All Change! Creating a Sustainable Future for Research
The 2005 Spring Conference took place on 19-20 May at the Thistle Hotel, Brighton. Here you can find reports from each session and copies of the presentations.
The conference focused on the changing research management environment, especially the implementation of Full Economic Costing in universities and the announcements of the detailed processes of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise; new working methods for the Research Councils through their Research Administration Programme; and the effects of the European Directive on Fixed Term Contracts. Other issues discussed included the Freedom of Information Acts, requirements to introduce risk management procedures, and changes to the QAA Code of Practice relating to Research Degree Programmes and changing relationships between administrators and academics and between research managers in different sectors.
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Day 1: Thursday 19 May
Plenary 1: Full Steam Ahead - Changes in Research ManagementThis session provided an overview of some of the high profile changes affecting research, particularly in universities: Dual Support Reform, the 2008 RAE and changes in the Research Councils' management of research.
Presenters:
Dr Michael Jampel, Programme Director, Dual Support Reform, Office of Science and Technology
Ed Hughes, RAE Manager
Professor Ian Diamond, Chief Executive ESRC, Chair of RCUK Executive Group
Workshop sessions:
A: Funders Forum: Perspectives on Full Economic Costing
John Wand, EPSRC
Dr Lee-Ann Coleman, Deputy Chief Executive, Association of Medical Research Charities
Dr Michael Jampel, Head of Global Policy and Strategy, Office of Science and Technology
Amanda Crowfoot, UKRO
Kathy Brownridge, University of Leeds
Phil Clare, Bournemouth University
An opportunity to join with funders from different sectors to debate the effects of Full Economic Costing and their responses to it.
B1: Je-S SRIF3 Submission Surgery
Dr Serena Cooper, Je-S System Manager, PPARC
Ann Durniat, Dual Support Project Manager, PPARC
The Funding Councils' SRIF3 submission (deadline 30th May) is electronic only and made via the Research Councils Je-S system. The structure of proposals and the submission processs has some differences to normal Research Council proposals and this session covered how to use the system to get your proposal submitted, rather than on the content of proposals.
B2: Research Councils Joint Electronic Submission system: introduction for new users
Dr Serena Cooper, Je-S System Manager, PPARC
Ann Durniat, Dual Support Project Manager, PPARC
This session provided an introduction to the Joint Electronic Submission system used by four Research Councils (PPARC, EPSRC, BBSRC and NERC) currently, and which ESRC and AHRC will be using from September 2005. It was aimed at those new to research administration and involved in the proposal preparation and/or submission process, as well as those whose main work is in the ESRC and/or AHRC subject areas due to start using Je-S later in 2005.
C: QAA guidelines on Postgraduate Research Programmes
Janet Bohrer, Development Officer, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
Focussing on and evaluating the impact of the second version of the Code of Practice for the Assurance of Academic Quality and Standards in Higher Education, this workshop considered the implementation of the precept in the context of current practice and ways to develop strategic approaches to managing change.
D1: Full Economic Costing
Pauline Muya, Financial Administrator, Birkbeck College, University of London
This introductory level workshop, aimed at research administrators rather than specialist finance staff, worked through an example costing under the Full Economic Costing methodology. It was based on material used at the ARMA Training Seminars Getting to Grips with Full Economic Costing
D2: A one stop shop for research
Ingrid Pugh & Terri Epps, Virtual Research Unit, University of Brighton
This session explored the experience of creating a 'one stop shop' for research support in a multi-campus university, with campuses up to 20 miles apart, considering the services offered and the benefits of the new approach.
E1: Supporting Clinical Trials
Dr Nichola Seare, Head of Knowledge Management, Research and Development, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority
This workshop was particularly suited to participants from an NHS background and considered the issues of running clinical trials, including the effects of the recent EU legislation.
E2: IPR in the Arts & Humanities
Sarah Willcox, Head of Research Support, University of the Arts London
IPR is often accorded a lower profile in the Arts & Humanities than in some other subject areas, but there is much valuable intellectual property to be protected in these subjects. Both the Royal College of Art and the University of the Arts London have innovation and commercialisation strategies, and the latter formed the basis for discussion in this workshop.
F1: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and research
Natalie Copeland, Records Manager, University of Nottingham
The Freedom of Information Acts may impact on research in a number of ways, from requests for information about sensitive research being carried out by public bodies, to researchers using the Acts to request information previously withheld about their subject of interest, or to research users seeking to find out how research outputs have been altered by public funders between submission and publication. This session explored key impacts of interest to research managers.
F2: Risk management and research
Dr Ian Carter, Director of Research, University of Liverpool
Kathleen Sweeney, Assistant Director of Finance (Research Administration), University of Glasgow
Steff Hazlehurst, Unit Manager, Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London
This workshop considered approaches to risk assessment and management in relation to research at central and departmental level, discussing the types of risks to be considered and how they can be assessed and reviewed. Participants were encouraged to share their own approaches.
Plenary 2: Sustainability - Mind the gap!
This session focused on strategic decision-making in relation to Full Economic Costing and the long-term sustainability of research. How are decisions made about what work to subsidise from QR and other funds? How is QR distributed amongst faculties and departments? How will such decisions affect collegiality? What do funders think of institutional strategies and how do such strategies affect where they commission research?
Presenters:
Dr Jim Port, JM Consulting
Diana Garnham, Chief Executive, Association of Medical Research Charities
Professor Anthony Moore, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), University of Sussex
Day 2: Friday 20 May
A: Intellectual property and changing relationships
Universities and the NHS are increasingly having to work more closely for mutual benefit, in many areas. This session covered the processes by which Intellectual Property is identified and managed within the NHS and universities, and went on to explore the evolving relationship between the University sector and Industry, post Lambert Report.
Presenters:
Terry Conder, Director of East London Innovations Hub
Christine Reid, Manches LLP
B: End of the line for fixed term contracts?
The European Directive on Fixed Term Contracts comes into force in July 2006, and may affect the 40,000 or so Contract Research Staff in universities. Organisations employing researchers on fixed term contracts need to determine whether and when to offer them open-ended contracts, to develop programmes of training and support for career progression within and beyond research, and to develop systems for monitoring income and managing redeployment and redundancy. The session explored progress to date in some of these areas.
Presenters:
Fiona Ford, Deputy Personnel Officer, University of Bristol
Chris Kynch, University College St Martins/AUT Fixed Term Staff committee
Steve Milsom, EPSRC
Plenary 3: On the Orient Express? The globalisation of research commissioning
We hear of globalisation in many sectors, from manufacturing to call centres, but how does it affect research? Post-FEC, will UK-based research funders start to commission research from overseas providers? Are overseas funders increasingly willing to commission research in the UK? What sorts of consortia should UK-based research organisations be building to be most effective in accessing international funds? This session explored a number of issues around the import and export of research and the globalisation of research commissioning.
Presenters:
Fiona Clouder-Richards, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
John Westensee, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
Bill Schweri, University of Kentucky & SRA
