On Friday 23 May 2025, Edinburgh Napier University’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) team hosted a visit from the British Academy (BA) at the University’s Merchiston campus. The visit was part of a wider engagement initiative by the Academy’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to better understand the experiences of university research offices and academics in applying for and managing British Academy grants and funds.
Welcoming the British Academy to ENU
Kanekwa Nzimba, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Lead at the British Academy, visited Edinburgh Napier alongside colleagues from the M&E team as part of a wider engagement initiative. They were welcomed to Edinburgh Napier University by:
- Tony Inglis, Edinburgh Napier’s Head of Research Funding
- Wendy Steven, Edinburgh Napier’s Head of the External Projects Team
- Gina Reddie, Edinburgh Napier’s Research Funding Manager for the Business School and School of Arts and Creative Industries
The session opened with introductions and an overview of Edinburgh Napier’s research support structure, followed by a presentation of survey findings that captured the experiences of Edinburgh Napier academics with British Academy funding schemes.
Listening, learning, and strengthening support
During their visit, the British Academy team outlined their goals:
- To build stronger, more regular engagement with university research offices
- To understand institutional and researcher perspectives on the application process
- To identify barriers to access and areas for improvement
- To gather insights that will inform internal process evaluations and reduce bureaucracy
Survey insights and experiences with BA funding
A key part of the visit was the presentation of findings from a university-wide survey conducted by the RIE team. The survey aimed to gather honest, anonymised feedback from academics who had engaged with British Academy funding schemes.
Survey highlights:
Scope: Over 100 individual projects were initially identified (after removing duplicates and those who had left the university, the final sample size was 77).
Topics Covered:
- Clarity and usefulness of British Academy scheme guidance
- Experiences with the FlexiGrant submission portal
- Feedback on funding decisions and communication
- Confidence in applying with or without Research Office support
- Overall satisfaction with the British Academy funding process
The feedback provided a nuanced picture of the application experience, highlighting both strengths and areas where improvements could enhance accessibility and researcher confidence.
British Academy’s broader engagement strategy
The visit to Edinburgh Napier University was part of a wider series of engagements across Scotland. The British Academy’s M&E team, which includes data analysts, policy specialists, and database managers, is currently reviewing:
- Internal systems and processes
- Communication and guidance materials
- Researcher support mechanisms
- The broader funding landscape for SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy) researchers
The Academy funds a wide range of schemes, including Small Research Grants, Talent Development Awards, and international fellowships. In the past year alone, it awarded over £50 million to researchers in the humanities and social sciences. Find out more here >>
Building stronger partnerships
Kanekwa Nzimba expressed her appreciation for the open and constructive feedback shared by the Edinburgh Napier team and academic community. She welcomed the opportunity to continue building a strong relationship with the university through ongoing dialogue and collaboration.
Edinburgh Napier’s participation in the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network was also acknowledged as a valuable resource for supporting emerging scholars through mentoring, peer learning, and professional development events.
Learn more about British Academy funding here >>
If you’re an Edinburgh Napier academic, you can explore the full range of support available for every stage of your research funding journey via our ENU Intranet.