BERA established the BERA College of Reviewers to provide high quality peer reviews for all relevant BERA activities and to create a consistent approach across our awards and funding opportunities.

The BERA College of Reviewers is a group comprised of high quality academic reviewers including practitioners and policy makers who draw on research evidence. Members are drawn from a range of organisations and career experience, from Early Career Researchers to senior academics and users. All reviewers are active BERA members. The CoR works alongside BERA’s Engagement Committee who oversee most of our award schemes and ensure criteria fit with BERA’s strategic priorities. 

After a successful round of initial appointments in 2020 and 2021, BERA is pleased to invite additional interested members to apply to sit on the College of Reviewers. We are particularly interested in appointing members with a strong background in quantitative research, as well as at least one practitioner who works or has worked previously in a school based role.

As part of our wider commitment to greater equality and diversity at all levels of the organisation, BERA has resolved that it should seek increased representation from members with a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. In acknowledging the structural inequalities and unjust power imbalances that affect our members, we wish to be proactive in addressing this within our own structures. We are confident that the College of Reviewers will benefit from the advantages that diversity brings, including different skills, life experiences and backgrounds, bringing a fresh perspective to the board. Therefore, we will be prioritising the recruitment of people with a BAME background for these roles.

If you are interested in applying for a position within the college, please see the below information:

CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION

• strong track record of securing research funding and carrying out research;
• significant experience of peer-reviewing academic, research, or other relevant materials
• significant experience in universities or other research organisations relevant to the purpose of the college of reviewers
• ability to recognise high quality in diverse types of research and methodologies;
• experience and understanding of value for money in the context of research activities

EXPECTATIONS OF COLLEGE MEMBERS

• Undertake between 5-7 review exercises per year
• Provide informed, objective, and timely reviews when requested
• Provide that review in the format requested by BERA
• Notify BERA within five working days of a request for review if the reviewer is unable to meet the request, so that an alternative reviewer can be sought (this should not happen more than once in the two-year term)
• Notify BERA within five working days of the review poses a potential conflict of interest
• Reviews will take place against the agreed criteria established by BERA and its committees. The College will be asked to comment on this criteria from time to time.

TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP

• Membership will run from October 2022. Members will initially be appointed for two years, with variable renewal terms to ensure good succession planning.
• Members will receive an honorarium of £500 per annum due in the first instance in September 2023, provided they have completed the reviewing expected of them.
• Members can resign in the middle of their term if their circumstances change or BERA reserves the right to ask a member to leave before the expiry of their term if they are not responding to requests in a timely manner.  
• While membership of the college will be public, individual reviews will be anonymous
• Please note conference abstracts are not reviewed by the college

BERA is committed to equal opportunities in all our activities. As well as ensuring this in the membership of the College, members should ensure that they avoid any bias in the assessment of proposals and final reports due to gender, disability, age, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

We strive to be inclusive of the diversity of educational research and scholarship and welcome applications from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, theoretical orientations, methodological approaches, sectoral interests and institutional affiliations. 

The initial appointment of members of the College of Reviewers will be made by BERA’s Leadership Committee.  

 Only BERA Members can Apply.

Applications should consist of the following:

• A 500 word statement identifying how you meet the selection criteria
• A 1-2 Page CV

Please click here to submit your application.

Before submitting you will be asked to update your public biography information as well as upload a headshot.

Please note applications will close on September 16, 2022 at 5pm

There will be a meeting in London for College of Reviewers members on 13th October 2022. Successful applicants will be invited to attend.