The ESRC invites applications for its ESRC Third Sector Placement Fellowship Call. The closing date is the 10th November 2009.
The flow of people, researchers and users between sectors is one of the most effective mechanisms for knowledge exchange and facilitating dialogue to develop connections and understanding.
The ESRC Third Sector Placement Fellowships provides the unique opportunity for social science researchers to spend time within a third sector organisation to undertake practice-relevant research and work with the host organisation on specific projects. It also provides opportunities for third sector organisation employee to work on a project in a setting where they have access to academic resources.
The placements enable third sector organisations to access collaborative funding, academic expertise, innovative ideas and the opportunity to enhance the organisations creativity, effectiveness and impact. All of which are crucial for enhancing and supporting the third sector through a challenging economic climate.
The aims of the placements are to:
- Promote the application and co-production of knowledge between Research Organisations and third sector organisations (and the staff employed within them);
- Promote an evidence-based culture within the third sector;
- Provide third sector organisations with research-informed evidence to develop and review strategic and operational policy and practices;
- Enhance the research capacity of the collaborating third sector organisations;
- Provide career development opportunities and offer skills up-dating;
- Expand networks for third sector organisations into academia and vice versa;
- Enables all parties, including the ESRC, to develop their understanding of the interaction between research and the development of third sector policy and practice.
Applications should also relate to the ESRC Third Sector Engagement Strategy and the strategic aims and seven research challenges set-out within the ESRC's Strategic Plan 2009-14.
Duration and cost
The Third Sector Placement Fellowship Call operates outside of normal fEC rules i.e. not on the standard 80 percent fEC funding model and all costs are paid at 100 percent rate.
The placements enable the temporary (either on a full time or part time basis), of individuals to/from third sector and academia for one to three months in duration and if successful grants will commence in January-February 2010.
The placements are collaboratively funded and will operate on the basis that costs will be shared on a 75/25 (ESRC will provide the 75 percent contribution) basis with the third sector partner. In reflection of the current economic challenges facing the third sector the ESRC has subsidised the third sector contribution, for other Placement Fellowships a 50 percent contribution is usually required.
The cost of the placement must not exceed the maximum funding of £20,000 and the third sector organisation will be expected to provide a 25 percent (maximum of £5,000) contribution towards the total cost of the placement (this contribution can be funded/subsidised by the collaborating Research Organisation).
Some flexibility might be negotiated on the fellow's time devoted to the grant. However, for both placement options, fellows would normally be expected to spend at least 50 percent of their time working in the host organisation's offices to facilitate the two-way flow of dialogue and knowledge.
Application form
All applications should be made via the Research Council Joint Electronic Submission System (Je-S), and submitted to the ESRC by no later than 4.00pm on the 10th November 2009.
Proposals must be approved with costing by the relevant institutional authority at the Research Organisation before submission to the ESRC and a letter of support from the host third sector organisation is required.
Further information
For more information or queries contact: