Raising golden geese: supporting and managing quality research
The 2007 Conference took place on 7-8 June at the Mercure Holland House Hotel, Cardiff. Here you can find reports from each session and copies of the presentations.
'Quality' and 'excellence' are words used frequently to describe research and those who do it, but what do we really mean by these words? How do we compare the relative merits of fundamental and applied research? Can we identify quality in research support? The 2007 Conference discussed topics a range of topics within this theme, including approaches to assessing and ensuring the quality of research, the quality of individual processes within research administration and management, and intra- and inter-organisational communication, procedures and cultures. Sessions covered how different research organisations control the quality of research proposals or research outputs; what systems are put in place to support processes and how managers know if they meet the right needs; and how individual researchers can be supported in their development.
Copyright in presentations rests with their authors (or their employers, if appropriate). References to presentations should include both the name of the presenter and of the conference (i.e. "ARMA Conference 2007: Raising golden geese: supporting and managing quality research, 7-8 June 2007, Cardiff"). Copying and distribution of the presentations, or extracts from them, is not permitted without the express permission of the relevant authors. Please read our copyright statement.
Opening Plenary
Quality in Research: reflections and comparisons
This session invited speakers from differing disciplinary and organisational backgrounds to reflect on what research quality meant to them, and to consider whether research administrators and managers can make a difference to the quality of research through the support we offer.
Presenters:
Professor Sir Richard Brook, Director, Leverhulme Trust
Professor Bruce Brown, Director of Research Development, University of Brighton and Chair, RAE Main Panel O: Art, Design and Performing Arts
Professor Peter Blood, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), University of Cardiff
- Report
- Bruce Brown's presentation Please respect image copyrights
- Peter Blood's presentation
Keynote address
Research Policy in Wales
Professor Philip Gummett, Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
Professor Gummett presented a review of recent developments in the support of research in Welsh HE, highlighting some of the distinctive features that accompany devolution of HE funding within a UK science policy framework, together with a word on where Wales stands on the RAE post-2008.
Parallel sessions
Session One [More details]
101: Funding opportunities in the sciences [slides]
102: Research Councils UK Update [slides (only used by one speaker)]
103: The future of research assessment and funding [slides] [report]
104: Customer value from electronic research administration systems (without going mad) [slides] [report]
105: Supporting postgraduate researchers: perspectives from the UK GRAD Programme [slides]
106: Full Economic Costing - The Road to Sustainability? [slides]
107: Enterprise, Intellectual Property and Economic Impact [slides] [report]
108: Research Integrity and practical implications in HEIs and the NHS [slides]
Session Two [More details]
201: Funding opportunities in the medical/clinical sciences [slides]
202: Data collection for RAE 2008 [slides] [Report]
203: Introduction to European Research Funding [slides]
204: Understanding your academics [slides]
205: Research Management Data: The key to success [slides] [report]
206: Research projects from idea to dipstick: working with research councils [slides] [report]
207: What those involved in the research process really think [slides] [report]
Session Three [More details]
301: Funding opportunities in the non-medical life sciences
302: Introduction to Framework 7 [slides]
303: Strategic Approaches to Managing Research [slides] [report]
304: Gamekeeper or poacher? research administration across the institution [slides] [report]
305: Ensuring Quality of Research amongst ever-increasing Regulations [slides]
306: QA vs QC for research grant applications [slides] [report]
307: Roberts and beyond: the development and career management of research-only staff [report]
308: Applying for funding from NIH via grants.gov - the practicalities [slides]
Session Four [More details]
401: AMRC update [slides]402: New arrangements for Research Council assurance (dipstick) testing [slides] [report]
403: RAE surgery - policy issues [slides] [Report]
404: The role of scientifically qualified research managers in professionalising research and raising quality [slides]
405: Concordat to support the career management of researchers - 2007 [slides]
406: Ethics in social science research [slides]
407: Benchmarking in practice [slides]
Session Five [More details]
501: Funding opportunities in the arts and humanities [slides]
502: Can a research administrator assess research quality? [slides]
503: Specialists, generalists or both?
504: Systems of internal peer review [slides]
505: Working and negotiating with industry [slides]
506: The role of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration and the UK Clinical Research Network [slides]
507: Engaging early with researchers and managers
