British Academy issues invitations to tender on the teaching-research nexus in the humanities and social sciences

The British Academy has today issued invitations to tender for works which will interrogate the relationship between teaching and research in higher education in the humanities and social sciences.

Two research projects, a comparative study of policy approaches and a scoping exercise and survey, will be commissioned by the Academy. The commissions will contribute to the Academy’s higher education policy work, making the case for the value of the humanities and social sciences.

The objectives of the teaching-research nexus project are:

• To help stimulate a wide-ranging debate among the academic community about an important trend with growing national and international significance;


• To inform the broader policy context in view of the upcoming establishment of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Office for Students;


• To inform the practices of universities reacting to and accommodating this trend;


• To identify the risks a potential greater polarisation between teaching and research pose for the humanities and social sciences in particular.

To find out more detail about the commissions, please visit the teaching-research nexus project page or download the background documents:

• Comparative study of policy approaches


• Scoping exercise and survey

Proposals for these works should include proposed methodology, all intended outputs, timelines and a breakdown of potential costs. Please also note any risks or difficulties that you foresee with this project, as well as any steps that might be taken to mitigate them.

Tenders are welcome from a range of organisations and individuals, of no more than 4 sides of A4, excluding CVs of the researcher / research team. The project should begin as soon as possible, with interim findings to be presented by 23 March 2018 and a final report by 15 May 2018.

The budget for the commissions is as follows:

• Comparative studies of policy approaches: up to £10,000, 50% payable on commission, 25% on acceptance of interim findings and 25% on completion


• Scoping exercise and survey: up to £15000, 50% payable on commission, 25% on acceptance of interim findings and 25% on completion

The Academy will cover all costs related to design and print of any outputs.

Organisations or individuals interested in applying for both commissions may submit one application for both tenders provided that the elements of each commission are addressed in their proposal.

The deadline for application is 5pm on 3 January 2018. For further information, or to express an intention to apply, email Chinara Rustamova, Policy Adviser, [email protected]