Birkbeck joins prestigious arts and humanities consortium
Birkbeck has joined the Consortium of the Humanities and the Arts South East England (CHASE)
Birkbeck has joined the Consortium of the Humanities and the Arts South East England (CHASE). CHASE is a consortium fostering collaboration in the Arts and Humanities between nine of the premier universities in South East England. Birkbeck’s participation in the prestigious group will augment the College's internationally recognised research strengths and allow Birkbeck researchers to help shape a distinctive CHASE research environment.
CHASE hosts one of 11 new Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) in the UK funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which enrolled its first students in October. As part of their membership, Birkbeck will participate in an innovative portfolio of events and opportunities for PhD students. Funded by a £17m award from AHRC and more than £10m from its seven founder members (Courtauld Institute of Art, Goldsmiths University of London, the Open University, and the Universities of East Anglia, Essex, Kent and Sussex), CHASE DTP aims to create a research environment that will support a new generation of doctoral students in creating their own cultures of research and practice. The School of Oriental and African Studies also joined CHASE at the same time as Birkbeck, allowing further development of the Consortium's range of activities.
Professor Matthew Innes, Vice-Master of Birkbeck, said: “We are delighted to join CHASE and the research environment it is developing. Our students will benefit hugely from CHASE doctoral training activities and events. Birkbeck’s unique mission and vibrant traditions of doctoral research will be strengthened by this collaboration, and we look forward enthusiastically to a creative partnership.”
Professor Vicky Lebeau, CHASE Director and Professor of English at the University of Sussex, said: “We are delighted to welcome Birkbeck and SOAS to CHASE. Both are unique institutions and we look forward to working with them to further develop the CHASE ethos and environment for our researchers.”