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University joins nationwide network to support researchers

06/10/2021

The University of Wolverhampton is proud to join twelve universities across the Midlands in a pilot scheme to support researchers in the early stages of their careers.

The British Academy in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation is piloting for a two-year Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network for early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences sectors.

The University of Wolverhampton is part of the newly established Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network in the Midlands. The objectives of the network are:

  • To support the individual researchers to realise their potential by providing opportunities that they do not currently have access to

  • To contribute to equality of opportunity for researchers through encouraging diversity and inclusivity
  • To develop networks to nurture and facilitate greater engagement between and across researchers and the wider research community, regionally and nationally

  • To draw on the British Academy’s unique ability to convene and nurture intersectoral collaboration to create unique opportunities for researchers

 
The Network will be responsive to the needs and interests of researchers and enable the British Academy to support a greater number of researchers in their career ambitions, through skills development, networking opportunities, workshops, and events.

Dr Benjamin Halligan Director of the Doctoral College at the University of Wolverhampton said: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of this brand-new network that will bring new opportunities to support our researchers in the early stages of their careers.

“I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with our partner universities as we take another step towards providing wider engagement across the Midlands.”

Professor Simon Swain FBA, Vice-President for Research and Higher Education Policy at the British Academy said: “This exciting new initiative will give crucial support to early career scholars from all backgrounds, affiliations, and locations who work in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The Network will offer support to build successful careers, to open up academic and policy debates, to meet in person and online, and in a word will help them to become our subjects’ future leaders.

“The British Academy is passionate about fighting for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our disciplines create the insights we need to confront the challenges everyone faces. Solid support to grow a strong community of researchers at this key stage is an essential part of our mission to keep SHAPE disciplines thriving and relevant.”

Led by the University of Birmingham, the ECR Network’s Midlands comprises of twelve universities including: 

  • Aston University
  • Birmingham City University
  • Coventry University
  • De Montfort University
  • Keele University
  • Loughborough University
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • University of Derby
  • University of Leicester
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Warwick
  • University of Wolverhampton

Researchers in the Midlands are invited to apply to join the Network via the British Academy’s website.

For more information and to sign up, please visit www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/early-career-researcher-network/

Find out more about the University's research in these publications:  

Anyone looking to study at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days. 

 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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