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Driving forward excellence in research: the University of Oxford

Driving forward excellence in research: the University of Oxford. Professor Andrew Hamilton FRS. Oxford’s size and shape in students 1 December 2009. Oxford students by type. Oxford students by division. 100% = 20,927. 100% = 20,927. 2%. Visiting students

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Driving forward excellence in research: the University of Oxford

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  1. Driving forward excellence in research: the University of Oxford Professor Andrew Hamilton FRS

  2. Oxford’s size and shape in students 1 December 2009 Oxford students by type Oxford students by division 100% = 20,927 100% = 20,927 2% Visiting students Continuing Education 2% Visiting students 6% Postgraduate research (doctorate) 24% Medical Sciences 13% Social Sciences 25% Postgraduate taught (masters) 18% Math, Physical, and Life Sciences 26% Undergraduate 56% Humanities 28% Driving forward excellence in research Source: OSS

  3. Development of Graduate EducationStudents as of 1 December Growth 1999-2009 20,076 Total= 16,588 5,053 Postgraduate research Postgraduate taught Undergraduate 65% 3,639 3,641 2,614 1,621 1,304 11,328 11,382 0.5% 11,211 11,332 1999 2009 Source: OSS Driving forward excellence in research

  4. Increasingly InternationalBy nationality Overseas EU (excl. U.K.) Total number international International as a percentage of total 1996 2009 6 4 10% 1,050 1,633 Undergraduates (full-time) 8 6 14% 1996 2009 34 16 50% 2,549 4,781 Postgraduates (full-time) 43 20 63% 2003 2009 17 14 31% 1,188 2,015 Academic staff 20 20 40% Source: OSS for students; OpenDoor database for academic staff. Student data as of December 1; staff data as of July 31. Driving forward excellence in research

  5. A significant Collegiate University BudgetRevenues 2008-9 100% = £1.7 billion • The University of Oxford • 60+ departments • Numerous centres • Oxford Colleges • 38 colleges £281m £863m £579m • Oxford University Press • Academic, ELT, U.S., International • Present in over 50 countries Source: annual reports/accounts of respective units Driving forward excellence in research

  6. Collegiate Experience Four academic divisions 38 colleges Humanities Social Sciences Math, Physical & Life Sciences Medical Sciences including over 60 departments Smaller communities Every Oxford student belongs to a department and to a college Driving forward excellence in research

  7. Strategic Plan: Research • Retain and recruit researchers of the highest distinction and quality • Support divisions and departments in the development and implementation of their research plans • Provide and develop a supportive research environment in which scholars, at every stage of their career, can flourish • Maintain research strength across the disciplinary range and encourage further interdisciplinary research initiatives • Participate...in national and international debates on future research assessment exercises..... • Enhance administrative services and support designed to facilitate research excellence and knowledge transfer • Support international research and collaboration • Ensure that research is carried out in accordance with applicable ethical standards Driving forward excellence in research

  8. Expansion of our research enterprise External research income, 2008-09 • Increased research income • brings • Exciting expansion of academic horizons • Growing number of research-only staff • 700 in the 1970s • Over 3,000 today • Hunger for research students and post-docs • Need for different kinds of administrative support Source: HESA; University of Oxford Research Services; Personnel Services Driving forward excellence in research

  9. Main source of Research Funding: GovernmentUniversity research income 2008-9 Government Industry 100% = £451 million 60% 25% 8% 7% UK charities Other sources • UK • HEFCE block grant 24% • Research Councils 23% • Government departments/ 8% National Health Service • Europe • European Commission 4% Source: University of Oxford Research Services Driving forward excellence in research

  10. External Research Income from FY 2000/01 to FY 2009/10 (£K) 367,048 340,540 285,289 248,233 213,139 183,569 173,496 162,894 149,744 142,430 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 External research Driving forward excellence in research

  11. External Research Income by Sponsor Type FY 2009/10: Total £367.0M UK Govt / NHS (£38.1M) UK Charity (£112.7M) 10% 31% EU Govt (£24.4M) 7% UK & Overseas Industry (£39.0M) 10% Research Councils Other UK & Overseas (£112.9M) Sources (£40.0M) 31% 11% External Research Driving forward excellence in research

  12. Research Income from Wellcome Trust: FY 2005/06 to FY 2009/10 £M 70.0 60.7 59.0 60.0 46.2 45.4 50.0 43.4 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 FY 2005/06 FY 2006/07 FY 2007/08 FY 2008/09 FY 2009/10 Wellcome Trust Driving forward excellence in research

  13. Oxford’s research funding from international sources has grown strongly in recent years • Income from international sources now accounts for >20% of Oxford research income • Average annual growth 21% pa - compared to 13% pa for domestic sources Research Income (International Sources)2003/04 – 2008/09 £72.5M £53.5M £47.7M £36.4M £27.6M £27.9M Some of the major drivers for this growth 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 Driving forward excellence in research

  14. Investment in Interdisciplinary and Cutting-edge Research

  15. Investment in Interdisciplinary and Cutting-edge Research “I’m on the verge of a major breakthrough, but I am also at that point where chemistry leaves off and physics begins, so I’ll have to drop the whole thing”

  16. Oxford Future Energy Technology Fundamental Science Applied Science Chemistry for Energy Nuclear materials Offshore energy Laser plasma interactions Solar / Photovoltaics Transport Lower Carbon Futures Culture Policy Socio-political Driving forward excellence in research

  17. Oxford Future Energy Technology Fundamental Science Applied Science Chemistry Plant Sciences Mathematics Materials e-Research Centre Physics Engineering Science Oxford Martin School Smith School for Enterprise & the Environment Environmental Change Institute Culture Transport Studies Policy Socio-political Driving forward excellence in research

  18. Technology Organic Photovoltaics Technology & Society Nuclear & Energy Materials Future of Cities Globalising Tidal Power Oxford Martin School Future of Humanity Carbon & Energy Reduction in Transport Ethics & Governance Energy & Environment Culture Policy Driving forward excellence in research

  19. Transport Materials Catalysis New materials Lightweight electric motors Thermo-fluids Smith School ECI Policy Fuel efficiency Low carbon infrastructure Futures modelling Scenarios Engineering Transport Studies Driving forward excellence in research Institute for Carbon & Energy Reduction in Transport

  20. Solar and photovoltaics Materials Synthesis Catalysts Thermo photovoltaics Transparent conducting oxides Scale-up Electronic properties ECI Physics Markets & policy Device development Real-world testing Modelling Mathematics Driving forward excellence in research

  21. Investment in Technologies to Support the Research Effort

  22. Interconnectivity Chemistry Plant Sciences Mathematics Materials e-Research Centre Physics Engineering Science Oxford Martin School Smith School for Enterprise & the Environment Transport Studies Environmental Change Institute Diverse strengths Driving forward excellence in research

  23. Dynamic, re-configurable network to respond to scientific, economic and societal drivers Chemistry Plant Sciences Mathematics Materials e-Research Centre Physics Engineering Science Oxford Martin School Smith School for Enterprise & the Environment Transport Studies Environmental Change Institute Diverse strengths Driving forward excellence in research

  24. Dynamic, re-configurable network to respond to scientific, economic and societal drivers Chemistry Chemistry for Energy Plant Sciences Applied Mathematics (incl. modelling) Mathematics Materials e-Research Centre Physics Solar/PV Nuclear Materials Offshore energy Engineering Science Oxford Martin School Departmental, Divisional and University initiatives Transport Smith School for Enterprise & the Environment Transport Studies Low Carbon Futures Environmental Change Institute Diverse strengths Driving forward excellence in research

  25. The Humanities: a research success story Driving forward excellence in research

  26. Humanities With the support of its specialist Research Facilitators, Humanities has developed a ‘culture’ of applying for research grant funding Sharp increase in research income and the funding of research overheads Diversification of its pool of funders, increasing the number of different award sponsors from 24 to 34 in the past year The Division entered in 15 units of assessment in RAE 2008, ten of which were top in the UK according to the Research Fortnight power table: French, German, Middle Eastern and African Studies, Asian Studies, English, History, Philosophy, Classics, Theology, and Music. Driving forward excellence in research

  27. Oxford University & Isis Innovation Ltd Isis Innovation Ltd, established in 1987, 100% owned by the University Isis helps researchers who wish to commercialise the results of their research Three business divisions: Technology Transfer for Oxford - identify, protect, market, licence, spin-out, seed funds, Oxford University Consulting - access to Oxford academic expertise Isis Enterprise - access to our expertise in technology transfer & innovation management Supported by Networks – Oxford Innovation Society, Isis Angels Network Income last year £7.5m; Isis has 65 staff in total Since 2000 - 55 spin-outs raising £270m & 500 licensing/option deals Driving forward excellence in research

  28. Some of our success factors (1) • Centuries-old tradition of scholarly enquiry and academic culture within the Collegiate University • Grouped into learning communities, with a teaching-research nexus • Vibrant international character • Ability to attract or recruit the best researchers and faculty • Ability to attract and retain the best students at graduate and undergraduate level Driving forward excellence in research

  29. Some of our success factors (2) • Multi and cross-disciplinary teaching, scholarship and research • Infrastructure - capital investment, Oxford’s libraries, museums and collections, maintenance and refurbishment programme • Inspired and inspiring academic leadership • Capacity to win competitive peer review funding • Good levels of independent funding through development activity Driving forward excellence in research

  30. Some of our success factors (3) • A “light touch” central management regime • High quality administration/academic-related support services • Long tradition of knowledge exchange and technology transfer • Promotion of academic values: academic freedom, subsidiarity, collegiality, parity of esteem, and disciplinary diversity Driving forward excellence in research

  31. Driving forward excellence in research

  32. Isis Innovation Ltd Extracts from Isis Annual Report 2010 Driving forward excellence in research

  33. Things you may not know about the University of Oxford The Oxford you hear about – it is real The Oxford you may know less well • The oldest university in the English-speaking world, based around colleges • Renowned for its strengths in the humanities, its libraries and museums • Educator of British leaders: 26 British Prime Ministers • A British university • A dynamic research-intensive university with many departments and centres • Home to a medical sciences division that on its own would rank as 5th largest UK university by research income • Educator of world leaders: over 30 overseas presidents and prime ministers • An international university Driving forward excellence in research

  34. What are Colleges? • Real communities: academic, residential, social • Intellectual communities • students and academics • majority both undergraduate and postgraduate; 8 graduate only • most cover all subjects, though some specialised • Big enough for diversity, small enough for connection: • ~300-750 students (jointly admitted) • ~30-70 academics (jointly appointed) • Ancient and modern Driving forward excellence in research

  35. Growing collaboration: across disciplines and with industry • Opportunity. Risk. Innovation. Impact. • Tackling the toughest challenges of the 21st century. • Founded 2005 with $100 million gift from Dr James Martin; new $50 million challenge fund • Goal: formulate new concepts, policies, and technologies that will make the future a better place to be • 15 interdisciplinary institutes focused on major 21st century challenges • Including: environmental change, migration, emergent infections, the future of humanity • £13.75 million, 5 year agreement with Man Group Plc, world’s largest publicly traded hedge fund • Endows a professorship and funds research programme • In addition: Man has located its internal R&D laboratory on the floor below the Institute • Leads to formal (seminars) and informal (lunch) exchange between academics and practitioners • Opened 2007 Driving forward excellence in research

  36. Launch of major fundraising campaign • Priorities • Supporting students and the life of the University • Supporting academic staff and programmes • Supporting infrastructure and buildings • Target • Min. of £1.25 billion • Launched in May 08 with £575 million committed; just passed £1000 million • Significant gap to close vs. American peers • Aim • Raise the funds to liberate • Oxford people to achieve • their greatest aspirations • Scope • Joint campaign across the Collegiate University: universities, departments, libraries, museums… • Global in reach Driving forward excellence in research

  37. Oxford’s international collaborations in Tropical Medicine Driving forward excellence in research

  38. Collegial and interdisciplinary – Research Fora 2007 Security, Energy, Cancer, Democracy 2008 Climate Change, Forced Migration, Global Health, Materials Characterisation, Water, India 2009 The Material World, The Islamic World, China, North American Studies, Integrated Quantitative Biosciences, Economic Impact of Research, Research Integrity, Medical Physics 2010 Pathways to Drug Discovery, Digital Humanities: workshop on images, Digital Humanities: linking data Driving forward excellence in research

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