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Research Workshop

Research Workshop. ‘Research Funding’ Dave Bustard 12 September 2001. Agenda. Stepping back from the problem The way forward. Systems Approach. A broad, holistic approach to problem-solving, taking all relevant factors into account, and recognising the inter-dependencies that exist

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Research Workshop

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  1. Research Workshop ‘Research Funding’ Dave Bustard 12 September 2001

  2. Agenda • Stepping back from the problem • The way forward ...

  3. Systems Approach A broad, holistic approach to problem-solving, taking all relevant factors into account, and recognising the inter-dependencies that exist • Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland) • Organisational Learning (Senge) • … ‘Systems Thinking’

  4. Change Model Target System Current System

  5. Funding Goal? • Bring in as much money as possible • … individually, as an RAE group, and as a Faculty • OK?

  6. Revised Funding Goal? • Undertake research of international standing • … measured against RAE metrics; • … operating efficiently and effectively, • … in balance with other activities; • … obtaining and using funding as required • OK?

  7. Balancing the System Teaching Research Other Professional Activity Private Life

  8. Research Achievement Factors • Ability of staff & students (personal development; recruitment) • Motivation of staff • Time available to do research • Efficiency of approach (co-ordination; monitoring; avoiding waste) • Effectiveness of approach (being clever!) • Reputation (publicity; networking) • Role of funding?

  9. Sources of Funding • Externally funded projects/activities/infrastructure • Research strategy budget (block grant; project overheads, etc.) • Faculty/School funds • Research Office • Short courses?

  10. Current Position • Reasonable income overall, but little from EPSRC and other research councils • Funding largely driven by a few individuals • Very little review of proposals, projects and outcomes (quality issue) • No overall tracking of applications (largely covert activity) • OK?

  11. Vision • Most research funding needed by staff and students obtained from external sources • All staff, groups and centres developing annual plans, identifying funding needs and targets • Research applications largely group based • Everyone aware of funding opportunities • Funds requested and managed to good effect • All papers (and other outputs) tied to projects • OK?

  12. Issues • How should RAE income be used? • How should research overheads be used? • What is (should be) the relationship between research centres, RRGs and groups? • How should funding be managed (for proposals and during projects)? • Others?

  13. Way Forward • Appoint a Research Director (RD) • Consolidate research groups and centres • Develop clear funding plans for groups and centres • Develop policies and processes, e.g., all research proposals approved by RD; all proposals reviewed before submission • OK?

  14. EPSRC Funding Proposal: • Pursue all possible fast stream proposals with senior support • Prepare a relatively small number of proposals annually, determined at Faculty level (number?)

  15. Anything Else?

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