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R&I Awards 2022

Making an Application

We would like to invite you to submit applications for the Research & Innovations Awards 2022 which will showcase our collective response to major global challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic & climate change and celebrate the impact of the amazing collaborations taking place with a wide range of organisations

Raising the profile of exceptional research & innovation and the amazing partnerships we have with external organisations, the Awards recognise individual and team contributions to our Institutional aim of using our research strength, collaborations with industry and global reach, to drive economic growth, foster prosperity, tackle societies challenges, enrich the community and cultural life of Wales and, contribute to the health, leisure and wellbeing of its citizens.

This initiative is delivered by the Research, Engagement & Innovation Services team, through the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account and in collaboration with external partners and sponsors.

General Guidance Notes

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us on researchandinnovationawards@swansea.ac.uk.
Completed application forms should be emailed to researchandinnovationawards@swansea.ac.uk by 12:00 on 11th February 2022
Please highlight any commercially sensitive content that should not be published as we will use information from successful entries in publicising the awards.
Please ensure all external collaborators referenced in your applications are aware of how their information is being used. Please feel free to redact sensitive documents if this is most appropriate.
Whilst there is no limit on the number of entries that can be submitted, please note that the same entry may not be submitted to more than one category.
Winners of previous Swansea University Impact Awards and Research and Innovation Awards may not resubmit the same entries.
Previous non-winning entries in 2017 / 2018 may resubmit, however they must demonstrate either a change in direction of the research or new / wider reaching impact.
Applicants may resubmit 2014, 2015 and 2016 Swansea Impact Awards applications but must ensure that account is taken of the new award scheme, categories, guidance and criteria.
Each award is open to all Swansea University staff, including Early Career Researchers, postgraduate research students, postdocs, research leaders, technical and support staff and to partnerships or projects.
Please ensure that you or a member of your research team are able to attend the Awards dinner before submitting your application.
All awards will be adjudicated by a core panel of senior University staff. This panel will be assisted by a team of external reviewers with expertise in each category, drawn from University contacts and stakeholders.
Under Question F ‘Can the impact claimed be evidenced and Verified?’ you are able to provide links to up to 10 electronic documents/attachments outside of the 2 page written limit total for all questions.
Entrants are advised to bear in mind that submissions should be readily understandable by a lay audience.
We strongly advise you to use short bullet points where possible to help communicate succinctly.
A Welsh version of this application is available on request.
Whilst not exhaustive or compulsory, the guidance notes below may help you think of how to answer each question. Wherever possible, we will endeavour to take into consideration content across your entire Awards application as part of the scoring process for each question.

Standard Application Q's	Points	Guidance Notes
a) Describe the contribution that the individual, group or project has made and how it has enhanced excellence at Swansea University.	20	Excellence is seen as performance that is qualitatively and decisively superior to satisfactory. However, it is recognised that excellence is not an absolute quality, measured by simple objective criteria, but rather it requires the judgement by colleagues and external peers of the evidence provided. In general, it is the quality of the contribution in the different areas of activity or roles undertaken, rather than the quantity of activity, that distinguishes excellence from satisfactory performance. Has the initiative / endeavour been promoted outside the institution or as best practice?
b) What benefits has the initiative/ endeavour/ effort brought the Institution? (e.g. how has it helped the institution e.g. reputation, more funding, efficiencies, helped put in a system for x, y or z…). (15 points)	15	What influence has the initiative / endeavour / effort had in regards to the standing and overall health / capability of Swansea University (including any benefits in terms of strategic partnerships, revenue, funding, process improvement or other business advantages?
c) Describe the relationships and benefits that have been built, supported or enabled as a result of the initiative / endeavour/ effort and the influence/effect that has realised to date. (15 points)	15	Who have you worked with to deliver the project and impact? Why was this particular relationship successful? Will your collaboration develop/expand? How is the activity/research, team/individual planning to resource, sustain and develop the next stage of the activity/research?· What are the anticipated future benefits arising from the relationships that have been built?
d) Describe what makes the initiative/ endeavour/ effort innovative or transformational to the institution and to the other external parties (beneficiaries, research users or stakeholders). (20 points)	20	What makes this effort innovative or transformational to Swansea University and the external partners. What can they do now that they couldn't do before this intervention was made? What change happened? How has the approach to delivering the initiative / endeavour changed thinking or future direction?
e) Describe what happened or transpired that otherwise would not have without that individual, group or project teams’ contributions. (15 points)	15	Can you provide evidence of attribution? Would the benefits have happened without your distinct contribution? What difference/impact has the research / activity made to the key stakeholders? How can you demonstrate it has made measurable improvements for them that they would not have had without it?
f) Can the impact claimed be evidenced and verified? If so, can you give examples of what information (quantitative and qualitative) could be supplied to verify the impacts claimed.	15	e.g. Quotes from external beneficiaries, testimonies, links to online media, videos, photographs, newspaper articles, published outputs, publications, reports, journals, citations, patents etc.

Guidance Notes: Specific to the Outstanding Research Supervision category

For the Outstanding Research Supervision category, we welcome applications from m-level and postgraduate research students for their supervisors. Entries should be submitted by students or colleagues and must include student testimonies.
Shortlisted Entries and the Winner of the ‘Outstanding Research Supervision’ Award will be invited to sit on a panel for the PGR Supervision Q&A session, chaired by the Dean of Postgraduate Research, to share their experience and best practice with new supervisors.
Whilst not exhaustive or compulsory, the guidance notes below may help you think of how to answer each question. Wherever possible, we will endeavour to take into consideration content across your entire Awards application as part of the scoring process for each question.

Standard Application Q's	Points	Guidance Notes
a) How does your supervisor/supervisory team demonstrate a pioneering approach to supervision: what has the nominee done above and beyond that which is expected of good supervision?	20
b) How does your supervisor/supervisory team demonstrate their enthusiasm for and experience of being a supervisor	20	Development of good working relationship with student and other members of supervisory team, knowledge and confidence in dealing with queries/situations, demonstrable passion for postgraduate research through e.g. facilitating PGR activities, events, training or acting as PGR Director, supporting development of other supervisors etc.
c) How does your supervisor/supervisory team challenge you intellectually in order to make substantial contributions to their academic field?	20	Encourage presentation of work, encourage publication, facilitate opportunities to seek input from other researchers (e.g. journal club), asking challenging open questions in supervision meetings, directing student to key authors/papers and checking they keep themselves up-to-date.
d) How did/does your supervisor support you with the transition to being a postgraduate researcher?	20	Promoting skills development, setting and clarifying expectations, monitoring progress and providing useful high quality feedback.
e) How does your supervisor support your on-going development towards becoming an independent researcher?	20	Encourage and direct towards valuable events and activities (e.g. conferences), change in extent/nature of supervision as progress through research degree, challenging ideas/asking questions to promote independent thinking, promoting skills development relevant for future career, facilitating networking.
f) How does your supervisor evaluate the effectiveness of their approach to supervision?	20	Feedback sought from the student, discussions of supervisor's 'performance' during supervision meetings, supervisor participation in CPD.

Please consider the following good supervisory practice guide, developed by the UK Council For Graduate Education (UKCGE), when developing your nomination:

Award Categories

Outstanding Research & Innovation collaboration in Humanities and Social Sciences
Outstanding Research & Innovation collaboration in Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Outstanding Research & Innovation collaboration in Science & Engineering

These awards recognise success in collaborative working and effective partnerships, with internal colleagues, external partners, inter-disciplinary research and projects on a local, national and international scale. The collaboration should deliver significant enhancements in research, innovation, economic, social, health, environmental or quality of life benefits, community/ public benefits.

Outstanding International Impact of Research & Innovation

This award celebrates international recognition of research & innovation activities, impact and outputs including citations. The research should deliver significant economic, social, cultural or other global reaching benefits.

Outstanding Contribution to Public Engagement

This award recognises the work of outstanding research & innovation communicators who have demonstrated excellent engagement with the wider public. Eligible activities include hosting school visits, talks, events, festivals, museum exhibitions, publishing and broadcasting. Applicants will need to demonstrate a measurable change in public understanding, behaviour or engagement with research.
Outstanding Impact on Health & Well-Being

This award celebrates the impact of research & innovation in any discipline that is enhancing quality of life, health and wellbeing, with potential to deliver life-changing benefits for people across the world.

Outstanding Impact on Industry, Commerce and Innovation

This award celebrates impact arising from either industrial collaboration, or IP & commercialisation activities including spin outs, licences, start-ups, academic enterprise, consultancy, prototype development, pilot system, new models or improved technologies.

Outstanding Contribution to the Arts, Culture and Society

This award celebrates research and innovation that has delivered significant and evident impact to the cultural and arts sectors. Eligible activities can include performances, exhibitions, festivals, books etc. Applicants will need to demonstrate a measurable change in understanding, behaviour or engagement with research.

Outstanding Contribution to Shaping the University’s Research & Innovation Community

This award celebrates groups and/ or individuals that have helped support, shape, change, drive and make a difference to the University’s internal research & innovation environment. This could include a wide range of activities e.g. leading others, project development, research integrity, Project Management, public engagement, professional services support, business development, etc.

Outstanding Research Supervision

This award recognises a supervisor who has created the most supportive, stimulating and inspirational research environment for PhD or professional doctoral students. Approaches to supervision that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn and foster independent learning; respect and support for the development of students as individuals; how the supervisors’ supervision contributes to the research environment and community; provision of appropriate advice, including the provision of worthwhile feedback to students on their learning; scholarly activities that have influenced and enhanced research supervision could be included. Submissions will be accepted from students or supervisors colleagues, and student testimonies must be included.

Research and Innovation Rising Star – Postgraduate

This award aims to celebrate a postgraduate researcher who can demonstrate they are a research leader of the future. The applicants must be nominated by a colleague or supervisor.

Research and Innovation Rising star – Early Career

This award aims to identify individuals at an early stage in their careers who are set to significantly shape the research environment in their field. The applicants must be nominated by a colleague, supervisor or manager.

Outstanding Technician's Contribution Award
Recognised for Outstanding Response to Covid Pandemic

Application Closing Date: 12:00 noon, 11th February 2022

The closing date for the call is 12:00 noon on Friday 11 February 2022.

Judging Process

All awards will be adjudicated by a core panel of senior University staff. This panel will be assisted by a team of external reviewers with expertise in each category, drawn from University contacts, sponsors and stakeholders.

Entrants are advised to bear in mind that submissions should be readily understandable for a lay audience.

Please be aware that any personal or confidential information highlighted as such in your application will not be shared with external members of the panel. Please be sure your application will still show your impact and significance where any information cannot be shared.

We intend to generate a shortlist of up to three candidates for each award category, which will be publicised in early 2022 in advance of the Swansea Research and Innovation Awards dinner.

In exceptional circumstances, the panel reserve the right to shortlist more than three entrees and potentially more than one winner per category.

Queen's Anniversary Prizes for High and Further Education

The application form and criteria align with the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education. This provides an all-encompassing view of the impacts arising from the activity/research, capturing the benefits from an internal and external stakeholder perspective.

Application Form - Welsh

Application Form - Outstanding Research Supervision - Welsh

Partnering on the Awards

Please contact the team, should you know of any organisations that may be interested in one of our sponsorship packages:

Research & Innovation Awards 2022 Sponsorship Brochure