BERA is pleased to invite interested members to stand as candidates in the 2021 BERA Council Elections. There are two vacancies on our Council, (Board of Trustees). These positions would begin on 1st September 2021 and end in August 2025.

In recent years BERA has been going from strength to strength with engaged membership, a wide array of events including our annual Conference, higher impact factors for our four journals, and record amounts of funding awarded for research. BERA Council has significantly contributed to this; setting strategic priorities, providing academic leadership and helping our engagement within and beyond the academy. Despite the uncertainty and impact of Covid-19 on our activities, BERA remains in a strong financial and reputational position and we are currently in the process of updating our ambitious strategic plan for the next five-year period.

We are seeking applications by 15^th January 2021.   

As part of our wider commitment to greater equality and diversity at all levels of the organisation, BERA Council has resolved that it should seek increased representation from members with a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. In acknowledging the structural inequalities and unjust power imbalances that affect our members, we wish to be proactive in addressing this within our own structures. We are confident that BERA Council will benefit from the advantages that diversity brings, including different skills, life experiences and backgrounds, bringing a fresh perspective to the board. Therefore, we will be prioritising the recruitment of people with a BAME background for these roles.

In addition, as part of our commitment to the four nations of the United Kingdom, we wish to see at least one of these vacancies filled by an applicant working in Wales.

We welcome applications from members from any background and stages of their career – be they senior leaders in education, practitioners or ECRs. They key is what you can offer as a Trustee of the organisation. BERA Council is the governing body of the Association and the members of the Council are, de facto, the Trustees of the Association as registered Charity and Company Directors under Companies House regulations. Trustees are legally obliged to operate in the best interest of the entire charity at all times and are not elected to represent specialist interests or causes.

To apply, please submit a two-page CV to secretariat@bera.ac.uk and complete the application through clicking the ‘Apply Now’ button at the bottom of this page. Your CV will not be made public and is for internal use only. The two questions which will form the basis of your application are:

• What experience and skills would make you suitable for a position on BERA Council?
• How do you fulfil the criteria outlined in the role description?
• Names of two current BERA members who support your application

Ahead of nomination, should you wish to explore the nature of the role, the commitment involved or any other queries, please contact secretariat@bera.ac.uk.

BERA 2021 Council Elections Timeline:

If successfully elected, your term will begin on 1^st September 2021 and end in August 2025 although if successfully elected, you will be invited to attend the Strategic Away Day in May 2021 (Date TBC) to attend a Trustees’ Training session and attend a meeting of Council as an Observer Council meet three times a year and you would participate with full voting rights from the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year. The time commitment during the period will normally be at around 10 days per year, should you also sit on one of our committees.

The trustee role description and specifications can also be found here.

To be eligible to stand, candidates must be fully paid up members of BERA at the time of the nomination process opening and closing and must remain so for the duration of their term. No extensions are granted. Candidates must not be ineligible to stand according to the rules set out by the Charity Commission or Companies House.

More information on BERA’s Governance can be found on this page.

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