SIF II Briefing Session 21 st September 2007

1. SIF II Briefing Session 21st September 2007

2. Briefing Session Content • SIF Cycle I – overview Funding and arising issues • SIF Cycle II – Process for evaluation • Changes from Cycle I • Timescales • Further details on student focus, discipline specific • Review of reports • Questions and answers

3. SIF – Cycle I • Issues arising from analysis of projects • Financial • Incomplete details of matched funding provided by lead institution • Discrepancies in amounts provided by lead institution vs. amounts provided by partners • Discrepancies between summary data and detailed financial tables within institutional submissions

4. SIF – Cycle I • Issues arising from analysis of proposals cont. • 2. Innovation • Some disappointment from panel in relation to this area • Many proposals as continuation of existing activities, or developing established policy areas – “nothing new” • Not easy to identify particularly innovative proposals

5. SIF – Cycle I • 3. Coherence with Strategy • SIF as a programme for institutional and thereby sectoral reform • Emphasis in Call on single proposals underpinned by and directed towards strategy • Concerns around institutions missing focus, large numbers of projects being submitted, of varying size and collaboration, weakening strategic coherence of the proposal • Most actions proposed around creating new capacity, rather than maximising existing capacities – balance leveraging/reformulating of existing activities & creation

6. Review of Cycle I Reports • Review of Financial & Progress Reports by HEA and • report to Panel on progress to date • Target and projected outcomes – key milestones • Allocation of Funding • Significant changes to Cycle I approved proposals • Any concerns re: progress of cycle I projects

7. SIF – Cycle II • Evaluation of Proposals will be based on • 1. Collaboration • 2. Innovation • 3. Quality of proposal • 4. Strategy • Collaborative proposals must meet requirement of at least • 55 marks overall to be eligible for funding • Proposals must achieve individual marks of 40% in each category • Non collaborative proposals must meet requirement of at least 45 marks overall to be eligiblefor funding and achieve 40% ofthe marks in categories (2-4)

8. SIF– Cycle II • Collaboration – impact of the collaboration should be such as to as to achieve results that are in excess of those that can be achieved by the same institutions acting individually and/or represents greater value for the investment • Evidence required and endorsement from Chief Officers with regard to governance, leadership, management and functioning of the collaboration • 2. Innovation – specify the impact of innovation from the perspective of enhanced quality of learning and research, improved efficiency in the use of existing resources, VFM

9. SIF – Cycle II • 2. Developing Innovation • Call looks to institutions as the prime instigators of innovation…But may be helpful to consider innovation from perspectives of • Objects • Processes • Outcomes to be delivered • Linkages to institutional and SIF mission • Clarify within an Irish or international context

10. SIF – Cycle II • 3.Quality of Proposal – reference to objectives and targets, proposed additional capacity and value, indicators for success, extent of matched funding and sustainability of the proposal • Previous institutional performance in managing equivalent or similar large scale projects will be considered • 4.Strategy – indicate how proposal fits within strategic plans must be informed and consistent with national policy objectives and national and regional social and economic needs.

11. SIF – Cycle II • Matched Funding • Privately raised or reallocation of existing core funding • and can be combination of both. • At least 50% matched funding must be provided per • proposal and all else being equal preference will be • given to proposals with greater levels of matched • funding.

12. Changes Cycle I =>Cycle II • Marking System – 55 marks required & 40% • must be achieved in each category • Review of Institutional Activities – performance in key areas in line with national objectives – part of 5000 word limit • Seeking information on institution’s own plans, targets and outcomes • Sample template provided

13. National Priorities – sample reporting template • Institutional Proposals must enable/support the achievement of these priorities (reflected in Strategic Plans) - considered in panel assessment

14. Changes Cycle I =>Cycle II • Institutional Feedback – to address concerns over 5000 word limit & provide opportunity to convey full value of proposals, institutions will be invited to make presentation to panel members • (31st Oct – 02 Nov) • Guidance on presentation format to be issued to interested institutions

15. SIF – Cycle II Timescale • €130m available for allocation • Deadline for Submissions – 19th October (3.00pm) • 15 signed copies requested and electronic version • Panel Meeting – November • Announcement of results – December

16. Additional Points of Information • Student Outcome Focus – SIF used to improve the educational experience for students. • SIF Cycle I Projects: eligibility in cycle II– Projects still in preparatory phase, may be eligible for funding in Cycle II. Funding not available for projects which should be mainstreamed into core activities at end of 2/3 cycle.

17. Additional Points of Information • SIF-PRTLI Complementarities - Aligned SSTI • SIF => support enabling measures for delivery of • graduate education • PRTLI => provision for structured graduate education • Lero: The Irish Software Engineering Research Centre • and Graduate School • GREP => provide researchers with opportunities to • develop graduate education within specific disciplines