Apply for ACU’s HR in HE Community Grants (2025)

Offered by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), these grants support university HR practitioners in enhancing institutional practices through collaboration, innovation, and shared learning. With a total fund of £10,000, the scheme supports diverse projects that promote the HR function across the Commonwealth. Selected initiatives may range from small-scale webinars to multi-institutional policy development.
(acu.ac.uk)

What the Grants Cover

HR in HE Community Grants can be used to fund projects such as:

• Attending HR conferences and sharing findings
• Developing and delivering training for HR professionals
• Co-creating policies on workforce planning, inclusion, mental health, international recruitment
• Designing or improving HR processes
• Delivering webinars on current HR topics
• Conducting benchmarking or comparative research on HR best practices

Important Dates & Funding Details

• Applications open: 2 September 2025
• Deadline: 4 November 2025, 15:00 UTC
• Total Budget: £10,000—flexible allocations for small or larger-scale projects

Who Can Apply & How to Apply

• Eligibility: Must be a staff member in the HR function at an ACU member university. Collaboration with other ACU institutions is encouraged but not required. Institutions offering matching funding will be viewed favorably.
• How to Apply:
  1. Review the application guidance and FAQs.
  2. Prepare your initiative outline, action plan (6–12 months), and budget.
  3. Include a letter of support from a senior institutional leader and the CV of the activity lead.
  4. Submit your application via the MyACU platform—register if you haven’t already.

How Applications Are Assessed

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Project feasibility and clear goals
• Expected impact and deliverables
• The skills and experience of the activity lead
• Degree of institutional support
• How well the project aligns with the HR in HE Community’s objectives

Why This Grant Matters

• Enables HR practitioners to lead impactful initiatives that elevate university HR functions
• Promotes international collaboration and exchange across Commonwealth institutions
• Supports strategic HR development—especially in areas like inclusion, mental health, and global talent recruitment
• Provides a platform to share outputs and innovations with the extended ACU network post-project