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Support for UKRI Funding Application

The document is a strong endorsement for X's application for UKRI funding for her doctoral project at the University of X, highlighting her motivation, perseverance, and initiative in research. It details her impressive academic achievements, professional experience, and skills in project management and collaboration, emphasizing her readiness for postgraduate research. The author concludes that X is an exceptional candidate deserving of funding, with the potential for impactful outcomes in her field of study.

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Enceladus Cassini
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15 views3 pages

Support for UKRI Funding Application

The document is a strong endorsement for X's application for UKRI funding for her doctoral project at the University of X, highlighting her motivation, perseverance, and initiative in research. It details her impressive academic achievements, professional experience, and skills in project management and collaboration, emphasizing her readiness for postgraduate research. The author concludes that X is an exceptional candidate deserving of funding, with the potential for impactful outcomes in her field of study.

Uploaded by

Enceladus Cassini
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Example NWSSDTP Reference

I am writing in strong support of X’s application for UKRI funding for her doctoral project at the
University of X. I was X’s course unit tutor on the core unit, ‘…’ on her MA (2020–21). I
assessed her assignment for that course unit, and also her dissertation, owing to the
retirement of her former supervisor. I have kept in touch with X since that master’s degree in
order to work with her as she developed her research proposal for this application. To make
my case that X’s track record and research plans warrant UKRI funding, I will provide
evidenced statements below regarding her preparedness for postgraduate research under
the headings suggested by NWSSDTP.

1. Motivation for research


X is deeply motivated to undertake this research. During the two years following her
master’s, she has been working on a research proposal that, when submitted in draft form
to me as potential supervisor, astonished me with its exhaustiveness, engagement with the
field and its literature, and its novelty. This was before the University introduced its 1500-
word limit, and so whilst this first draft of over 40 pages was seen by no admissions office, it
nonetheless performed a vital function in demonstrating to me her motivation to do this
particular project and how she has thought widely and deeply about how best to go about
that. Underpinning this motivation is X’s working-class background: she rightly sees
teachers and teaching as key mechanisms for achieving not just educational, but societal
change, particularly through reaching children with similar backgrounds to hers. These sorts
of teacher-pupil relationships might, for X, impact positively on areas as diverse as the
climate crisis and public-service reform.

2. Problem-solving, perseverance and initiative


X is tenacious. As a student who is the first in her family to attend university, she has not
inherited mimetically any middle-class facility with the ways and rules of academia, and so
has achieved all she has whilst learning about it all for the first time. This in itself
demonstrates profound perseverance and initiative. Despite X’s academic brilliance, her
success was not inevitable, but hard fought-for, with everyday academic life a series of new
challenges for her that she has successfully overcome.

X also demonstrated perseverance through undertaking her master’s degree during COVID-19,
where students were not permitted on campus. She had to show initiative by finding alternative
ways to motivate herself to very high attainment and to connect with her peers. She achieved
this partly through becoming student representative for her programme, itself a considerable
achievement on a programme with well over a hundred students.

X’s professional career has involved her solving problems daily in relation to a fairly niche
area of expertise and with high accountability for outcomes. This is very good preparation
for doctoral study.
3. Project and time management
X has extensive professional experience that has enabled her to develop impressive skills
in these areas. Her career in UK qualification regulation has meant that she is accustomed
to creating and adhering to project-delivery milestones, along with success criteria and
built-in allowances for unforeseen challenges and delays. She uses a range of project-
management and resource software to facilitate her efficient working. In her application, X
states explicitly that she will bring this approach to her PhD studies, and I have confidence
that she will, as she did to her master’s degree. Indeed, X created the time to act as
student representative during her master’s degree through applying her exemplary time-
management skills. I have no doubt that X is an excellent candidate for a timely completion
of her doctoral degree.

4. Personal development
X is both intellectually brilliant and curious. This became clear in the master’s course unit that I
taught her on. Despite the unit being taught entirely online (2020–21), X shone from amongst the
sea of thumbnail faces through her outstandingly insightful verbal contributions and thoughtful
questions. She followed up after lectures in emails, where she would continue and develop the
points and arguments raised in class. Her assignment for me was of the highest standard, and
she went on to produce a dissertation whose superlative quality was recognised by the British X
Association, which awarded it its MA Dissertation prize. This is a truly outstanding achievement
that acknowledges X’s demonstrated capacity for profound critical engagement and thinking,
and for applying social theory. In addition to this award, X received a classification of Distinction
for her overall degree and the University’s Prize for outstanding achievement in a master’s
degree.

Notwithstanding these achievements, X is keen to improve her research knowledge and


skills in order to produce a world-class thesis. She has paid close attention to my
suggestions to improve her research proposal, engaging critically with that feedback to
move forward in ways that respect my expertise but maintain this as her own project. In our
conversations, X is excited about gaining more methodological expertise in the qualitative
paradigm at the upcoming Methods Northwest Seminar Series. Moreover, she has already
taken up development opportunities even before starting her PhD (and after finishing her
master’s) through, for example, webinar and workshop attendance (including sessions held
by Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke on thematic analysis, and by Helen Gunter on
developing a research career).

5. Working with others


X has developed considerable skill and experience in working with others during her
professional career as X. In that role, she led the development and review of 152 vocational
qualifications and 6 End Point Assessment (EPA) qualifications and their associated
assessments, ensuring their alignment with regulatory requirements while meeting industry
expectations. Her clients included National Governing bodies, universities and colleges.
X’s work has contributed to her organisation being shortlisted for two Federation of
Awarding Bodies awards: "Awarding Organisation Innovation of the Year" 2023 and
"End Point Assessment Organisation of the Year" in 2022, which indicates both her
effectiveness as a team worker and the esteem in which she was held by those working
with her. In a previous role as X Manager for the Institute of X, she successfully
mentored 15 overseas coordinators in line with best practice. Writing as someone who
used to be responsible for allocating mentors to those who are newly qualified, I can
confirm that only those with considerable social and communication skills, as well as
subject expertise, are trusted to mentor so many over a sustained period.

In summary, X is one of the most outstanding students I have ever taught, and her abilities have
been recognised through University and national awards. Her research plans address an
important area of the social sciences, and her planned methods are robust. She has the skills
and expertise to achieve these plans, and importantly, she also has the disposition to improve
her skill set where needed. She would be an extremely worthy recipient of UKRI funding, and
UKRI would see an excellent suite of impactful outcomes from X in return.

Signature (anonymised)

Professor X

Professor of X
Director of Research, X Institute of X
Email (anonymised)

Common questions

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Throughout her education, X overcame challenges such as being the first in her family to engage with academia and excelling during the disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, achieving Distinction in her degree and receiving multiple awards. Professionally, she has managed the complexities of regulatory compliance and industry expectations in qualification regulation, demonstrating resilience and adaptability .

X’s research motivations are deeply personal, driven by her working-class background and a desire to use education as a vehicle for societal change. She sees the pivotal role of teacher-student relationships in addressing broad issues like the climate crisis and public-service reform. This intrinsic motivation aligns with crucial societal needs, making her research both timely and impactful .

X has demonstrated her ability to apply systematic and critical approaches in her role in qualification regulation, which involved aligning qualifications with regulatory requirements while meeting industry demands. These tasks required analytical skills that are transferable to the application of rigorous academic methodologies in her PhD research, ensuring robust research outcomes .

X's motivation for research is deeply rooted in her personal background and desire to effect societal change through education. Her tenacity is evidenced by her overcoming challenges as the first in her family to attend university. Despite a lack of inherited academic familiarity, she excelled in her master's degree during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person attendance was not possible. This required significant initiative and perseverance to connect with peers and excel academically, culminating in her becoming the student representative. Her persistent problem-solving skills are highlighted through her professional career in UK qualification regulation, where she holds daily accountability for niche expertise and outcomes .

X's academic excellence has been recognized through awards such as the British X Association's MA Dissertation prize and the University’s Prize for outstanding achievement in her master's program. These accolades, combined with her sustained academic curiosity and performance, substantiate her candidacy for UKRI funding, as they illustrate her potential to produce high-impact, quality research .

One of X’s strategic initiatives includes overseeing the development and review of numerous vocational and EPA qualifications, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. This role involved navigating complex industry expectations and regulatory frameworks, showcasing her problem-solving capabilities under high accountability conditions .

X’s ability to work collaboratively is evidenced by her leadership role in developing and reviewing qualifications, which required alignment with regulatory standards while meeting industry expectations. She has successfully connected with clients such as National Governing bodies and universities, leading to her organisation receiving nominations for awards. Additionally, her role as a mentor for 15 overseas coordinators highlights her social and communication skills, critical for effective collaboration .

Beyond her formal education, X demonstrated her commitment to personal development through engagement with diverse educational opportunities. She attended seminars and workshops, including sessions by eminent scholars like Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke, focused on thematic analysis, and Helen Gunter on research career development. This proactive approach highlights her dedication to enhancing her methodological expertise and research capabilities ahead of starting her PhD .

X's readiness to contribute to the social sciences is shown through her rigorous academic work and prior professional accomplishments. Her dissertation earned a prize from the British X Association, evidencing her high-caliber research skills. Furthermore, her plan to address a critical area in social sciences with robust methodologies reflects both her preparedness and potential impact in the field .

X’s extensive professional experience in UK qualification regulation has equipped her with robust project and time management skills. She is adept at creating and adhering to project-delivery milestones and success criteria, allowing for unforeseen challenges and delays. Her use of project-management software further underscores her efficiency. This experience forms a strong basis for managing the demands of a PhD program, underscoring her potential for timely completion .

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