The Global Chair programme is a flagship scheme run by the International Relations Office and provides support for globally-renowned scholars to join our University as distinguished international visiting professors.

Building on the success of the scheme, which has attracted scholars across disciplines and global regions, we are pleased to open nominations for Global Chairs in the 2023-2024 academic year.

As leading academic experts in their fields, Global Chairs are invited to Bath to engage in high-profile research activity, foster collaboration and interdisciplinarity, and enhance our international networks in research and practice.

In addition, we encourage our Global Chairs to network with our wider University community, connect with our alumni, and engage with the public. They will provide inspiration and mentorship to students or early-career researchers, promote engagement with policy or industry, or offer expert advice for institutional initiatives and communities of practice.

As ambassadors for our University, they help raise our international profile and develop new partnerships for research and societal impact.

Previous Global Chair appointments have included:

• Prof. John Warner (Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry). A prominent academic and industrial expert in green chemistry and sustainable technologies, Prof. Warner has facilitated Bath’s Green Chemistry Commitment, a global initiative embedding green chemistry principles into the undergraduate Chemistry curriculum.

• Prof. Soraya Seedat (Stellenbosch University). A leading psychiatrist specialising in post-traumatic stress disorder among vulnerable populations in the Global South, Prof. Seedat's Global Chair supports Bath's strategic partnership in South Africa and our global research networks in the field of mental health.

• Prof. Tianhong Cui (University of Minnesota). A leading expert on MEMS/NEMS and advanced manufacturing, Prof. Cui contributes to Bath's strategic priorities of healthcare technologies and sustainability.

• Prof. Jacqui True (Monash University). A global expert on gender-inclusive peace-building, Prof. True lends further support to our strategic partnership with Monash University and enables new connections with the Monash Centre for Gender, Peace and Security.

For Global Chair nominees

Distinguished academics from universities and research institutes outside of the UK may be nominated as a Global Chair. We encourage nominations from scholars who engage with the world of practice and have affiliations or networks with industry, policy or community organisations. Global Chairs are initially appointed for a period of 1 year and are invited to spend time on the Bath campus.

For Bath nominators

Nominators of a Global Chair must be led and submitted by an academic staff member of any discipline from the Education and Research job family at the University of Bath, with a contract of employment for the full duration of the proposed project. We welcome joint nominations with members of staff from professional services departments.

Selection criteria

Our Global Chairs build high-profile networks in research and practice, and we look for nominations that develop existing links or explore new research connections. For this call, we prioritise nominations that:

• have relevance for the University's priority research themes of Digital, Sustainability, and Health & Wellbeing, including the Bath Beacons, or align with other areas of emerging or existing research strength;

• build capacity for interdisciplinary research communities, knowledge partnerships or existing international networks or alliances.

In addition to undertaking an agreed programme of research, Global Chairs will contribute to the University in a variety of ways. Activities may include, for example:

• mentoring activities and interaction with students or early-career researchers through master classes, career advice, seminars or research meetings;

• public engagement, including a public lecture or other events accessible to the wider University community and members of the local public;

• providing expert advice to support institutional capacity-building, including for the development of international partnerships or networks; policy, civic or industry engagement; or other University initiatives and communities of practice;

• alumni engagement.

Selection panel

Nominations will be reviewed by the Head of Department and Dean in the first instance. Final decisions on awards will be made by a selection panel chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and comprising of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research), Associate Deans (International), the Director of the Department of Development and Alumni Relations, and the Director of International Relations.

Applications should be submitted to the Head of Department/Division by Monday 27 February 2023.

The IRO has developed guidelines for activities and cost plans, which are included as an appendix to the application form.

We encourage nominators to discuss their proposal with the International Relations Office ahead of the deadline. Please contact international-partnerships@bath.ac.uk.

Deadlines