The AREF-MRC Towards Leadership Programme 2025/2026
- Omran Aburayya
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF), in collaboration with the UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC), invites applications for the 2025/2026 Towards Leadership Programme. This fully funded initiative aims to empower emerging African scientists to excel in global health research and secure major funding opportunities.
🎓 Programme Overview
Running from December 2025 to November 2026, the programme comprises:
Two residential workshops (opening and closing)
One virtual workshop
Supplementary webinars, tutorials, and online resources
The curriculum focuses on five key themes:
The Researcher as a Leader: Enhancing self-awareness, mindfulness, and leadership capabilities.
The Effective Researcher: Developing career goals, time management, and mentorship skills.
The Researcher as a Communicator: Improving presentation, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement.
The Compelling Applicant: Understanding funders, proposal development, and peer review processes.
The Researcher as a Manager: Building effective teams, managing budgets, and intellectual property.
All workshop-related costs, including accommodation and travel, are covered by AREF and MRC.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
Be citizens of an African country.
Be employed by a recognized African university or research institution.
Be early-career researchers, having completed a PhD/DPhil/MD or a medical/clinical qualification plus a research-relevant Master's degree within the last 10 years.
Be responsible for managing or supervising research students or staff.
Have experience in obtaining research funding totaling £500,000 or less.
ℹ️ A supporting letter from a senior representative of the applicant's institution is required, confirming eligibility and commitment to the programme's full duration.
📝 Application Process
Deadline: Applications must be submitted online by 16:00 GMT on 2 May 2025.
Notification: Successful applicants will be informed by early to mid-July 2025.
Apply: Complete the application form via the AREF portal
🔗 OFFICIAL LINK
