Focal awards: multilingual futures for UK growth and connectivity

What the assessor looks for

• a clear vision, and objectives that will make a positive contribution to the scope of this investment opportunity and deliver high quality doctoral education with tracking measures
• the positive outcomes and impact for society and the economy that the investment is aiming to deliver. Describe the strategies to deliver these, grounded in a model that results in highly skilled doctoral graduates, employable across a range of sectors and careers
• how your vision aligns and will positively contribute to relevant wider strategies and priorities, including national capability and capacity needs. If relevant, describe how it will provide additionality to your existing doctoral provision

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• deliver your vision and any specific requirements set out in the opportunity documentation, including why this approach is necessary to achieve your expected outcomes
• embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme provides a holistic approach that delivers high quality doctoral research, including how it integrates in-depth subject knowledge, research and methodological skills, and wider skills development opportunities
• embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme supports students to build their understanding of what conducting high quality research involves
• embed delivery of UKRI’s statement of expectations for its students so that the programme prepares globally competitive researchers able to use their skills to thrive in a range of sectors and careers and operate across interdisciplinary, collaborative and challenge-led environments

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• create and maintain a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff involved, addressing a variety of needs and supporting good wellbeing including relevant, specific support and training for supervisors where needed
• champion and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for students and staff, across all aspects of the training grant, including supervision, training design and approaches, and flexible student support
• achieve the specific EDI requirements detailed in the funding opportunity documentation or that you are proposing. You should provide evidence for the specific need and value of the proposed EDI activities to achieve its intended aim, including baseline information
• explain how you will undertake subsequent updates and reviews across the lifetime of the award
• ensure that you put in place processes that look to address issues of underrepresentation and widening participation within the doctoral community
• create a positive culture that encourages a student led approach

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• secured the appropriate research and pastoral capacity to support the number of studentships that you expect to deliver through this award
• a well-evidenced track record of the experience and skills needed to deliver the proposed vision, training programme, and scale
• a well-evidenced track record of contributing to a positive research culture and the wider community
• a well-evidenced track record of supporting the training and development of others, particularly previous involvement in delivering doctoral training successfully

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• working together, with effective two-way engagement
• positively and constructively contributing to the delivery of the doctoral training programme and the training experiences of the students, with students clearly benefitting from these interactions
• is appropriate for the size and complexity of the doctoral programme and ensures continuity of the programme’s capabilities
• supports continual improvement, monitoring, and evaluation
• manages the legal duties of the programme and providers
• supports UKRI’s expectations to create value for society in an ethical and responsible way through relevant frameworks

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• area studies
• cultural and museum studies
• development studies
• drama and theatre studies
• human geography
• information and communication technologies
• languages and literature
• law and legal studies
• library and information studies
• political science and international studies
• social anthropology
• theology, divinity and religion

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• the number of studentships you could support (between 12 and 20 over four cohorts)
• whether you intend to provide CDAs (AHRC can support two to three CDAs per award) and how this funding would be allocated
• how you will determine need for the cohort development funding and how you will allocate and manage this resource
• how you will allocate and manage individual support cost needs using RTSG

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• a significant person’s name, their position and office or department, or all
• office address or web link

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project, including clarity on in-kind or quantifiable contributions
• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them
• describe any additional value that they bring to the project
• have a page limit of one side of A4 per partner

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.