The BERA Academic Citizen of the Year is an award intended to recognise a colleague working in educational research who has made a significant contribution to the discipline as a whole and the academic community through their academic citizenship over the past academic year.

Academic citizenship includes activities supporting their own institution, support for colleagues, wider contribution to the discipline, and engagement with the wider public communities. 

This can include:

• Contribution to regional, national or international organisations, such as learned societies and/or professional associations
• Relevant and effective civic engagement, e.g., in working with charities, third sector organisations, local communities
• Building sustained or sustainable research partnerships (inclusive of non-HEIs, local and domestic)
• Demonstrable positive impact on colleagues, students, policy, the public and in the wider field through wide reaching knowledge exchange 

We strongly welcome applications from mid-career researchers. Mid-career researchers are defined as those which are between 5- and 15-years post-doctorate, allowing for professional or personal career interruptions.

Judging Criteria

• Contribution to the wider discipline: Judges will evaluate the candidate’s contribution to the wider discipline of educational research. They will consider the candidate’s involvement in regional, national, or international organizations and their efforts to promote the discipline and advance its knowledge.
• Depth and breadth of engagement: Judges will consider the range of activities the candidate has undertaken and the extent to which they have engaged with diverse communities. They will also look for evidence of the candidate’s impact on policy and practice in the field. They will evaluate the candidate’s level of engagement and their ability to work across boundaries, both within and outside their institution.
• The impact of the candidate’s academic citizenship: Judges will evaluate the impact of the candidate’s activities on their institution, colleagues, wider community, and the discipline as a whole. They will look for evidence of positive change resulting from the candidate’s contributions, such as increased engagement, knowledge exchange, or improved outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership: Judges will evaluate the candidate’s leadership skills and ability to inspire and motivate others. They will look for evidence of the candidate’s ability to initiate and lead activities, build partnerships and collaborations, and potentially influence policy.
• Quality of contributions: Judges will evaluate the quality and originality of the candidate’s academic citizenship contributions. They will look for evidence of innovative approaches and contributions that go beyond routine activities, such as publishing papers or attending conferences.