Scheme Aims and Objectives:

The scheme aims to further the NCCPE’s mission of building an inclusive knowledge sector through:

• Providing development opportunities for public engagement professionals (broadly understood - see below).  
• Recognising and celebrating the critical role of public engagement professionals and their skill sets in developing an inclusive knowledge sector.
• Drawing on a diversity of people, knowledge and experience to identify challenges for public and community engagement within higher education.  
• Generate actionable evidence through exploring and addressing these challenges and ideas.
• Informing and adding momentum to the public and community engagement agenda in the UK.
• Establishing a group of public engagement professionals who are committed to a culture of inclusive knowledge in the higher education sector, supportive of each other, respected and influential.
• Positively informing the NCCPE’s culture, work and practice. 
   

Application Process:

The Engage Fellowship application process will have three stages:

• A short preliminary form in which we invite you to introduce yourself/your group and your idea for the fellowship, and how this will contribute to you/ your group’s personal development. Deadline 19 February 2024  
• Successful candidates will be invited to continue through to a lengthier application in which we would like to hear more about you and your motivations, your idea and how you might like to organise your fellowship. Deadline 18 March 2024   
• 30-minute online interviews in which we will explore your idea to a greater depth, how it might be developed and the potential for NCCPE to support this should your application be successful. Interview dates 23 April 2024 
   

Preliminary Stage Assessment Criteria 

In the preliminary application form you will be asked to provide high level detail about yourself or your group as well as a short description of the idea or challenge that you would like to work on (250 words) and how you might like to approach this (250 words). We will also ask you about how you will work to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion are considered in your practice (100 or 200 words depending on whether applying as an individual or partnership/group) and how you hope to develop professionally through the fellowship (100 words). 
 

Essential Criteria  

• Applicant or group leads need to be based within the United Kingdom. 
• Whoever is receiving and administrating the funds needs to be set up with a UK bank account. This can be that of an individual or an organisation. * 
• Applicant or lead applicant if applying as a group must be a member of NCCPE’S PEP network.  
• Applicants will need to hold or be willing to secure public liability insurance of up to £10 million and professional indemnity insurance up to £5 million. If the work is to be principally online, then lower cover may be negotiated.   

*If you are a staff member of the University of the West of England you can apply. We will work with you to appropriately administer the funds. 
 

Desired Criteria 

In the preliminary application stage, we will be looking for the following qualities: 

• A clearly identified question or challenge that you would like to explore/address.   
• A demonstrated understanding of the relevance of this challenge or question for the UK higher education sector.  
• Clear consideration about the practical steps needed to move towards new understanding or action which us useful to the sector. 
• Demonstrate thoughtful consideration of how the fellowship will help you develop professionally.  
• An ability to reflect on the ethics of your approach and a commitment to issues pertaining to equality, diversity and inclusion.  
• An idea about the financial support that you would like to apply for (between £10,000 and £25,000 inc VAT) 
   

Further Application Stages 

Applicants who are successful at preliminary stage will be asked to complete a longer application form.  At this second stage we will invite you to: 

• Elaborate further on the challenge demonstrating a good understanding of some of the components and possible lines of exploration/activity.  
• Demonstrate a considered approach to influencing change throughout the course of your project. 
• Describe yourself/selves in greater detail and share your professional aspirations.  
• Identify how you and team members will develop through the programme.   
• Outline how the NCCPE might be able to support you as well as benefit from your time as a fellow. 
• Outline a budget of between £10,000 and £25,000 (Inc VAT) that feels considered and proportionate. 
• Provide a rough timeline and outline of your time commitment to this work.  
• Demonstrate the support of your current employer/s if necessary. 

Full applications will be reviewed by a panel representing both NCCPE staff, public engagement professionals and funders. 

Applicants that make it past the second application stage will be invited to interview where we will be exploring the potential of your idea and our ability to support you in developing this.