Engagement Hub

In November 2020 we asked for input on which funders UKRI should recognise as an endorsed funder under the Global Talent Visa.

The Global Talent Visa is an immigration route provided by the UK Government to provide a fast and efficient visa offer to those working in science and research. Under the scheme, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) can recognise other funders as an ‘Endorsed Funder’. 

We want to increase the number of endorsed funders. Endorsed funders may be based in the UK or internationally.

We have had nine responses with a total of 27 funders suggested to UKRI.  

66 percent of you said that this tool was ‘Good’ or ‘Very good’.

This was an expression of interest stage and was the first step in the process to becoming a recognised funder. We will now review the organisations that have been nominated and will decide whether or not to take these forward via our due diligence process.

We will update this section in January 2021 to update on progress. Thanks to your feedback we will look to use this tool again in Spring 2021 to ask for more input of who UKRI sound recognised as an endorsed funder.

In October 2020 we asked for feedback on the Future Leaders Fellowships proposed terms and process for the +3 funding point within the 4+3 model. 

We were really delighted with the constructive and detailed feedback that we gained from the 20 responses. These responses came from 17 existing Fellows and 3 staff members based at Host Organisations.

Mostly the comments were positive about the terms and process for the +3 funding point and have given us steer on how to communicate our processes with Fellows and Host Organisations, as well as informing our approach to supporting documents to guide Fellows through the application process.   

The themes that emerged from feedback included:

• Fixed funding limit of £500k UKRI contribution  
• Assessment of original objectives and the impact of challenges
• Review timing factors with no-cost extensions and maternity/ paternity
• Process of obtaining reviews, guidance on the renewal process for reviewers and the opportunity for fellows to respond to comments
• Further guidance on the flexibility for Fellows to undertake non-fellowship activities
• Bigger window to receive and assess proposals.

As a result of what you said, putting together detailed guidance on all the topics you raised in your feedback.

Which will include more details on:

• Advice on costing the £500k +3 period including the role of other sources of support for your fellowship.
• How your fellowship progress and plans for phase two will be assessed, including guidance on pursuing ‘new’ lines of enquiry
• The response stage that will allow fellows to respond to reviewer comments.
• The guidance to reviewers on taking into account the impact of challenges faced in the first four years of funding, including the impact of the pandemic on plans (fellows will not be ‘penalised’ for being disrupted).
• The range of activities a panel will assess
• No cost extensions and impact of review timing (timing will be adjusted to take any no costs extensions into account).
• confirmation that fellows are not in competition with one another

We will extend the window to receive and assess proposals. Further guidance on the flexibility for Fellows to undertake non-fellowship activities will be made available.

Further details and full guidance will be published in April 2021.