SUMS Annual Review 2016 2016 | Page 63

UNIVERSITY OF COVENTRY 1784 – Intelligence Gathering Aware of a knowledge gap in potential funding for international PhD students, the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing asked SUMS to undertake intelligence gathering on potential doctoral study funding sources. The research focused on potential sponsors for STEM funding for PhD students from the Faculty’s priority target countries. SUMS was asked to provide a list of potential sponsors with contact details and an understanding of the sponsor’s needs, their longer term strategies and funding schedules, the volume of awards and conditions applied, eligibility and success rates, and current partnerships. The research identified a number of existing funding sources as well as potential sponsors and partnership opportunities. Following conversations with funders, a number of areas of good practice were also observed that will further support Coventry’s activities to enhance its offering to prospective doctoral students from the Faculty’s target countries. Activities www.sums.org.uk 63