Matariki Engagement Grant
2026 call will open on 2nd March 2026
Following on from the success of the Matariki Leadership Programme which has been running since 2021, the Matariki Network has launched a call for a funding opportunity open to Professional Services staff across the Network – The Matariki Engagement Grant.
What is the fund to be used for?
The Matariki Engagement Grant (MEG) is intended to enhance personal- and career development, professional leadership expertise and international collaboration.
Successful applicants are expected to identify a collaboration project commencing in 2026 and running for a maximum of 12 months. The lead collaborator will work with at least one other Matariki institution and share their learning and any other outputs with the Matariki Network in the form of a short summary report.
Grants are awarded up to a maximum of £5,000 per project.
Application
Colleagues are asked to complete an application outlining their project proposal and confirming who their collaboration partner/s would be. This application will open on the 2nd March 2026 and close on the 22nd May 2026 at 23:59 (BST). Further guidance can be found via the grant’s information page and the online application can be accessed via this link. (open for applications on 2 March).
Management approval
The applicant’s manager is required to endorse the application through a letter of support to ensure that their proposal could be accommodated within their divisional workload requirements, complied with their institutional employment terms and conditions and their institutional policies and procedures for engaging with cross institution working and data protection.
Selection process
Applications are initially assessed locally by a panel of senior leaders, and then up to two project nominations per institution are forwarded to the central Matariki Judging Panel for final assessment. Successful candidates will be notified by the end of June 2026.
Consideration will be given to try to ensure as wide a representation as possible from the Matariki partners and the various Professional Service areas found within institutions. It is hoped that this will also provide an opportunity to develop cross-institution discipline-specific networks and contacts within the Matariki partner institutions.
Contacts
Please consult the grant’s information page which contains further information and FAQs, and send any queries to your institution’s respective Matariki Coordinator.
Further Information
An online information and networking session will be held on 3rd March 2026. This will be an opportunity for colleagues to find out a bit more about the fund, ask any questions, and meet prospective project partners. Register for your place here!