Research Support @ DIT: Helping Build Capacity & Capability

1. Research Support @ DIT: Helping Build Capacity & Capability Ellen Hazelkorn Director of Research and Enterprise, and Dean of the Graduate Research School Dublin Institute of Technology Library Research Support Seminar 20 October 2008

2. ‘To make Ireland by 2013 internationally renowned for the excellence of its research and to the forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and social progress within an innovation driven culture.’ (SSTI 2006-2013) ‘Research is a core element of the mission of higher education. The extent to which higher education institutions are engaged in research and development activities has a key role in determining the status and the quality of these institutions and the contribution, which they make to economic and social development.’ (NDP 2000-2006, Section 6.39, Ireland, 2000) .

3. Themes Globalisation and Implications Research Support at DIT Arrow@DIT

4. 1. Globalisation and its Implications

5. External Forces and Drivers • Knowledge has become the foundation of economic growth, social development, and national competitiveness. • If higher education is the engine of the economy, then the productivity, quality and status of HE and HE research becomes a vital indicator. • But many OECD countries face sharp demographic shifts evidenced by the greying of population and a decline in PhD graduates. • Countries with high levels of international students benefit from the contribution they make to domestic research and development’ (OECD, 2007, p34). • Global competition is reflected in the rising significance and popularity of rankings which attempt to measure knowledge-producing and talent-catching capacity of HEIs.

6. Global Context for HE Research Task of growing research capability and capacity no longer optional. Emphasis on talent and human capital Research now conducted in partnership with other institutions and organisations (public and private). Connected regionally, nationally and globally – simultaneously. National boundaries declining in significance Research now conducted via bi-lateral, inter-regional and global networks of research co-operation. Growing importance of global HE networks. Universitas 21, Coimbra Group, LERU, WUN, Cluster Group, IARU, etc. Lisbon Agreement/EHEA and ERA Worldwide comparisons, e.g. global rankings, more significant in the future.

7. Trends College guides: fulfil public service role, helping and informing domestic undergraduate students and their parents. Evaluation and assessmentof research, and teaching & learning or whole institutions for QA and accreditation. Benchmarking: used to manage more strategically, effectively and efficiently as systematic comparison of practice and performance with peer institutions. National rankings • Modernisation of HE management, strategic planning and accountability/public disclosure. • Because of connectivity with future career and salary, students demanding better information about HEI choices. Global rankings next logical step. The rising significance and popularity of worldwide comparisons.

8. Be careful what you wish for… Policy shifts internationally • Global Rankings as Indicator of HE Performance • Indicators linked to Resource Allocation • Shift from input  outcome/output  impact • Re-structure HE System to Improve Efficiency, Output and Impact, Critical Mass, Visibility and Reputation • Concentrate Resources in ‘Centres of Excellence’ • Rankings used to foster Mission Differentiation • Allocate Resources According to Mission, Performance or Rankings

9. Some Policy Implications for Ireland • OECD Review of Irish HE, 2004 • Expand research activity of international quality • PRTLI aligning Research Strategy, Priorities & Performance • Focus on Excellence, collaboration and good ideas • Current Grant: 5% Research Performance • Impact of financial crisis: • Enhanced competition for less opportunity/funding • Need to prioritise research • DoES Review of Irish HE, 2008 • Restructuring HE System – Mission Differentiation • Aligning Funding to Mission and Performance • Collaboration, Strategic Alliances or Merger • Emphasis on Research Performance and Excellence

10. Research Assessment: What’s Happening • EU Classification Project • OECD AHELO Project • EU Expert Group: Assessment of University-Based Research • French Presidency: An International Comparison of Education Systems: a European model? • Declaration on Ranking of European Higher Education Institutions • EU Tender for a European Ranking of HE • OECD Selects Scopus ‘to help countries compare research output’ • Global Rankings: Times QS, SJT, Sunday Times • National Research Platform & National Research Data Project  • IOTI: developing standardised for data reporting • HERG – SSTI Indicators Project • Foresight AHSS - Metrics

11. Indicators • Productivity indicators: • How many? How much?  • Quality and scholarly impact: • How good? • How significant? • What impact on the body of knowledge in the field? • Innovation and socio-economic benefit: • What contribution is made to the economy and broader society? • Can a value be attached to that contribution? • Sustainability and scale: • To what extent is the cross-generational research workforce being sustained? • How are the scale, capacity and momentum of the research enterprise increased through collaboration? • How are research and ‘real-world’ problems addressed when they require multiple approaches and ‘bundled’ diverse expertise?

12. Select Indicators re research activity: • Publications in scientific journals/international journals • Citations of publications by peers in scientific journals • Reviews of publications by peers on the internet • Cooperation with peers, e.g. contributions to courses • Scientific awards • Number of monographs • Keynote speeches and invited lectures • Editorship of scientific journals • Invitations by journals to review scientific publications • Invitations to contribute to special issues or collections • Received grants • Co-operation with international networks • Number of visiting lecturers • Published conference papers • Development of research data base • Significant national or international conferences • International reviews participated in • Membership of international bodies • Awards and prizes • Destinations of research graduates • Select Indicators re teaching and learning: • Text books and lecture materials sold • Reviews of publications by students on the internet • Courses for students abroad • Graduate student numbers – PhD and Masters • PhD completion rates • Graduate Masters students and their first jobs • Internationalization: students and academics • Select Impact Indicators re. policy makers : • Publications via dissemination channels of policy makers • Citations of publications by policy makers in reports, etc. • Reviews of publications by policy makers • Cooperation with policy makers • Lectures for policy makers • Memberships of bodies advising policy makers. • Grants received from policy makers • Select Impact indicators re business and professions: • Patents, licensing, company formation, etc. • Publications • Citations of publications in their dissemination channels. • Reviews of publications • Collaborative research • Grants received • Lectures for business community. • Memberships of bodies advising business community. • Awards. • Memberships of prestigious organizations. • Spin-out companies • Jobs created as a result of publicly funded research • Select Indicators re public/community engagement : • Publications via public channels • Citations of publications in media • Reviews of publications by broader public • Contribution to public meetings and exhibitions • Awards by the broader public • Lectures for public audiences • Grants received • Historical research leading to preservation of media and/or other cultural artefacts; • Enhancement of performing arts quality/scope as indicated by greater public participation/satisfaction captured by the audience surveys; • Contribution to policy outcome producing measurable significant or outstanding benefit.

13. 2. Research Support at DIT

14. Capacity and Capability Building • Developing activity across the RDI spectrum: • Critical mass of researchers • Excellence in niche specialisation • Increased cohorts of PhD students on structured programmes • More research activity • Increased successful competitive bids and income • Conversion of research into commercialisation activity and community engagement • Meeting International Benchmarking Standards

15. Knowledge Transfer Policy Advice Consultancy Training/CPD Research Clusters/Centres PhD Student Doctoral Programmes Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Innovation Technology Transfer Commercialisation Hothouse

16. Capacity and Capability Building • Developing activity across the RDI spectrum: • Critical mass of researchers • Excellence in niche specialisation • Increased cohorts of PhD students on structured programmes • More research activity • Increased successful competitive bids and income • Conversion of research into commercialisation activity and community engagement • Meeting International Benchmarking Standards

17. Challenges of Growing Research @ DIT Teaching Contract and Teaching Load Research Quality Measures and Methods Access to Help and Support Accommodation and Access Administration and Procedures Postgraduate Supervision Capacity and Training Access to and Relevance of Information Perception and Marketing of DIT Research Research Partnerships and Alliances Equality of Research Opportunity

18. Immediate Priorities • Research Support Office as Outward-facing Service Centre • Enhance Visibility of DIT Research • Within DIT: among researchers • External: with potential partners and collaborators • Nationally/internationally: publicity for DIT research, international recruitment • Improve Connectivity with Research Funders • Quality and Performance Benchmarking • Helping Grow Research along full RDI Spectrum in strategic and niche fields of specialisation • Graduate School/PhD Programmes (GREPs)

19. Other Actions • Meet DIT Researchers • Visit Faculties and Centres • ‘Brownbag Lunches’ with Researchers • Meet University Counterparts • Meet Key Funding Agencies • Establish Graduate School Executive and Board

20. DRE: Professional One-stop Shop • Pre and Post Proposal Help and Advice • Financial Grant and Budget Advice • Identify Funding Opportunities • Project Preparation and Management • Research Training and Mentoring • Benchmarking and Assessment • Industry Engagement and Commercialisation • Contracts Execution and Management

21. Research Support @ Grangegorman • Shop-front • 1 stop shop • Located at the heart of academic life • Open and accessible • Showcase of DIT Research • Hub for Information, Support and Exchange

22. 3. Arrow@DIT

23. Promoting DIT Research • Welcome initiative – more than a passive repository • Useful resource for DIT and other researchers • Opportunity to publicize and showcase DIT Research • Maximising Capacity and Capability • Investor confidence

24. Who is the Likely Audience/User? • Academics and Researchers (including post-docs and visiting scholars) • Peer and Partner Institutions & Research Groups • Students – most likely PhD and international students • HE Management and Governance • Governing Bodies or Councils • HEA • Public and private partners • Sponsors and private investors • Public • Ranking organizations

25. Risk Analysis • Risk to reputation • Risk to recruitment • Risk to core and research grants • Risk to partnerships – w/ academic and other partner organizations • Unintended consequences

26. What should be done? • In order to leverage the benefits, to be agreed: • Is repository the DIT database of research activity? • What categories of work to include/highlight? • What should be unit of analysis: individual, research centre/cluster, faculty, field? • What is link between repository and DRE/DIT website? • Establish link between repository and research centres/clusters. • Ensure every active researcher populates the site.