Programme format

The Institute does not set a prescribed format or formula for knowledge exchange programmes. Programmes generally take the form of several periods of sustained and focussed activity in the Institute, linked together so that ideas can be properly developed and explored over the full length of the programme. Between these periods, participants are encouraged to reflect, initiate collaborations with each other, and also to visit relevant centres of excellence around Scotland.

Typically, programmes comprise three or four sessions in the Institute of 2-5 days each, over a 4-6 month period. But it is for programme proposers to identify a pattern that best suits the issues they wish to examine and the participants they wish to engage.

Programme scope

The Institute welcomes proposals for programmes designed to have explicit  economic, cultural, environmental or societal impact by tackling substantial issues of future relevance (for example, the use of natural resources, complexity, conflict, nationhood and identity, work and employment, etc.). 

Proposals must provide a clear narrative for the scientific and/or intellectual background to the chosen topic, identifying relevant existing research in the academic disciplines contributing to the programme.

Proposed programmes should engage with the non-academic communities that will benefit from the outcomes of the activities and discussions and also attract the best international thinkers in the fields and/or sectors contributing to the programme's development.

Location for programme events

The majority of the seminars and workshops of a programme are expected to be held in the Institute’s purposely designed space in the city centre of Glasgow. Meetings of the programme team can take place in the team members’ own institutions but teams are encouraged to make use of the Institute as much as possible. In exceptional cases, when the nature of the workshop or seminar requires a specific setting, programme events can be hosted in a different venue.

Programmes should be proposed and organised by teams that reflect the knowledge mobilisation objective of the Institute. To be eligible for funding, members of the proposed programme teams must meet the following criteria:

1. The programme leadership must include members employed at 2 of our partner universities. These universities are:

Aberdeen
Dundee
Edinburgh
St Andrews
Stirling
Strathclyde

2. Staff of Scottish universities which are not partners cannot be on the programme leadership team but can participate in the proposed programmes.

3. Other UK universities outside Scotland, and overseas universities, can be part of the programme leadership if the latter includes persons from eligible universities in Scotland.

4. The programme leadership should include -unless a good case is made otherwise - individuals from different sectors (e.g. industry, third sector, public sector, government and policy makers). This breadth can be further reflected through wider programme advisory or steering committees.

5. Members of the programme leadership must be: in employment at the time of proposal submission and during the programme; be well established in their own field or professional domain; and have sufficient distinction and international recognition so as to attract high-level programme participation from both within and outside the UK.

6. Academic leaders should be of at least 5 years postdoctoral standing at the time of proposal submission. Non-academic leaders (i.e. from the private, public or third sector) should have at least 5 years professional experience in their domain of expertise at the time of submission.

7. The majority of the programme leadership must reside in Scotland at the time of proposal submission and for the duration of the programme.

Documentation and guidelines for applicants

Prior to completing an application form, applicants are invited to consult the Guidelines for Applicants and information about our Terms of Award and Guidelines on Expenses.

The Application form can be completed electronically and is available in the following format:

-Word 2003

An Excel Budget Calculator tool is also available for budget calculations.

Completed applications can be submitted either:

-electronically to Dr Patricia Krus: patricia.krus@scottishinsight.ac.uk

-in hard copy, to Dr Patricia Krus, Scottish Universities Insight Institute, Room 4.01, Royal College, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW.

Step 1: Registration of Interest

Applicants should first register their interest online by Sunday 15^th April 2012, 23:59 hrs. The registration process requires applicants to provide:

-the name and email address of a principal contact;
-the names and affiliation of other members of the programme team (this can be amended in the Full Proposal)
-the proposed start date for the programme;
-a title or brief description of the theme (max. 500 characters, including spaces);
-an abstract detailing the key questions and objectives of the proposed programme (max. 2000 characters, including spaces).

Note: The information supplied with the Registration of Interest is not part of the selection of new programmes but is used solely for administrative purposes. It allows the Institute to gauge the number of potential submissions for full proposals and to finalise the details of the review process.

Stage 2: Proposals

Proposal Application Forms should be submitted in hard or electronic copy by Friday 18^th May 2012, 5pm. Electronic copies can be emailed to: patricia.krus@scottishinsight.ac.uk.

Please see the Guidelines for Applicants for full details on submission and eligibility criteria.

Note: no Full Proposal will be accepted without a registration of interest.

Choosing a referee

The nominated referees provide, in confidence, an expert and independent assessment on the content of the proposals, against the criteria detailed on the referee's form. The review should identify the proposal's strong and weak points and make suggestions for further developments, if applicable.

When chosing a referee, applicants should bear the following points in mind:

-A reference is not a letter of support but an expert view on the quality of the programme, and its potential impacts.

-Referees may be academic or other sector, UK or overseas, but should not be programme proposers, or potential beneficiaries of the Visiting Fellowships.

-Referees cannot be employed by the same organisation as any of the members of the proposal team.

-Proposers should forward the Referee Comment Form and Referee Guidelines to their nominated Referees and arrange for these Referees to send the completed Referee Form, in confidence, to the submission address listed in section 3.3 of the Guidelines for Applicants.

-Comments from nominated referees must be sent by the referees directly to the Institute, and not through the proposal team.

-It is the proposers’ responsibility to ensure that these comments are received by the deadline for Full Proposals.

Forms and Guidelines for Referees

Before submitting a Full Proposal, proposal teams must ask two independent expert referees to comment on their proposal. Referees should complete a Referee form and submit their assessments directly to  the Insight Institute by Friday 18^th May 2012, 5pm. A briefing note is available for referees.

The form is available in the following format:

Word 2003

Please consult the Guidelines for Applicants for more information about the references and how these are used in the reviewing process for proposals.

Evaluation process

Evaluation of proposals will be by the Institute’s Programme Reviewing Panel, drawn from academics and practitioners from around Scotland. The Reviewing Panel assesses each proposal against the criteria listed below and makes recommendations to the Institute’s Programme Committee. The Programme Committee includes members of the Institute Governing Board and external, non-academic, experts active in the public or private sector. A list of members is available here. 

Evaluation criteria

In addition to the programme leadership eligibility criteria, listed in section 2.1 of the Guidelines for Applicants, programme proposals will be assessed against the criteria below which reflect the aims and objectives of the Scottish Universities Insight Institute. The reviewers on the Institute’s Reviewing Panel will assess the evidence provided in the Full Proposals against these criteria:

• Is the issue viewed as of substantial importance for Scotland and the wider world by academic and non-academic communities?
• Is the research based knowledge being brought to bear of high quality? Will the proposed programme build upon and add value to existing knowledge, including policy and practitioner knowledge?
• To what extent have non-academic sectors contributed to the shaping of the proposal?
• How broad is the participation by sector (academic, public, private, third sector), both committed and planned? What is the degree of, and added value from, the proposed multi-disciplinary involvement?
• To what degree is there international involvement and benchmarking, both committed and planned?
• How clear and creative is the programme content and planned activities (including public engagement)?
• Does the proposal clearly and convincingly identify the communities that the programme will inform and benefit?
• Are the proposed outputs deliverable and can they be expected to provide route to impact?
• What is the potential impact on policy and practice?

N.B. the final criterion will be weighted more heavily than others in the overall assessment.

A sample evaluation form, with details of the information used to inform the panel's decision can be downloaded here, together with a briefing note for reviewers.

Following the review meeting of the Programme Committee, proposal teams whose application has been reviewed positively will be invited to an informal interview with members of the Institute to clarify any points arising from the review process and provide more information to organisers about the support offered by the Scottish Universities Insight Institute during their programme.