Fellowship FAQ

What does a Fellow do?

For the duration of their 3 year tenure, Fellows agree to:

• Work with WIE towards improving and promoting public engagement across the university, particularly within their faculty / professional services group.
• Be an active member of a WIE Learning Circle, attending meetings, contributing to discussions, plans and activities.
• Support WIE with a suggested commitment of three activities per year from the list below. The list is not exhaustive and is also not prescriptive. We recognise that fellows may be heavily involved in just one activity instead of three smaller activities and/or that you may be out of work for periods of leave (parental / adoption / sick leave, etc) The intention is that you are actively involved in the life of WIE and that the tenure is mutually beneficial.

Suggested list of activities:

• Sit on a WIE Learning Circle Steering Group
• Sit on a WIE review panel (Collaboration and Co-Production Fund, Warwick Awards for Public and Community Engagement (WAPCE)

  etc)

• Support others with the development of grant applications featuring public engagement as part of our Advisory Hub
• Support with promotions workshops or training events
• Assist with running LC meetings or events – e.g. by helping with technology, administration, note taking etc.
• Participate in training and an event through the Warwick Award (UG and PGT students)
• Lead an event as part of our Resonate programme e.g. give a talk
• Assist with a Resonate event – e.g. help with demonstrations, practical planning such as room bookings, be an extra pair of hands!
• Support the running of WIE, e.g. STEM connect funding
• Marketing advice / input / ideas
• Helping with technology / written documents / posters
• Run or assist with training or an event
• Becoming a WIE Mentor
• Act as a signpost within your department, encouraging new people access the support WIE has on offer.
• Act as a URSS supervisor for a Public Engagement URSS Project
• Include a quality PE component for a URSS project! (UG students)
• Support our taught Public Engagement modules, for example by sharing your experiences of public engagement as part of a panel
• Other – We would be interested to hear what other PE you have been involved in.

What is the expected time commitment for a Fellow?

Fellows are appointed for 3 years. Most Fellows volunteer for between 1-2 Learning Circles, which typically meet on a termly basis for 1–1.5 hours. Some consideration of documentation in advance of the learning circle will be required. Fellows will also be asked to communicate Institute activities and requests more widely within their departments and faculties, and support other colleagues in their department to find WIE resources. Depending on how many learning circles you volunteer for we'd therefore expect the time commitment to be between 2-4 hours per month.

Benefits of Fellowship

• Receive a regular newsletter update on what WIE is doing and how to get involved.

• Academic colleagues are able to use Fellowship as evidence of their Impact/ Outreach/ Engagement work as part of their promotions application. (Visit the WIE Skills FestivalLink opens in a new window for more information on this)

• Excellent addition to your CV for student applicants
• The chance to contribute strategically to Warwick’s vision for Engagement
• A great networking opportunity to meet colleagues from around the university from a variety of backgrounds
• You can sit on a Learning Circle Steering Group, suggest new Learning Circles
• Access to the Public Engagement Personal Development Fund

Fellowship is a chance to contribute to the development of a growing Institute, which seeks to make a real difference to the way engagement is supported and recognised at Warwick. Your work will be fundamental in shaping the way the Institute works for years to come. You will help to shape strategic policy and influence the pedagogy of engagement, creating a welcoming and supportive inter-disciplinary community of Warwick Engagers. And you will have the chance to take part in a number of WIE led Engagement events.

What level of experience are we after?

The Institute is very keen to receive applications from staff and students across the full range of roles at Warwick, including but not limited to undergraduates, postgraduates, academics, technicians, professional services staff. Previous engagement experience is needed in order to apply. A good starting point is to sign up for membership of WIE, get stuck in with our events and activities and then submit an application for Fellowship.

Can you get advice on your application before submission?

Yes, if you would like to discuss your application, please do get in touch.

What happens if you aren't successful in your application?

If you are not successful, we will provide feedback on how you can improve and invite you to apply the following year. We'll also direct you towards out mentoring scheme if we think this may benefit you.

What if your contract / studies finish before the end of the 3 year appointment?

We would encourage you still to apply and to make your current end date clear on your application. We will then be in touch to discuss how you might best contribute to the work of the Institute – and we would be happy in these circumstances to vary the length of your Fellowship.

What happens at the end of your 3 year appointment

You will have 3 options. You can choose to renew for another 3-year term. You can apply to become a Senior Fellow or you can revert to being a member of WIE.

What is involved in applying to be a fellow?

Before you apply, you will need to make sure you have received line manager/ personal tutor confirmation they are happy for you to apply to be a WIE Fellow.

The application is not onerous (sample questions below) and we welcome creative applications (such as videos, podcasts, drawings) as well as written applications, in answer to question 3.