Category Archives: Sheffield

Education News, News, Sheffield

Sheffield Among UK Cities That Benefit The Most From International Students

International students in Sheffield have the third greatest impact on the UK’s economy, according to a new report.

The report, published by Universities UK International (UUKi), the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Kaplan International Pathways in collaboration with London Economics, reveals the growing importance of international students to local economies throughout the UK.

Figures from the report, show that the 2021/22 cohort of international students in Sheffield Central had a £273 million net impact on the economy – the third highest of any constituency across the UK, behind Glasgow Central and Holborn and St Pancras.

The average impact for parliamentary constituencies in the Yorkshire and Humber region was also the third highest in the UK – at £54 million.

Findings from the report reveal international students contributed a huge £41.9 billion to the UK overall, rising from £31.3bn in 2018/19 – an increase of 34 per cent. The data also confirms that – even when accounting for the impact on public services (estimated at £4.4 bn) – the economic benefits of hosting international students significantly outweigh the costs with a total net benefit of £37.4bn to the UK.

The analysis illustrates that the contribution of international students to the UK is clustered around the location of higher education institutions – such as the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University in South Yorkshire – but also demonstrates the economic contribution made by international students across the entire United Kingdom.

Paul Blomfield, Sheffield Central MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Students, said: “The benefits of international students living and studying in Sheffield are clear. This report shows the significant economic benefit they have on our communities, but they also bring enormous value in other ways. Not only do they help to create jobs and support Sheffield’s shops, businesses and restaurants, they enhance the education and experiences of all students, contribute to vital research and add to the cultural vibrancy of our city. I’m proud that students from across the world choose to study in Sheffield and I know that our city will continue to welcome them.”

The benefits international students bring to communities in the UK are not only financial.

Speaking about international students, Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “International students are a vital part of our University community. They bring a real vibrancy to our campus, sharing knowledge, perspectives and experiences that enhance the education of all our students. We are very proud of the contribution international students make to our city – not only economically, but through volunteering and supporting local charities and organisations. When they graduate, they go on to be fantastic ambassadors for Sheffield and for the UK, strengthening our links with countries around the globe.”

“The University and Students’ Union founded the #WeAreInternational campaign 10 years ago to celebrate the impact of our international students, and we will continue to advocate for the benefits they bring to our community.”

Professor Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “In every university in the country, international students broaden horizons and reach. They make our universities culturally richer places, in which students from quite different backgrounds work, learn and live together.”

“The city’s universities are globally connected institutions, and that works for the benefit of students and the city.”

Anna Fedotova, International and Community Officer 2022/23 at the University of Sheffield Students’ Union, said: “Having a diverse, international, and vibrant campus which we can celebrate, brings with it so many benefits outside of the economic sphere. Higher education in the UK attracts students from all over the world, and welcoming international students should remain a priority that paves the way to a deeper and more compassionate understanding of multiple worldviews and cultures. This is something we see every day in our Sheffield student community, and I hope this can continue to grow.”

In total, 381,000 first year international students enrolled into UK universities in 2021/22, highlighting the global appeal of the country’s higher education and cementing our place as one of the leading destinations for international students.

Demonstrating the spread of international students across England, the report shows that:

> 98,825 students studied in London,
>31,360 studied in Yorkshire and the Humber,
>29,750 in the West Midlands,
>27,680 in the Northwest,
>24,835 in the East of England,
>24,235 in the East Midlands,
> 18,715 in the Northeast
>9,700 in the Southwest.

In relation to the other UK home nations, there were 44,085 international first-year students studying in Scotland, 14,905 in Wales, and 12,615 in Northern Ireland.

In Sheffield Central, there were 2,915 first year international students studying at the city’s two universities.

Business Headlines, News, Sheffield

Fleetcor Acquires Sheffield EV

Fleetcor UK, a leading global business payments company, has acquired Mina, a cloud-based digital electric vehicle (EV) charging software platform based in Sheffield.

After a successful investment and two-year partnership, the acquisition provides Allstar’s parent company with the market-leading home charging software company for commercial fleets in the UK and reinforces its commitment to supporting the transition to EV.

The acquisition gives Allstar the UK’s only EV charging solution that captures, calculates and pays for home business-use charging directly to the energy provider, Mina Homecharge.

Also branded as Allstar Homecharge, the solution allows commercial fleets to replace cumbersome employee reimbursement processes for home EV charging with a more accurate, controlled and streamlined alternative for employers and employees.

Combined with Allstar’s market-leading on-the-road EV charging capabilities, fleet managers now have access to a comprehensive suite of turnkey EV charging solutions that will help effectively manage their transition to EVs.

The shareholders of Mina were advised by a team from Clarion including Sarah Harrison and Santino Stifanelli.

The deal follows FLEETCOR’s recent acquisition of Plugsurfing and investment in Zap-Map, which both complement the extensive on-the-road fuel and EV network built by Allstar across the UK.

In addition, Allstar continues to invest significantly in building out products and capabilities that not only help fleets move to EVs but also solve the complexities associated with managing mixed fleets.

Alan King, group president, Global Fleet at Fleetcor, said: “Our goal is to provide companies of all sizes with a better way to pay. In the fleet space specifically, this acquisition means that our customers can now benefit from a full suite of comprehensive payment and reporting solutions for on-the-road and home charging regardless of whether they operate ICE, EV, or mixed fleets.”

Tom Rowlands, global MD of EV solutions at Fleetcor, added: “After working closely together with Mina for two years and seeing first-hand how the solution makes home charging simple, fair and secure for both employees and companies that operate some of the largest fleets in the UK, I am excited to officially welcome the Mina team to Fleetcor.”

“Unifying Mina with Fleetcor enables us to roll out this market-leading home charging solution more easily and quickly, not just in the UK, but also take it to other geographies.”

Ashley Tate, CEO and Co-Founder of Mina, commented: “In less than three years we’ve seen Mina grow from an idea to enabling some of the largest fleets in the UK to transition to EVs. None of this would have been possible without the support from Fleetcor, who have believed and invested in Mina since we first came under their radar back in 2021. I’m extremely excited to continue this journey with the Fleetcor team.”

Education News, Health & Welfare Headlines, News, Sheffield, University Headlines

Sheffield Scientist Receives Prestigious Honour For Fertility Research

A fertility expert from the University of Sheffield has been recognised for his exceptional contributions to pioneering research over the past 30 years.

Professor Allan Pacey is only the 38th Honorary Member of The British Fertility Society in its 50 year history. The prestigious award recognises his life-changing research on infertility, as well as his influential voice in the field through radio, film, television, and live events.

Previous recipients of the award include the late Professor Robert Edwards, who won a Nobel Prize in 2010 for the development of in vitro fertilisation.

Professor Allan Pacey, who is Head of the Departments of Oncology and Metabolism and Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Sheffield, said: “It is such an honour to receive this award – I am over the moon. My association with the British Fertility Society has been an absolute joy and I hope that I have managed in some small way to move the field forward during my career.”

Dr Raj Mathur, Chairman of the British Fertility Society, said: “Professor Pacey is a pre-eminent figure in Andrology and Fertility, whose contributions range from a wide portfolio of research to training of healthcare professionals and improved public understanding of the science of male reproduction. He has been a mentor to several researchers and clinicians and, as a previous Chair of the British Fertility Society, represented the entire fertility sector in the UK at a national and international level. We are delighted to be able to award him Honorary Membership of our Society as a mark of our esteem and gratitude for his work.”

Last month Professor Pacey published a scientific study which found that less than four in 100 men who apply to be sperm donors reach the end of the process and have samples frozen and released for treatments, despite there being a sperm donor shortage.

Additionally, last year he was part of an international study which for the first time discovered a new protein which helps sperm fuse with an egg and could improve fertility treatments in the future.

Professor Pacey first came to Sheffield in 1992 as a postdoctoral research assistant, after obtaining his PhD from the University of St. Andrews and working at a laboratory of the Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie. He was appointed as a Lecturer in 1997, Senior Lecturer in 2001 and subsequently promoted to Professor in 2015.

He has appeared on countless TV series, radio shows and in newspapers to explain the science behind human reproduction and infertility.

Previously, Professor Pacey has been recognised by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who awarded him an Honorary Fellowship in 2014, and in 2016 he was also awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for his services to reproductive medicine.

News, Sheffield, University Headlines

University Of Sheffield Named Within The Top 50 Internationally

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The University of Sheffield has been named as one of the ‘most international universities in the world,’ according to Times Higher Education.

Ranked 46th in the world – a rise of two places from last year – and 15th in the UK, this is the fourth year the University has been recognised in the listing, which celebrates universities with an outstanding international reputation.

Using data from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, the listing demonstrates Sheffield’s high proportion of international students and staff, work to collaborate on research with scholars from across the world, and its strong global reputation.

The University of Sheffield has a longstanding reputation for being an international university, providing outstanding support for international students. In 2013 it founded the #WeAreInternational campaign, which highlighted the crucial value of international students to the UK. The campaign, which is now led by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), is supported by more than 160 UK universities and colleges, the British Council and the Home Office.

When it comes to research, the University is engaged in a wide range of projects with international impact. These involve successful research partnerships with leading universities around the world, to address pressing global issues and contribute towards a greener future. It has also forged strong overseas partnerships in industry, leading to opportunities for staff and student exchange, research links and inward investment into the local economy.

Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “At Sheffield we are a truly global institution, where students and academics from across the world work together to tackle some of the most important challenges through their research. Our international partnerships are very important to us and help to create a global network of talent.”

“Our diverse community also plays a vital role in enriching our teaching and learning experience and preparing our students to become better world citizens. Celebrating the positive impact of international students is the reason we founded the #WeAreInternational campaign ten years ago and a message we continue to highlight.”

Communication, Communication Headlines, Education News, Events, Feature Headlines, News, News Headlines, People, Sheffield, University Headlines, University News

UK’s Largest Research Streaming Platform Launched

The UK’s biggest research streaming platform has been launched by the University of Sheffield to enable anyone, anywhere to discover and explore its pioneering research.

The University of Sheffield Player, officially launched this week (Monday 30 January 2023), brings together videos, podcasts and digital exhibitions all about University of Sheffield research, which anyone, from anywhere can access at anytime – making the University’s research more accessible than ever before.

From art to artificial intelligence, climate change to cutting-edge medicine, food security to societal issues, there is something on the Player to feed every curiosity.

The unique platform offers a curated library of quality, evidence-based content that showcases the work of Sheffield’s internationally-recognised researchers – who are leaders in their fields, working to tackle many of the problems that affect us all. The Player makes this research accessible, engaging and freely available to all, in one place for the first time.

Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City and Culture at the University of Sheffield, said: “Our vision at the University of Sheffield is to deliver life-enhancing research that not only transforms the lives of our graduates, but shapes the world we live in. A key part of this is sharing our research with people outside of the University – making the breakthroughs our academics achieve accessible to people throughout Sheffield, the South Yorkshire region, the rest of the UK and around the world.”

“By launching the University of Sheffield Player we are making our research more openly available than ever before. It’s bringing our research into one single place that anyone, anywhere can access and explore, which we hope will mean even more people will benefit from the discoveries our academics make every day.”

The Player has been specially designed to be easy to explore and access.

You can start by scrolling through the Homepage to discover featured items on a range of different subjects.

Or, if you are interested in a particular theme or topic, you can take a look at Channels and Categories using dropdown menus at the top of each page. There is a curated selection of videos, podcasts, exhibitions and playlists within the Player’s four Channels: Arts & Culture; Environment & Sustainability; People & Place; and Science & Technology.

To find content relating to more specific topics, you can click on one of the 20+ Category headings in the dropdown menu. The Categories cover everything from Poetry, History and Well-being, to Engineering, Nature and Sustainability.

The Player enables anyone to explore University of Sheffield festivals and playlists, through its Series list. This includes: Highlights from 2021, the Sounds of the Cosmos video series, Festival of the Mind, Off the Shelf Festival of Words and Understanding Society.

Alternatively, a search of the A-Z listings opens up a world of content from Sheffield research such as Age of Love, a light-hearted, sensitive look at sexuality in older age to Zoomshock, a dynamic animated video into the societal effects of remote working.

Professor Vanessa Toulmin, added: “The launch of the platform opens up a world of possibilities for us to further develop how we share our research and make a difference to people’s lives. At launch, the Player has over 250 videos, podcasts and exhibitions, but this is just the start – new content will be added every week and we’re looking forward to exploring how we can use it to share our research with the public.”

Professor Koen Lamberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “The launch of the University of Sheffield Player marks a key milestone in how the University shares its research with the public. We have long made our research open and accessible, such as through the many different public events our academics take part in throughout each year, the expert commentary they provide to the world’s media and the outreach work they do with schools and groups in our local communities.

“Now the Player brings our public engagement activities together in one place, so that anyone can access it from anywhere at anytime. This provides a platform for our research to reach more people than ever before.”

To start exploring the Player, visit here.

Arts & Culture, Arts & Culture Headlines, Community, Council News, Featured News, Lifestyle, News Headlines, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Danaë Wellington Announced As New Sheffield Poet Laureate

Danaë Wellington has been announced as the new Poet Laureate of Sheffield. Originally set up by Sheffield City Council with a small honorarium, the position gives the opportunity to a local poet to celebrate and give a profile to the city, its culture and its communities via spoken word.

Danaë is a Jamaican-British author, performance artist, and former neo-soul singer who is based in Sheffield. Her work has been published in a number of anthologies and she has performed at festivals such as Tramlines, Sheaf Poetry Festival, and Off the Shelf Festival of Words. Her vocals are on several records, including her recently released debut LP, “Good Fruit.” She also produced “Passing the Baton: The Legacy of the Windrush Pioneers,” a film about how the Windrush Generation changed Sheffield’s cultural landscape.

Along with the news that she was named Laureate, Danaë recently read some of her poetry, including “The Blue Jeans Asks Her,” at the University of Sheffield’s Firth Hall as part of the Off the Shelf Festival, which takes place every October. Black womanhood, Black creole and Christian faith, freedom, and resistance are major themes of her work.

“The role of Poet Laureate holds significant weight for me. I’m stepping into the role as a Black, immigrant, autistic woman which means I get to be a part of breaking the myth that poetry isn’t for people like me. I’m joining my predecessors in shattering the myth that poetic expression has one voice. Poetry looks and sounds like many things, and during this time I hope to encourage storytellers that have been sitting on the periphery to rise up,” explains Danaë.

Since 2017, Wellington has worked and performed with local organisations such as Hive South Yorkshire, which helps young people ages 14 to 30 improve their writing skills. She also founded Odd Child Productions, a Black and neurodiverse-led events and production company in Sheffield. She aims to improve equity in arts and culture by making accessible local cultural programmes and events for young people, adults, and families, to “bridge the gap between arts and cultural institutions and ethnically minoritised communities.”

Wellington will hold the Laureateship for two years. She succeeds Warda Yassin, who wrote “A Sonnet for Sheffield” for the Off the Shelf Festival of Words in 2021. Otis Mensah, a local poet and performer, is also in their company, appointed the first Laureate for the city in 2018 by former Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Magid Magid.

Magid Magid, former Sheffield Mayor and founder of Sheffield Poet Laureate said: “Danae is an amazing addition to the Sheffield Poet Laureates who came before her. When we established the Laureateship in 2018, the goal was to showcase and support our city’s thriving artistic and cultural scene. As committed to increasing access to the arts as Danae is, paired with her incredible talent for poetry and spoken word, I have no doubt that she will only build on the brilliant foundation laid by Otis and Warda.”

Off the Shelf Festival of Words, from the University of Sheffield, is one of the largest literary festivals in the North of England. Every October the Festival brings the best of local, regional, and international literary talent to Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

Education News, Infrastructure Headlines, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, University News

University Of Sheffield Affirms Open Research & Scholarship Culture

The University of Sheffield has affirmed its commitment to an open research and scholarship culture, by approving new policies that will ensure its research is accessible to as many people as possible, and encouraging the use and creation of open educational resources throughout its teaching programmes.

The University’s aspiration is to embrace an open research culture, which is fundamental in order for its research to be of maximum benefit to society, and to enable students to engage effectively with educational resources.

This aspiration is a vital pillar of University’s Vision and governs how the University’s distinctive and innovative research will continue to drive intellectual advances and address global challenges.

The new policies for intellectual policy, research publications and copyright, and open educational resources (OER) have now been approved by the University of Sheffield’s Senate and solidify those commitments, setting out plans for how the Vision will be implemented. They apply to results of research conducted on the University’s campus.

Professor Sue Hartley, the University of Sheffield’s Vice-President for Research, said: “This new policy is a real step change in ensuring that the excellent research we do here at the University of Sheffield can be accessed and used by anyone for the benefit of all.”

“As well as supporting authors to retain their rights and comply with funder policies, immediate and inclusive access to research outputs is of critical importance to deriving societal benefits from the findings. Open access is significant in driving innovation across all disciplines, something that is of great importance to us here at Sheffield.”

Professor Mary Vincent, the University of Sheffield’s Vice-President for Education, added: “Open educational resources play an increasingly important role in the inclusive and engaging learning environment we provide at Sheffield, and I am delighted that our new OER policy has been approved, signalling our continued commitment to open education and scholarship.”

The University of Sheffield was one of the many global institutions which prioritised the quick sharing of research data free of many of the restrictions that academic papers are usually subjected to, which can restrict who can access data, and where.

The University was one of the first UK research centres to publish fully sequenced genomes of the Covid-19 virus, by sharing its findings with the international data bank GISAID. This enabled researchers around the world to track the spread and evolution of the virus, without which scientists and health researchers globally would not have been able to effectively, and rapidly develop much-needed life-saving treatments.

The new policies are based on principles set out in national, and international research funding frameworks, which support researchers to promote their findings to the biggest audience possible for the benefit of everyone immediately upon publication of their academic papers, providing opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

As well as fostering more equitable access to research, they also support the use and creation of openly accessible educational resources, aligning Sheffield with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG4 to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Anna Clements, Director of Library Services and University Librarian at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am delighted that the University has adopted these policies. The Library is committed to supporting the University’s digital education goals and the aim of developing an equitable and open environment for research and education. These policies mean that our researchers can be confident that those wishing to access our research results can do so irrespective of their ability to pay, and that our students have access to high quality digital resources to support their learning.”

Community, News Headlines, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Chemical Pollution In Yorkshire’s Rivers To Be Studied In New Project

Sheffield scientists are to investigate the impact of chemical pollution in Yorkshire’s rivers as part of a £1.6 million study.

  • Just 14 per cent of the UK’s rivers meet a good level of ecological status, with pollution due to sewage, agriculture, human activity and plastics becoming increasingly problematic.
  • The team, which includes scientists from the University of Sheffield, will investigate the most dangerous chemicals and chemical mixtures being emitted into the county’s waterways and the role they are playing in nature loss.
  • It is hoped that the findings will identify ways to better monitor and mitigate the impact of chemicals on water quality and nature loss.

The research team will investigate the most dangerous chemicals and chemical mixtures being emitted into the county’s waterways and the role they are playing in nature loss.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield will work alongside experts from the universities of York and Durham to analyse chemical pollution levels along nine rivers in Yorkshire – the Aire, Calder, Derwent, Don, Nidd, Ouse, Swale, Ure and Wharfe.

Rivers and other freshwater waterways in the UK are becoming increasingly polluted by agriculture, sewage, human activity and plastics – only 14 per cent of rivers meet a good level of ecological status.

Chemicals are discharged into rivers and streams on a daily basis through domestic and industrial wastewater containing things like cleaning chemicals, personal care products and pharmaceuticals, as well as from the application of pesticides or the use of veterinary medicines.

The research team, which includes Professor Lorraine Maltby and Professor Andrew Beckerman from the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences, aims to use their findings to identify ways to better monitor and mitigate the impact of chemicals on water quality and nature loss, both now and into the future as our climate and population changes.

Professor Lorraine Maltby, from the University of Sheffield, said: “Pollution in our rivers is an issue which needs urgent attention – last year, raw sewage and chemical pollutants were discharged into English rivers at least 375,000 times and runoff of nutrients and chemicals from agricultural land continues to be a problem.”

“With this research we hope to ultimately guide environmental and economic policy towards limiting the impacts of chemicals on biodiversity by predicting how climate change and land use change will alter the amount of contaminants that reach and impact our streams and rivers.”

Leader of the study, Professor Alistair Boxall from the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, said: “We are facing a global biodiversity crisis and the quality of freshwater ecosystems is declining more rapidly than either terrestrial or marine systems.”

“One in 10 freshwater and wetland species in England are threatened with extinction and two thirds of existing species are in decline. Regulatory data suggest that chemical pollution from wastewater discharges, transport, urban environments, agriculture and mining all contribute to failures against existing quality standards.”

“Our study responds to the urgent need for more effective methods for assessing, predicting and managing the impacts of chemicals both now and in the decades to come. This will bring us closer to halting biodiversity loss in UK rivers while continuing to realise the societal benefits of chemicals.”

The £1.6 million project is being funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is one of five new research projects which have been awarded a share of £8.4 million to investigate how pollution impacts UK rivers.

The researchers from Sheffield, York and Durham will work closely with partners including key representatives from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), major industries including Unilever, UKWIR and Network Rail and the charities the National Trust and the Rivers Trust.

The study will provide policy makers with the knowledge and frameworks to make important changes to the way chemicals are risk assessed, enabling the protection of biodiversity and key environmental functions in areas where they are vulnerable. Identifying the most harmful chemicals and chemical mixtures will put manufacturers of chemicals in a better position to produce substances that are beneficial to society but which do not negatively impact the natural environment.

Professor Boxall added: “Only by taking the integrative and system-wide approach adopted in this project will we be able to deliver the Environment Act’s aspiration to ‘reverse the decline in species abundance by the end of 2030.”

Other Sports, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Sports Headlines

Sheffield Announce Holder Return After Ipswich Win

Photo credit: Charlotte Flanigan

Sheffield completed a 100 per cent home league record with a win over Ipswich – before announcing Aussie Ace Jack Holder as their first rider for 2023.

The Tru Plant Tigers, who finished runners-up in this year’s Grand Final, had to fulfil their outstanding Premiership fixture with the Witches, and ensured they finished with ten league victories from ten at Owlerton with a comprehensive 54-36 triumph.

Sheffield won ten of the 15 races and limited their opponents to just one heat advantage – which came in the final action of the night.

Rising Star Connor Mountain top scored with paid 13 and fully deserved his Heat 15 nomination, while guest Sam Masters provided plenty of entertainment on his way to three race wins.

Holder dropped just one point to the opposition while fellow heat-leader Adam Ellis also achieved paid double figures.

Lewis Kerr again demonstrated plenty of speed and fighting spirit as did reserve Justin Sedgmen who was in the thick of the action in each of his outings.

The Sheffield faithful were thrilled with another quality team display – and raised the volume even higher when it was announced Holder would be returning for a third straight season.

Team boss Simon Stead said: “It’s great to start off by bringing your No.1 back. I’m delighted that we’ve got Jack back because he sort of feels at home here. We’ve talked to him about our plans with how we want to make the team look and how that’s going to shape up and he’s excited by that which is obviously really, really pleasing.”

“I just want to say a big thanks to all those fans who came out tonight and then stayed behind to hear from the lads and hear the news as well; I hate the phrase ‘nothing fixture’ because you always want to win and it was a nice way to sign off our regular league campaign.”

Sheffield continue to explore all possibilities with regard to the restaging of their Premiership League Cup decider against King’s Lynn.

Charity Headlines, Health & Welfare, Infrastructure, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, University News

University Of Sheffield Pledges Support To Academics Seeking Sanctuary

University of Sheffield pledges further support to academics seeking sanctuary.

The University of Sheffield is providing further support by launching a scheme for academics to continue their research in Sheffield if they have been displaced or affected by conflict or persecution in their home country.

The new scheme – Sanctuary International Visitors Support Scheme – will initially provide funding for three researchers to come to Sheffield for up to 12 months so that they can continue their work in a safe environment. It is open to any scholars around the world who are fleeing war and persecution in their home countries.

Academics who are successful will be granted ‘visiting researcher’ status and will receive financial support, help finding suitable accommodation and be offered an academic mentor to support their work at the University.

Dr Malcolm Butler, Director of Global Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: “As a global university with strong civic values, we strive to support people whose lives have been disrupted by conflict or persecution. The Sanctuary International Visitors Support Scheme is the latest addition to the University’s package of support for refugees which also includes scholarships, international partnerships and direct support for local communities in Sheffield.”

“We look forward to welcoming new academics to join our diverse and inclusive Sheffield community, which is committed to global collaborations and the exchange of knowledge.”

Applications for the Sanctuary International Visitors Support Scheme for academics are open now and close on 13 November 2022. More details can be found here.

In addition, the University of Sheffield’s fitness department – Sport Sheffield – has announced that refugees and asylum seekers in Sheffield who are receiving support from ASSIST Sheffield can get free access to University sports facilities by presenting their ASSIST photo card at each venue reception.

Earlier this year, the University twinned with Ukrainian university Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) to provide resources and support for staff and students affected by the war in Ukraine. £20,000 has been donated to rebuild air raid shelters on KPI’s campus. The University of Sheffield is also providing KPI access to key IT equipment, library facilities and other resources, as well as launching research collaborations and staff exchanges.

The University has also awarded nine sanctuary scholarships this year to students who have experienced war or persecution in their home countries. These scholarships have covered the full cost of tuition and provide a £9,840 award to support living costs for each year of study.

Additionally, four scholarships have been awarded to individuals who have sought refuge in the UK to improve their English skills by the University’s English Language Teaching Centre.

You can find more information on the support that the University offers refugee students and scholars here.