Project Report - What Regional Academics** need as researchers and leaders of Scholarship

Through focus groups and surveys, this project investigated the facilitators and barriers to Student Experience Managers (staff tutors or regional academics) actively participating in the scholarship of research and teaching. The research identified that SEMs wanted to be involved with scholarship, with at least 84% of those surveyed having conducted scholarship in the last two years. Three themes merged regarding the barriers and enablers of scholarship work. The first of which was role: there was a lack of clarity around scholarship within the SEM role, which inhibited those who lacked confidence or had little experience of scholarship. Relationships, including mentoring, was an important enabler of scholarship work. However a significant barrier was insufficient resources, in terms of both available time and support in becoming familiar with the complex requirements and processes. Those surveyed identified the need for ‘dedicated time for Scholarship’, a ‘mentoring programme’ and a ‘flow chart’ to better explain the steps in the scholarship process.