TORCH Global Visiting Professorship Scheme

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The TORCH Global Visiting Fellowship Programme (previously known as the Humanities and Identities Visiting Professorship Scheme) is a flagship scheme that supports Visiting Professors from institutions based in countries included in the United Nations ‘Group of 77’.

HISTORY

TORCH created the scheme in 2015, with the aim to support Visiting Professorships and Fellowships for academics from countries across the Global Majority. The Visiting Professorships are crucial in the work of providing role models and broadening inclusivity across the wider University. The scheme builds on and reinforces existing links between Oxford and Universities in G77 countries.

OBJECTIVES

Visiting Professors are nominated by an academic in the Humanities, and invited to Oxford for one academic term in order to conduct their research and contribute to the teaching environment through departmental and public-facing events. They are also encouraged to participate in the academic life of the College and wider University. The scheme brings mutual benefit to the Oxford community of researchers and students and to the Visiting Professor through the fruitful exchange of knowledge, research, and experiences.

 

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FAQs

What does the Visiting Fellowship include?

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The elected fellows will be affiliated with the University of Oxford for one term starting from the beginning of Michaelmas term (which varies every year). This will include a two month in-person visit to Oxford.

No. The fellowship only covers the elected fellow.

Yes. The proposed TORCH Global Visiting Professors should be holders of university or related posts in their country, and active in Humanities research areas.

This professorship supports academics from countries in the G77 group. This includes, but is not limited to, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Malaysia, Philippines, Mauritius, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and across Southern Africa and the Caribbean.

 

No. The Visiting Professorship is for researchers who are legal residents of a G77 country and fully employed by an academic institution based in the G77 country. The applicant’s contract of employment should cover the length of the Professorship. 

Yes. It is necessary for the applicant to have established contact with a researcher, affiliated with the University of Oxford, before applying. The applicant and Oxford Collaborator do not need to have worked together before the start of the fellowship but have the potential to do so during the fellowship. The Oxford collaborator will be responsible for applying for the professorship on behalf of the applicant. 

If you do not already have an Oxford collaborator in mind, please consult the Oxford website to find a potential collaborator and contact them before submitting your application: https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/divisions-and-departments.

 

When you have identified a potential collaborator, we encourage you to send an email:

  • Introducing yourself and your project.
  • Outlining your proposed project in one paragraph.
  • Explaining how you share similar research interests.

 

If your potential Oxford Collaborator agrees to support your application, please ask them to complete the statement of support form, and submit it via email to: torch@humanities.ox.ac.uk before the deadline.

Please email torch@humanities.ox.ac.uk and we will do the best we can to help you.

In the Case for Support section (to be sent in by the Oxford Collaborator), please introduce the activities you wish to undertake while in Oxford, and any potential outcomes of your activities, including longer-term opportunities for collaboration outcomes of working with your Oxford Collaborator. Please include a proposed timeline of activities, and any specific resources at the university you intend to make use of during your Professorship. The proposal should not be more than 1000 words.

Your Oxford collaborator will submit your application on your behalf. Applications are via the IRAMS system and the ‘Case for Support’ form.

In the application, the Oxford Humanities academic should outline why they have selected the researcher and how their research and practice would contribute to the students and researchers in Oxford, as well as how the research and student community can learn from the Humanities and Identities Professor, and develop longer term partnerships. 

The application should include the proposed Global Professor’s CV, and research statement on what they plan to do during their Visiting Professorship. (No more than 1000 words on the 'Case for Support' form). 

One professorship is awarded every year. 

Please email torch@humanities.ox.ac.uk. 

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