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Research at Lancaster: Excellence and Sustainability

Research at Lancaster: Excellence and Sustainability. Trevor McMillan APC, March 2008. Overall aim: Increase volume and quality of research that is world leading in academic terms and has an impact on regional, national and international social and economic issues.

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Research at Lancaster: Excellence and Sustainability

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  1. Research at Lancaster:Excellence and Sustainability Trevor McMillan APC, March 2008

  2. Overall aim:Increase volume and quality of research that is world leading in academic terms and has an impact on regional, national and international social and economic issues.

  3. What is seen as research excellence in 2008-2014? • The production of novel thoughts and analyses that are highly respected by global peers. • The production of novel thoughts and analyses that are highly respected by potential users and funders of the research. • The attraction of high quality research staff and students that receive a stimulating and effective “apprenticeship” • A research governance framework that is fit for purpose

  4. Key elements of sustainability of high quality research? • Academic staff at the leading edge of their discipline • A vibrant research community • Research staff and students that are capable and well motivated • A world class infrastructure (library, IT, laboratories, equipment) and research support (RSO, contracts) • Active collaboration with world class researchers • Active engagement with users of research • Full engagement with public, private and voluntary sector research funders regionally, nationally and internationally • Diverse funding streams that provide the “appropriate” financial security and strategic direction.

  5. General questions for today? • Are we clear how we want to position Lancaster with respect to research? • What are we getting right? • Is our subject portfolio appropriate? • Is our “blue skies/applied” ratio appropriate? • Are their elements of our central and faculty research support that could be improved? • Does our physical infrastructure match our ambitions?

  6. Table 2: Headcount of all postgraduate students (including part-time) POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

  7. PhDsGraduating2006

  8. How to increase the PGR community? • Develop the “package”: A Lancaster University Graduate School • Find more student funding • Consider different formats e.g. the Professional Doctorates • Advertise well with our own students • Ensure we have processes that facilitate completion

  9. QR income

  10. Grant income UK Higher Education Research Yearbook, 2007 Comparison against 1994+

  11. Leverage of QR

  12. Success rates with Research Councils

  13. Increasing research income? • Follow the funding? Short term and longer term through positioning ourselves for specific initiatives (Especially National Centres) and adapting our portfolio. • Increase staff mentoring and grant “screening” • More resource in RSO to aid applications • Better research council intelligence

  14. Citations per publication and number of patents don’t compare well with this group. Library House 2007

  15. Increasing citations? • Fully functional institutional repository for outputs and data • Support publication in open access journals • Improve international profile of the University • Examine publication strategies (multiple “short” v single “long”)

  16. All universities interact in proportion to their income with industry. There is no correlation whatsoever between the quality of research being conducted at a university and the extent of the industrial interaction of that university. All universities appear to have a similar level of industry interaction, regardless of the quality of the research being conducted. However, the type of interaction differs. High quality research universities have a higher propensity to interact with large companies, whilst lower quality research universities focus more on the SME market. An Analysis of the UK University Technology and Knowledge Transfer Activities. Library House

  17. HEIF 4 Allocations

  18. Industrial income

  19. Our industry income is small compared with our research income

  20. Our current portfolio probably doesn’t help in terms of industry income

  21. Enhancing KT activity? • Individual/institutional • Knowledge • Experience • Advocacy

  22. So what do we need to do to make a step change in the impact of our research? • Recruit and support high quality research staff (including giving enough time for research) • More funded and prestigious fellowships • Develop the concept of the Lancaster Graduate School • Review our research portfolio • Ensure that we have high quality research infrastructure and governance • Enhance our user friendliness • Maximize the international profile of our research

  23. RESEARCH IMPACTBreakout Questions. • Is our current research portfolio sustainable? • How do we increase volume of grant applications without sacrificing quality? • How do we recruit more PGRs? • How do we develop more institutional level international research partnerships? • How do we increase activity with industry and other non-government sources organisations? • How do we maximise the perception of our research within HE and outside?

  24. Inclusive • Knowledgeable • Empathetic • Ambitious

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