the prize money awarded to fund the selected project. Entry is open to all and not restricted to current SRHE Members.  The SRHE Prize for Newer Researchers is jointly sponsored by SRHE and the Taylor & Francis Group.

In 2012 there will be two prizes of £3,000 available for a research project of one year’s duration. These awards are intended to provide support for early stage researchers in the field of higher education research to enable them to:-

• undertake a research project in their own right
• develop research skills which will help advance their research career.

Benefits of the Awards

The primary purpose of these awards is to offer support to Newer Researchers intending to pursue a career in higher education research by providing funding for an initial research project and offering access to the resources of the Society.  Successful award holders are provided with the support of a mentor and, for UK based applicants, invited to become a member of the Society’s prestigious Research & Development Committee which affords a wider involvement in higher education research developments.

Value of the Awards

The SRHE Prize for Newer Researchers provides:-

• £3,000 research funding
• the support of a SRHE senior researcher as mentor
• publication by the Society of a paper on the research project undertaken
• presentation of the final paper at SRHE Newer Researchers Conference
• one year's free membership of the SRHE
• one years free subscription to the Society’s main journals, Studies in Higher Education, Higher Education Abstracts & Higher Education Quarterly.

Eligibility

Eligible researchers are those with a minimum of a first undergraduate degree and currently registered as a student with, or undertaking research associated with, a university or college department and with an interest in pursuing a career in higher education research.

These awards are not available to support study towards a postgraduate qualification or to support research work intended as the basis for a PhD submission. Research proposals submitted for these awards must demonstrate that they relate to different research questions than those covered by a PhD, or equivalent, if this is yet to be awarded or completed. To qualify as a newer researcher you should be within 6 years of the completion of your PhD or equivalent professional qualification.  This time limit excludes any formal career breaks taken for family responsibilities.

Assessment Criteria

The following criteria will be taken into consideration:-

• capacity of the applicant to complete the proposed research project
• the applicant's relevant background
• research methodology proposed
• a sound theoretical framework and research design
• manageability of the project and support available from the applicant's institution
• inclusion of detail on realistic costing and achievable timescale
• evidence of existing relevant research knowledge
• capacity for wider application of research
• relevance of research proposal to future career development
• originality of the research questions proposed
• relevance to the work of the SRHE.

The award of the prize is made strictly on the merit of the proposed project under the guidelines outlined above.  The decision of the SRHE Research & Development Committee is final.  The Society reserves the right not to offer the prize if applications do not meet the required standard

Responsibilities of Prize Holders

Recipients of the SRHE Newer Researchers Prize must:-

• fully account for all expenditure on the project (quarterly payments are paid against presented accounts and receipts)
• provide quarterly reports on progress
• attend meetings of the Research & Development committee if UK resident (funding additional to the prize money is only available within the UK for travel costs associated with these meetings)
• submit an abstract on research for presentation at the Society's annual Newer Researchers conference in December 2013
• provide a fully referenced research paper on the outcome of their research project for publication by SRHE and possible presentation to a relevant research group or Society Network.

All enquiries about the SRHE Prize for Newer Researchers should be addressed to Rob Gresham at SRHE.

Further Information
	SRHE Newer Researchers Prize 2012 - Online Application Form
	2011 Prize winners
	Benefits of the Award