Award
The BERA Research Commissions aimed to identify and address issues of significance to the study and practice of education, with the potential to shape the discipline and its research communities. They explored how educational research could respond to the challenges and opportunities arising from the changing nature of education across the four nations.
The outcomes and recommendations of the Research Commissions were not formally endorsed by BERA. The intention was to break new ground and raise the profile of under-researched areas within education.
Each Commission determined its own approach and methodology at the application stage. We recognised that different formats suited different projects and welcomed diverse applications.
We expected tangible outcomes from each Commission, such as a seminar series or commissioned papers. Proposals were required to include an impact strategy to ensure their findings were shared and used within the wider community. Applicants were encouraged to think creatively about maximising impact.
Commissions were also expected to produce a short interim report outlining progress, followed by a final report with recommendations. While Commissions could make recommendations for BERA to build upon their work, the funding was intended to support further development without additional financial support from BERA. It was the responsibility of each Commission to determine appropriate recommendations and follow-up actions.
The Commissions were designed to support the discipline by engaging practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in current debates. We encouraged collaboration with individuals from other disciplines, as well as participation from policymakers, practitioners, and BERA members. Proposals were expected to outline how different groups would be identified and involved.
We promoted the involvement of postgraduate students and early career researchers to help develop research capacity. International collaboration was also encouraged, given its potential to add value and increase impact.
BERA was committed to improving equality, inclusion, and representation. We particularly welcomed applications from under-represented groups.
All lead applicants, including any named Principal Investigators, were required to be BERA members throughout the project. We expected the majority of each team to be BERA members for the duration of the Commission.
Applicants were required to demonstrate efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and value for money. Funding for each Commission was available up to £20,000. In addition, BERA provided in-kind support, including event organisation, promotion of the Commission’s work, and editing and publication of the final report or other outputs.
Successful applicants received an award letter, which acted as a contract between BERA, the grant holder, and, where relevant, their higher education institution (HEI). The agreement required signatures from both the applicant and their HEI.
Payments were typically made in three instalments:
40% on signing the award letter
30% upon submission of the interim report
30% upon submission and acceptance of the final report
Payments were normally made against invoices from a host institution. While different institutions could submit invoices for separate instalments, we could not process multiple invoices per instalment. Alternatively, BERA could hold funds centrally and cover agreed project costs directly, subject to agreement at the proposal stage.
The project budget submitted at application formed the basis for funding.
Funds could be used for direct project expenses, including:
Project planning and development
Teaching or research buy-out
Research assistance
Consumables (datasets, photocopying, minor items used during the project)
Interpreter and transcription costs
Research website setup
Software
Costs of depositing digital material in accessible repositories
Travel and expenses for speakers and participants
Room and facility hire
Attendance at BERA or related conferences
In addition, BERA provided:
Event organisation (as specified in the application)
Final report editing and design
Dissemination and promotion to BERA members and wider networks
Ineligible costs included:
Institutional overheads
Payment to the principal researcher in lieu of salary or for personal expenses
Equipment (computers, cameras, telephones, recording equipment, etc.)
Direct production costs (printing, binding, marketing, etc.)
BERA membership fees
Applicants with special needs could consult BERA regarding possible exceptions.
Host organisations were responsible for identifying and managing ethical issues related to their project. Approval to undertake research involving human participants, animals, sensitive data, or potential environmental impacts was required before such work began. Ethical guidelines, including BERA’s own, were expected to be followed.
Branding and Publicity
Compliance with BERA’s communications policy was a condition of funding. Recipients were required to:
Publicise the funding
Acknowledge BERA’s support in all outputs (publications, presentations, stationery, etc.) using BERA’s logo and visual identity
Provide BERA with advance notice of press releases, media appearances, and relevant social media activity to enable coordinated promotion
Reports and other outcomes from the Commissions were expected to be published through BERA in the first instance.
All events associated with a Commission were to be organised in conjunction with BERA, including managing registrations through the BERA website. Event plans were to be agreed at the application stage and complied with BERA’s policies for similar activities.
Commissions were required to notify BERA of any significant changes to their original proposal.
An interim report, due by 20 December 2023, was to include:
A summary of progress
Remaining planned activities
Emerging conclusions or recommendations
Final reports were due by 30 April 2024. BERA worked with the lead applicant on the final report’s design and publication but reserved the right to publish in a format deemed appropriate.
Host organisations were expected to have procedures in place to promote good research practice and address unacceptable conduct. They were required to provide information on research integrity and ethics upon request.
BERA accepted no responsibility for expenditure or liabilities beyond the approved grant and project period. Costs exceeding the agreed budget or incurred after the project end date were the responsibility of the host organisation.
BERA reserved the right to inspect the host organisation’s financial records related to the project. Upon request, independently audited accounts verifying expenditure in line with BERA’s conditions were required.
Successful Commissions were encouraged to present their work at BERA Conferences, subject to the usual application and peer review processes. Conference attendance could be included in the project budget.
Participants were also encouraged to contribute to the BERA Blog (https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog) throughout the project, including introductory pieces and updates from Commission members.
Proposals were assessed based on quality and deliverability, focusing on:
Clear aims and objectives
Relevance to BERA’s priorities
Innovation and contribution to knowledge
Sound research design and methods
Likely outputs, dissemination plans, and impact
Value for money and potential for collaboration
Initial assessments were conducted by BERA’s College of Reviewers, with final decisions made by BERA Council. BERA reserved the right not to fund a Commission if proposals did not meet the required standard.
The most recent Research Commmission focused on the theme of education and environmental sustainability. The outcome of this call was our support for a project to co-create a manifesto for Education for Environmental Sustainability (EfES) in secondary education in the UK. This has been a great success, with various outputs including BERA Blogs, a specially curated issue of Research Intelligence, podcasts, policy briefing, community guidance documents, and the final manifesto, which was launched at a BERA event with our record number of registrations for a non-Conference event.
The primary objective of this commission was to co-create a manifesto for Education for Environmental Sustainability (EfES) in secondary education in the UK. To achieve this, the commission...
The first BERA Research Commission was Competing Discourses of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC): Tensions, Impacts and Democratic Alternatives across the UK’s four jurisdictions, led by Dr. Guy Roberts-Holmes (UCL, Institute of Education), Dr. Jan Georgeson (University of Plymouth) and Dr. Verity Campbell-Barr (University of Plymouth).
The first BERA Research Commission was Competing Discourses of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC): Tensions, Impacts and Democratic Alternatives across the UK’s four jurisdictions, led by...
