Catalyst Led Conversations on Engaged Futures Themes

Could there be a shift in emphasis from research and learning to problem-solving (poverty, climate change, AI ethics)? How might teaching, skill building, and research deliver on the needs of society? What could the role of the university be in a diversified knowledge landscape? What can the university offer- connector, validator, curator?

Who can be a researcher in 2045? What kinds of research or research programmes are valued? Who sets the research agenda and how? 

Who can access a university education in 2045? When in one’s life can people access a university education? Supporting a diverse student body through approaches to teaching and learning. Creating an accessible ‘campus’.

Harnessing AI in ethical ways. Supporting others in an AI world. The place of AI in research, teaching, and learning.

Where does learning/education take place? What subjects and skill sets will be taught and valued? What approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment are offered? How do courses fit around people’s competing demands?  

Addressing barriers to inclusion, recognising historical exclusions, recognising skills and experience in a way that enables intersectoral professional pathways, creating a healthy and supportive working environment. Recognising different forms of knowledge. 

Encouraging flows of ideas, questions and resource between the University and its geographic footprint. Allowing time and space to reflect and address power differentials, ethical practice, and care. Ensuring partners are treated well including payments, contracts, ownership of intellectual property, ethical codes etc. Mechanisms could support collaboration? e.g. shared research hubs, pooling resources and expertise instead of competing for funding.

What funding models and mechanisms could fund Universities in the future? What is needed to ensure Universities and knowledge remains independent and critical? How might research funding support new modes of knowledge generation? How can we foster intra-institutional collaboration over competition? 

Decolonising the curriculum. Recognising silenced voices, repatriating material and knowledge. Making issues of power and ethics visible in all areas of a university's work.

• Are you registered as a Catalyst?
• Does the proposed conversation address an existing gap in the consultation?
• Will the activity and all reporting be completed by Friday 27 June 2025?
• Is your proposed approach well justified, costed, and appropriate?  
• Are you the right person/people to be leading this conversation?  
• Is the approach appropriate and, have safeguarding and ethics been considered?
• Does the budget feel proportionate and reasonable? 

1. This scheme is only available to Catalyst group members. A Catalyst group member must be present at the running of any activity supported through this bursary scheme.
2. Funds must be spent on enabling the conversations outlined in bursary application. This must fill a gap in the existing consultation work (We are happy for adaptations to the activity as appropriate).
3. The purpose of the activity is to create insights that can feed into the Engaged Futures programme, therefore the award holder must commit to sharing the outputs in an agreed format, by the Friday 27 June 2025 at 5pm.  
4. In advance of running your session the bursary holder will watch a recorded training session where they can learn more about facilitating a 3Horizon process and be provided with materials to support their consultation.
5. Requests for funding are limited to £1500.  
6. We expect that awardees will think carefully about accessibility and inclusion in their event design. We require awardees to follow our inclusive events guidelines: Accessible and Inclusive Events Guide | NCCPE.
7. Awardees may approach NCCPE (NCCPEcatalysts@uwe.ac.uk) for additional costs for reasonable adjustments that were not identified at the outset.
8. We can award these bursaries to individuals or their institutions. We encourage you to think about the most convenient way to make the resource available for the activity that you propose.   
9. Allowable expenses are: Travel costs to a nearby venue, travel costs for personal assistants including assistant animals, the cost of a professional facilitator, space hire, online platforms/facilitation tools, audiovisual equipment hire, signers, translators, caring costs, professional creche provision etc. Bursary holder is responsible for  ensuring that  childcare is provided by an OFSTED-registered provider. 
   Disallowed expenses include: The cost of someone’s time if it is already paid for in another way such as through their institution. Food costs above £20 per person per event. The cost of any alcohol.
10. To receive payment of an agreed bursary an invoice will need to be submitted. Bursaries are inclusive of any VAT costs, if applicable. Invoices should be submitted as soon as possible after notification of an application being successful, and advice about how to do this will be provided in the bursary award letter. If you are applying as an individual and are not familiar with creating invoices, then this does not need to be a barrier – we can support you with this process.  
11. If you or your organisation are registered as a UWE supplier, we will need to provide you with a PO to include on your invoice before your invoice can be submitted. We will advise you whether we will need to provide a PO number.  
12. If you or your organisation have previously received payment from UWE but are not registered as a UWE supplier, then you might now need to be set up as a supplier. If so, you will be required to complete a new supplier form before we can provide a PO number.
13. Payment will be made within 30 days of the date of a valid invoice.  
14. Bursary holders much acknowledge the support of NCCPE in any publicity   relating to the event and acknowledge the bursary in comms materials (Please refer to the catalyst conversation support pack for guidance).
15. At the end of your activity we would require you to complete an online report. This will invite you to share details from the conversation that you had as well as report on your expenditure. These need to be submitted by 5pm on the Friday 27 June 2025.
16. If there is any budget remaining please contact us as NCCPECatalys@uwe.ac.uk to discuss how it might be redirected.  
17. Payment of the bursary will come from UWE.

We believe that £1500 or less will cover most needs. If you have an idea for something that requires more funding (perhaps a series of events or something with particular accessibility considerations) please approach us for a conversation. Please get in touch with us using the Catalyst inbox.  

Should we accept your application we will aim to get the money to you as quickly as possible. Administrative requirements might mean you receive the payment after your event, or that you need to deliver your event later than planned. We will liaise closely with you to minimise the process.