Beacons for Public Engagement: invitation to apply for funds (HEFCE 2006/49)

1. Who is eligible to apply for funds?

Applications are welcome from individual HEIs receiving funding directly from the UK higher education funding councils or any of the UK Research Councils. Beacons must be led by an HEI, but collaborative applications (for example in partnership with a research institutute, museum or art gallery) are welcome.

2. Can an HEI apply to host a Beacon for Public Engagement and the National Co-ordinating Centre?

Although HEIs may apply to host both a BPE and the National Co-ordinating Centre, they should note that it is unlikely that any one institution would be awarded both.

3. Is there a cap on the amount of funding an HEI can bid for?

A maximum of around £300,000 per year will be made available to any single BPE, and a maximum of around £500,000 per year for the National Co-ordinating Centre.

4. How should we cost the proposal?

The proposal should be fully costed on the basis of full economic costs. It should also show any financial contribution from partners or other sources, with net funding requested under the BPE scheme.

5. When will funding commence?

Funding will be available to successful bidders following the funding announcement in September 2007.

6. Who can be a partner in a Beacon for Public Engagement?

HEIs can submit applications in collaboration and/or partnership with any other organisations involved in public engagement. These could include one or more of the following, though this list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive:

• other HEIs
• further education colleges
• research institutes and centres, including those funded by Research Councils
• non-governmental organisations such as museums, galleries, charities, science centres, botanic gardens or zoos
• industry and small and medium-sized enterprises.

7. Can an institution apply as a member of more than one potential consortium – including bids for the National Co-ordinating Centre (assuming that if it is an HEI, it is not the lead for more than one application)?

It is possible for an institution to be involved in more than one application. However it should be noted that the short-listing panel will consider networking potential, dissemination plans, value for money, and geographical spread of the initiative as a whole, among the selection criteria (see paragraph 36); and that therefore this might affect consideration of BPE applications across which there are duplicate partners.

8. As the ‘host’, does the lead institution have to provide the physical base for the Beacon for Public Engagement or National Co-ordinating Centre?

Applicants may choose to propose one of the other partners to provide a physical home for the BPE, and if so, the reasons for this decision should be outlined clearly in the application.

9. What are the evaluation and monitoring arrangements for BPEs?

Further advice on evaluation and monitoring arrangements will be given in the guidance for the second stage. However it has been agreed at this stage that BPEs will be expected to submit an annual report.

10. Will there be any further guidance for successful applicants following the initial shortlisting stage?

Yes, further guidance will be made available to successful applicants, who will be invited to submit a full business plan.

11. As this a pilot programme, will additional funding be made available in the future?

If successful, it is hoped that this pilot programme will be expanded to widen the geographical distribution of the BPEs, ensuring that a wider range of institutions are participating and that the activities relate to the full range of academic disciplines and HE activities. However, successful applicants who are invited to submit a full business plan will be expected to show how their activity can be embedded beyond the lifetime of the scheme.

12. Can we apply for funds totalling £500,000 for a combined Beacon/National Co-ordinating Centre to do both activities?

No, we see the Beacons and the national centre as having different roles. Although it is not impossible that one institution may be host to both, we would not expect them to be combined.

We have set the cap on funds for the National Co-ordinating Centre at £500,000 as this is the amount we estimate it would require to carry out the expected activity. The host of the national centre should have a good track record in public engagement activity.

13. Does the public engagement initiative refer exclusively to public engagement within the UK, or could it also apply to public engagement worldwide?

Although the initiative is for UK HEIs and partner organisations the theme could well include an international dimension.