A Debrief on Schemes and Moving Forward Dipti Pandya Director, IRCHSS National University of Galway 12 May 2008

Agenda About us IRCHSS Research Schemes European Funding Opportunities Coming up

The Research Council Established in 2000 by the Minister for Education and Science in response to the need to develop Ireland's research capacity and skills base in humanities and social sciences. Operates seven interlinked Research Schemes and several international collaboration programmes.  Annual research budget €12 million. Facilitates the integration of Irish researchers in the humanities and social sciences within the European Research Area. HSS Foresight Exercise 2008

Who? Council Members Dr. Maurice Bric, Chairman IRCHSS, UCD Professor John Brewer, University of Aberdeen Dr. Josephine Browne, IADT Dun Laoghaire Professor Angela Chambers, UL Professor Vincent Comerford, NUI Maynooth Professor Michael Cronin, DCU Professor Sheila Greene, TCD Professor Áine Hyland, UCC Dr. Sean Ryder, NUI, Galway Dr Anthony Walsh, Institute of Bankers

Who? Executive Dipti Pandya, Director Fiona Davis, Programme Manager Sorcha Carthy, European Projects Officer Kathryn Kozarits, Administrative Assistant Barry Dixon, Intern

IRCHSS Research Schemes

Schemes Postgraduate Research Scholarship Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Fellowship Senior Research Fellowship Small Project Grants Thematic Project Grant

Anthropology Celtic Studies Classics & Archaeology Cultural Studies Economics Education Environmental Studies (applications relevant to the HSS) Film Studies Folklore Studies Government & Political Science; History International Development Irish Language Studies Languages, Linguistics & Literatures Library & Information Studies Law Management & Business Media & Communications Philosophy Psychology (applications relevant to the HSS) Religious Studies Social & Economic Geography Social Policy & Social Work Sociology Musicology & Theatre Studies (excluding applications in composition and performance) Theology Subject areas

International Assessment Focus on funding excellence International Assessment Boards  15 to 25 member boards  Generally Professors with extensive and current research backgrounds  Experienced evaluators with international evaluation experience  As broad a disciplinary spectrum covered as possible Provision of full & constructive feedback

Evaluation Process Four/Five-phase approach : 1. Eligibility and Adherence to Terms and Conditions 2. Independent International Peer Review (PD and SRF_RF) 3. Pre-meeting evaluation by Board Members (3 readers) 4. International Assessment Board meeting 5. Post-meeting follow up and feedback

Ineligibility Eligibility criteria to be strictly enforced. Applications to schemes will not be assessed if they are incomplete, or have been received in the IRCHSS office posted after the advertised closing date. Common reasons for ineligibility  incorrect documentation Original letters, copies, electronic submissions, institutional signature, certificates, funding requirements, internal referee  Outside Council/Scheme remit Read terms and conditions with care.

Peer Review College Database of Humanities and Social Sciences experts to contribute to national and international evaluation practices. International discipline experts to participate in national scheme evaluations. National discipline experts to contribute to the work of the IRCHSS in consultations, reviews of existing awards progress committees, and potential nominations for international assessments (as an when required).

Awards (to May 08) Year2008/ / / / /2005 Scheme AppsAwards AppsAwardsAppsAwardsAppsAwardsAppsAwards Postgraduate Scholarship Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Fellowship Senior Research Fellowship Projects XX Annual Total Success Rate 33%28%22%27%30%

NUIG SUCCESS RATES 2008 / 09 NAME OF SCHEME TOTAL NUIG APPLICANTS % OF TOTAL APPLICATIONS SUCCESSFUL NUIG APPLICATIONS SUCCESS RATE POSTGRADUATE SCHEME6614.5%2538% POSTDOCTORAL SCHEME %327% RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP SCHEME 314%133% SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP SCHEME 413%125%

Postgraduate Scholarship  Scholarships for research degrees are valued at €16,000 per annum.  Awarded initially for one year, but are renewable for up to two additional years.  Applicants must have a first or upper second class honours primary degree (or equivalent)  DFA Scholarships

Assessment Feedback Process – pre-grading, significant and feasible Importance of certain skills – pre and post PhD e.g. languages Choice of institution – very important and generally not treated as such Use of jargon free language Lack of awareness of ethical considerations No handwritten applications incl. referees No resubmission – 2 attempts only and feedback must be addressed

Postdoctoral Fellowship Valued at €31,745 per annum for the academic year Applicants may apply for one of two categories of funding under this scheme: either  a one-year Fellowship, the purpose of which is to prepare a doctoral dissertation for publication, or  a two-year Fellowship, the purpose of which is to develop a new research project which is a significant development from the subject of the doctorate. Those who apply for this particular award are advised to specify the differences between the doctorate and the submitted project.

Assessment Feedback Very attractive and necessary scheme Slight question of quality of applications overall  Suggestion to advertise better to non-Irish HEIs  List of potential mentors to be advertised by Irish HEIs Overall lack of ambition in projects especially 2 year projects Lack of adherence to word count Increased requirements of mentor Use of less jargon/non specialist language List arguments of publications not just list them Proposal for three year PD Provision of detailed project plan and information on future career paths i.e. how will this PD help you? Lack of importance attached to ethical considerations Interest in interdisciplinary proposals

Senior/Research Fellowship Scheme The IRCHSS Senior and Research Fellowship Schemes offer research opportunities for academic staff to undertake scholarly activity for up to one academic year. Senior Research Fellows have held an appointment on the academic staff of any higher education institution, either in or outside Ireland, for ten years or more. Research Fellows have held an appointment on the academic staff of any higher education institution, either in or outside Ireland, for a period of no less than two and no more than nine years. Applications in respect of doctoral research projects are not eligible for funding within the remit of this Scheme.

Assessment Feedback Eligibility criteria strictly followed  Demonstrated lack of reading of T&C Methodological approach was generally weak particularly in relation to project plan for the year  Feasibility of plan, value for money and approach to be taken – overambitious vs. under ambitious Impact on teaching was generally ignored

Project Assessment Feedback 07 Description of methodological approaches were weak, lacking focus and theoretical foundations Lack of innovation in dissemination Teaching impact and strategic link to institution generally weak or not explained sufficiently Networking projects – weak justification for proposed networks Project is key not necessarily PI or institution Theme relevance very important

Project Assessment Feedback 07 Issues of whether this is research or not – no infrastructure, not just seminars etc. Value for money - high costs condemned by panel Costing  Some added up wrong!  Overlooked guidelines on eligibility Difficulties with project scope and ambition Typos Administrative errors: number of copies, references (scanned), institutional signature, costing guidelines, and collation

Project Monitoring Increase project monitoring  Recruitment of staff (public)  Postgraduate and postdoctoral eligibility criteria  6-monthly reports Finance Project schedule performance Outputs (publications and conference papers submitted) Final research report for public dissemination

Partnership between fifteen Humanities Research Councils across Europe and the European Science Foundation, with the objective of firmly establishing the humanities in the European Research Area and in the Framework Programmes. HERA has been designed to deliver new levels of co- operative research policy and practice in the humanities by embarking on an ambitious programme of communication, enquiry and sharing of expertise. Activities include: Establishment of best practice in funding mechanisms, research priorities, humanities infrastructure agenda, ERIH. Network Board member is Dr Sean Ryder, NUIG

HERA JRP Development of a joint funding programme 2009 Topics:  The Humanities as a Source of Creativity and Innovation  ‘Cultural Dynamics: Inheritance and Identity’ 2008 Networking Grants call deadline is 2 June 08  funds consortium meetings to be held between September-December 08 HERA Conference in Strasbourg 9 th October  Poster sessions from “new” researchers

Operations Better management of queries:  HSS Community group  Improved FAQs  Improved and informative website Improved applications process:  Streamlining of schemes  Revision of T&C and forms – “more user friendly”  Electronic applications process  Feedback particularly for unsuccessful projects Closer monitoring of funded projects:  Project management workshops  Costings, better planning and think ahead!

IRCHSS Contact Points National Schemes: Fiona Davis, Programme Manager EU/International Activities: Sorcha Carthy, European Projects Officer  SSH Google group