NIHR ARC South London Applied Research Leadership Academy

Participants will be supported to be more able to:

1. reflect on their personal vision for their research career;

2. develop a deeper understanding of their research leadership qualities;

3. develop skills to design, and deliver research projects and impact;

4. understand the value of stepping up for leadership opportunities;

5. understand how to strategically lead research at local/national/international levels

6. understand how to organise, give and receive mentorship/coaching.

Elements of the course will include:

1. Research leader’s journeys: successful research leaders will give talks about their journey and career decisions and will host Q&A.
2. Skills training: opportunities to learn how to: cost grant applications, manage research finance, project management, rules about applying for specific funding streams.
3. Leadership qualities development: learn how to build effective collaborations, develop credibility and ensure ethical leadership.
4. Peer led action learning sets: problem solving and action progression (teams of 10)
5. Understanding Centres of Research Excellence (REF 3*/4*)
6. Individual mentorship/coaching session – 1 hour  (including guidance on how to organise the session with the mentor/ mentee yourself).

Key information:

• Applications to the scheme are open now. We particularly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds. 
• Briefing events will be held in November to provide further information and answer questions.
• Please obtain  your line manager's approval for your application. A panel will assess applications in December and those that are approved will be notified before the end of the Autumn term.

Public members

We offer this course as a free resource and those who feel they can benefit are very welcome to join. There are no entry requirements for members of the public who attend. We welcome people who have ambitions to become research leaders. Please note - this is not a course in how to do research and there is no expectation for public participants to offer advice on how to manage PPI.  Unfortunately, we are unable to fund any costs for PPI participants  e.g to attend the academy or to cover carers’ costs, or travel costs. 

How the programme will be delivered

The programme will start on 25 January 2023 with an in-person event. The core events will be online February - June 2022, each Wednesday between 1pm – 2pm (excluding half term breaks and Easter). All events will be recorded and shared with the participants. There will be a minimal engagement expectation of 25 hours over the full programme. Approximately 100 places will be offered. Participants will need to complete an evaluation in June 2023.

Applications closed on 30 November 2022.

Q&A session

Watch a recording of the Q&A session to find out more.

The programme 

Read the programme for the Research Leadership Academy.

Feedback from last year's Academy participants

"This course helped me to develop a deeper understanding of the research leadership qualities and provided me with strategies, ideas and directions on how to improve my research career."

"For me the most valuable aspect was the action learning sets - this was a great opportunity to meet and troubleshoot with peers outside of my department."

"The course has provided more insights on how to build collaboration and networks. I have now more ideas about the importance of a good research project and the planning of costs and the logistics of it."

Read the report

Read the evaluation report from the 2022 cohort. 

Register your interest for the 2024 Academy

Next year the Academy will be open to all ARCs. Register your interest

For information or enquiries

Contact, NIHR ARC South London, Capacity building theme email: arcshortcourses@kcl.ac.uk