The next generation of professionals working in the Arts and Humanities in Scotland are to benefit from new funding for doctoral research.

The funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) awarded to the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities Doctoral Training Partnership will support 190 PhD students, including those from the University of Glasgow, over the next five years.

Additional funding will be provided by Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for a further 95 awards. 

SGSAH is one of 10 consortia across the UK to be given funding as part of the AHRC’s £170 million Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs).  

Professor Edward Harcourt, the AHRC’s Director of Research, Strategy and Innovation, said: “The AHRC is delighted to announce its renewed commitment to the Doctoral Training Partnerships model. Our support for the next generation of arts and humanities researchers is critical to securing the future of the UK arts and humanities sector, which accounts for nearly a third of all UK academic staff, is renowned the world over for its outstanding quality, and which plays a vital part in our higher education ecosystem as a whole.”

Founded in 2014, SGSAH is the world’s first national graduate school for the arts and humanities, supporting 1750 doctoral researchers in 16 Higher Education Institutions across Scotland.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor at the University of Glasgow, which is the lead Research Organisation for the SGSAH’s Doctoral Training Partnership, said: “We are delighted that the AHRC has recognised and rewarded the vision and innovation presented in our Doctoral Training Partnership bid. As a partnership of 10 HEIs across Scotland we are in a unique position to significantly influence the doctoral training landscape and make visible the impact of arts and humanities research across diverse sectors and communities.”

The AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership sits at the centre of the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH). 

The Scottish Funding Council has awarded an additional £1.2 million to allow the graduate school to continue providing training opportunities, including paid doctoral internships and participation in its annual national Summer School, for students registered across all 16 HEIs, irrespective of their funding source.

Dr Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said: “Scotland’s culture and its economic growth are supported by our universities’ strength in the arts and humanities. SGSAH harnesses the collective leadership of the sector to ensure Scotland provides the very best training to doctoral students in these disciplines, across the whole country.

“SFC is pleased to continue our partnership with the AHRC and the Scottish universities to provide even more opportunities for the next generation of researchers in the arts and humanities.”

Professor Roibeard O Maolalaigh, Chair of the Graduate School’s Board and Vice Principal for the College of Arts at the University of Glasgow, said he was "delighted" by the award.

He added: “This funding builds on SGSAH’s delivery of the previous DTP award, which enabled us to provide studentships for 309 doctoral researchers across Scotland. Increased funding commitments from our HEI members will allow us to support even more students over the next five years.

“The delivery of the DTP is only one aspect of SGSAH’s remit. Today we also celebrate the substantial funding awarded by the Scottish Funding Council. The SGSAH is unique in the arts and humanities doctoral landscape in that it offers innovative training opportunities for all arts and humanities doctoral researchers across Scotland. In just four years, SGSAH has funded more than 50 student-led training events, supported 80 internships and engaged with more than 145 external organisations. The SGSAH can confidently build on its considerable achievements.”

The graduate school has developed relationships with more than 100 industry organisations in the creative, cultural, arts and heritage sectors. Among the key strategic partners are BBC Scotland, British Council Scotland, Scottish Parliament and V&A London.

Professor Dee Heddon, Dean of SGSAH and Director of its Doctoral Training Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have received this significant award from the AHRC and excited to begin the next stage in the journey of our Graduate School. We are committed to nurturing and inspiring a future generation of enlightened leaders who are alert to their influence and impact as knowledge makers, co-creators and connectors.

"Our doctoral researchers will be champions for arts and humanities research, demonstrating through their work the value of arts and humanities to society, industry and other disciplines.”

Richy Carey ‌‌

Small image of Richy Carey (portrait)

Richy Carey is a University of Glasgow PhD researcher at the SGSAH and the Glasgow UNESCO City of Music Artist in Residence.‌

‌Speaking about his Doctoral Training Partnership Award, he said: “I don’t‌ think I can put in to words how important the SGSAH/AHRC award has been for my career.

"Financially, I quite simply would not have been able to do my research without it. 

“I was also lucky enough to take up an SGSAH funded internship position within Glasgow Life as their UNESCO city of music artist-in-residence.

"This opportunity has really opened doors for me to share my research not only across the varying arts organisations involved with Glasgow Life, but also pushed me to take my work beyond the cultural bubbles of academia and fine art, to explore it openly with my fellow Glaswegians.”

Lucie Whitmore

‌Lucie Whitmore is a University of Glasgow PhD researcher at the SGSAH based at the School of Culture and Creative Arts.Lucie Whitemore SGSAH case study

She said she feels “incredibly privileged” to be a recipient of Doctoral Training Partnership award, adding: “My research has undoubtedly benefitted from the training events and opportunities I have had through the SGSAH, and I will finish my PhD with great relevant work experience on my CV via the internships scheme.

“Without being part of the SGSAH community my PhD experience would have been very isolating, and know the opportunities I have been given will be a huge help when I come to the next step in my career."

The AHRC’s Doctoral Training Partnerships are block grants made to consortia of research organisations to support doctoral studentships in any areas of the Arts and Humanities within the remit of the AHRC. The SGSAH DTP members able to access this funding are:

DTPs provide innovative training environments for doctoral researchers. They include opportunities for PhD students to undertake broader training or development, such as language learning, overseas research visits, or placements with non-academic partners.

Details of funding and training opportunities are available at: www.sgsah.ac.uk

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities (SGSAH) is a partnership between the AHRC, Scottish Funding Council, and 16 HEI members. The lead Research Organisation is the University of Glasgow.
Members of the SGSAH:

First published: 15 August 2018

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