TORCH International Engagement Fund Michaelmas Term

TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities) seeks to stimulate and support interdisciplinary research activity with partners outside of the UK. To this end, TORCH invites applications from researchers in the Humanities seeking funding for international activity.

There are three pathways for funding through the TORCH International Scheme:

• International Projects: Projects that involve collaboration with a partner at an international research institution. Applications could involve support for online or in-person events, the creation of joint summer schools, workshops, seminars or third-party collaboration.
• International Fellowships: Nominating a collaborator at an international research institution to take up a TORCH International Fellowship in Oxford for 1 academic term during the relevant academic year.
• International Research Grants: Visits to international institutions (e.g., libraries, archives, research centres) to further current and/or new research projects. Applicants must show evidence that they will work with a specific institution and/or collaborator(s) in a non-UK setting.

The funding for this TORCH scheme is through the John Fell Research Fund Small Award Scheme. The John Fell OUP Research Fund is an internal funding scheme that fosters creativity and a proactive approach to research opportunities in all subject areas, and particularly interdisciplinary fields.  

Deadline: 12 Noon, 18 October 2023 (with further similar deadlines each term).  

Please note that all applications should be discussed with your Divisional Research Director before submission. Please make sure you allow enough time for relevant consultation.

We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their ideas with us while preparing their application.  Please contact Dr Anbara Khalidi, TORCH International Officer

Eligibility:

• Applications must be multi- / inter-disciplinary and should be around a Humanities related theme. 
• Lead applicants should have contracts in place with Oxford University to cover the full funding period applied for. They should normally be current salaried employees of the university holding an academic post, or research fellowship awarded competitively and intended to enable the holder to establish an independent research career.

Amount available: up to £7,500

Activity Funded: 

Funding can be used for purposes relating to the relevant project only.

We would advise applicants to consider how funding might best be spent to maximise engagement. To that end, International Engagement funding can also be used to cover costs associated with filming and digital event delivery (but not for online platform licenses - TORCH can provide access to an online platform and support with technical delivery as part of its in-kind offering).

A note on conferences:

• Conferences, open workshops or seminars for which the Fell Fund is requested to provide support should normally charge a registration fee to non-university members that is sufficient to cover venue, publicity and support costs. The budget should clearly show which expenditure items the Fell Fund is being asked to support. Organisers charging less must provide a convincing explanation in the proposal. This fee is not applicable to closed workshops with a small number of invited participants which meet the Fell criteria for pump-priming
• Normally, only essential travel and subsistence costs for speakers are permitted, where this would unreasonably raise the conference fee (for example for international speakers), or where they can’t meet these costs from their own institution’s funds. A good practice is to offer ‘capped’ speaker travel expenses paying an agreed contribution towards travel costs rather than the full amount (subject to normal University accounting practices). Normally, a contribution to accommodation for invited speakers should be limited to £75 per night. A small number of graduate bursaries, where explicitly justified in the proposal, may be funded.
• Any conference catering (excluding conference dinners and receptions) eg sandwich lunch/tea and coffee during breaks, needs to be fully justified and should not exceed £12 per person. The normal expectation is that these costs would be covered by a registration fee. Catering costs for closed event can be included, provided they do not exceed £12 per person.

What we will not fund:
Please note that funding cannot be used for:

• Travel to conferences run by other organisations that are not integral to the project or collaboration (this includes conference fees) nor personal research expenses
• Holding conferences or events outside of Oxford that are not integral to the project or collaboration. In cases where a location outside Oxford is appropriate to the research, a strong Oxford involvement will be expected, and needs to be justified in the application. Other external funding should be routed through Oxford where possible.
• The employment of research assistants/coordinators etc.
• Salaries or teaching buy-out costs for applicants or other academic posts.
• Membership of societies or subscriptions.
• The costs of an evening dinner or reception as part of a conference are not usually permitted. The John Fell Fund will not fund receptions or similar costs.
• Zoom licences or other online platforms – TORCH has a zoom licence, which can be used depending on availability.
• External websites – as a web page is given through the TORCH website.
• Speaker fees or honoraria.

For further guidance on costs when planning your budget, please refer to the Humanities Division John Fell Fund Guidance or contact Sarah Clay, TORCH Operations Manager.

How to apply: 

Application is via the John Fell Fund applications on the internal IRAMS system (single sign on required). Please click here to apply to IRAMS

It is essential that you include TORCH INTERNATIONAL in the title of the project, so that your application can be assessed correctly. Within your IRAMS application please select 'Humanities Divisional Office' as your Approving Unit and select 'Networks, collaborations and partnerships' for project category. 

When you have submitted your application, please also email torch@humanities.ox.ac.uk to alert us and confirm the name of your project. You are at risk of not being considered for funding if you do not do this.

Applications will be initially assessed by TORCH's management committee. Recommended proposals will go on to be reviewed by the Humanities John Fell Fund committee (small awards) and central University John Fell Fund committee. We will aim to respond to all applications within 6-8 weeks.

Further particulars: 

TORCH welcomes innovative applications for collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects that aim to leave a lasting research legacy.  We encourage applications that spell out the potential for ongoing and future partnerships, publications, knowledge-exchange programmes, grant applications, and other potential collaborations with international partners.

For further guidance, please also refer to the Humanities Division John Fell Fund Guidance and the University John Fell Fund Guidelines.

Contact name for queries: 

Colleagues are welcome to contact the TORCH International Officer, Dr Anbara Khalidi, to discuss prospective applications. If you would like to book a slot to discuss your ideas please contact her or Sarah Clay, TORCH Operations Manager.

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