Monthly archives
Services for Business
The new Services for Business web pages are now live and can be accessed from the main leeds.ac.uk homepage – or this link:
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/business
This marks the completion of Phase 1. The next phase will focus on developing content for the sector/industry hubs
Monthly archives
Annual Research and Innovation Support conference 2011 - booking now open
The Annual Research and Innovation Support Conference will take place on Tuesday 6th December 2011 at Weetwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre. This is our fifth conference and builds on successful events in previous years, each attended by in excess of 100 delegates.
Two of our plenary speakers this year are key representatives of both arms of the dual support divide: Dr Alice Frost is Head of Business and Community at HEFCE and Dr Astrid Wissenberg is Director for Communications and Information at the Economic and Social Research Council and Chair of the RCUK Knowledge Transfer and Economic Impact Group.
Other areas you may be interested in:
Monthly archives
Research Equipment & Infrastructure Database
In light of the Wakeham report on Financial Sustainability and Efficiency in Higher Education, and working with Research Councils UK and our N8 partners, we have taken the decision to classify all equipment of value >£25k on the university’s asset register according to a standardised taxonomy.
A fully-searchable database of this equipment will be available by January 2012. For more information please click here.
Monthly archives
Wellcome Trust Roadshow at University of Leeds on 15th July 2011
Regioster now for the Wellcome Trust Roadshow at the University on Friday 15 July 2011.
Representatives from the BioMedical Science, Medical Humanities and Fellowship areas from the Trust will be coming to Leeds.
The programme is as follows:-
| Time | Event |
| 10.45am | Registration and coffee |
| 11.00am | Presentation to include update on Wellcome Trust policies and funding with the opportunity to ask questions Venue: University Staff Centre |
| 11.45am to 12.45pm |
Parallel sessions on BioMedical Science and the Medical Humanities Venue: to be confirmed |
| 2.00pm | One-to-one surgery sessions (15 minutes each) These will need to be booked in advance and you will be provided with your own appointment. These sessions will be of benefit to those applying/considering applying to the Trust. |
BOOKING
To attend any of the sessions please register by e-mailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with the following information:-
Name:
School:
E-Mail:
Details of which sessions you wish to attend:
| Presentation | YES / NO* |
| Parallel Session | BioMedical Science* / Medical Humanities |
| Surgery Session | YES / NO* BioMedical Science* / Medical Humanities |
If you have any questions with regards the Roadshow please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Monthly archives
EPSRC mandates open access of outputs submitted from 1 Sept 2011
EPSRC has introduced a policy that all EPSRC-funded research publications must be published as openly accessible documents. This applies to all research articles submitted for publication on or after 1 September 2011. Leeds’ authors can comply with this policy by depositing outputs in the White Rose Research On-linevia the Symplectic publications database.
See http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/docs/leeds.html
Details of EPSRC’s policy and FAQs are at http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/infoaccess/Pages/roaccess.aspx
Monthly archives
New Guide on Intellectual Asset Management
Universities can now access a new tool to help develop and manage their intellectual assets. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) launched a strategy guide, on 19th May, called ‘Intellectual Asset Management for Universities’.
The new guide provides advice and information to universities to help them understand how they can best use their institution’s Intellectual Property. This can be an invention, trade mark, original design or the application of a good idea.
Income generated through the commercial use of Intellectual Property rights can be worth millions of pounds. In 2009/10 £84 million was generated directly from IP at Universities.
Launching the guide, Minister for Intellectual Property Baroness Wilcox said:
“The guide will help Universities maximise the benefits of their intellectual assets, which in turn will support the economic growth of the UK. The Government is committed to providing the best opportunities for young inventors, providing them with a strong basis on which they can turn their ideas in reality.
“It is now more important than ever for University leaders to think strategically about how to best to protect and effectively use their intellectual assets. This guide will help each institution seize the opportunity to use their Intellectual Property to secure maximum benefit for the economy and society.”
For more information and to download the guide please visit the Intellectual Property Office website
Monthly archives
EPSRC interim arrangements for equipment funding
EPSRC have announced interim arrangements for equipment funding in response to the Wakeham Review.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) have published a report ‘Efficiency 2011-15: Ensuring Excellence with Impact’, detailing plans to drive efficiency in research funding. EPSRC have stated that ‘as a result of the rapidly changing economic climate and the budgets we have available, we have to find substantial savings within our programmes. The Research Councils, together as RCUK, have therefore considered in detail how to implement the efficiency savings recommended in the Wakeham Report as well as achieve the required additional savings whilst ensuring the sustainability of the research base.’
EPSRC have stated that their capital budget is insufficient to continue funding equipment under the current arrangements at upcoming panels. EPSRC has therefore taken the decision to make changes to equipment funding immediately. These interim arrangements are expected to be in place until October 2011. The changes are ONLY to the way in which equipment is funded; there are no changes to the peer review process for proposals submitted prior to 1st May 2011. New EPSRC processes for funding equipment on proposals submitted from 1st May are currently being developed and further information will be made available as soon as possible. For more information on this announcement and the interim changes, visit the EPSRC website.
Monthly archives
ESRC Up-date on Demand Management
The ESRC are introducing an initial programme of measures of improved self-regulation and a change to their existing peer review practices and submission policies. After 12 months of these initial measures their effectiveness will be reviewed, to establish whether further steps need to be taken to manage demand. The ESRC welcome your views on the potential options; the deadline for responses is 16 June 2011.
For background information and an overview of demand management; details on the initial programme of measures and a full description of the potential options; a timeline of activity; and a link to the consultation to give your views, please visit the ESRC website.
Monthly archives
EPSRC Delivery Plans
The EPSRC have provided some further information about the implementation of the Delivery Plan, which was published in December 2010. This sets out a high-level overview of their plans for the period 2011-2015. The information provided on the EPSRC website includes a timeline, which provides an overview of key activities and developments, currently up to 2013, including any planned updates to the site. Click here for more information.
Monthly archives
REF: Submission Deadline and Assessment Panel Membership Announced
The submission deadline for REF2014 is 29 November 2013. Further details of the timetable and assessment period have been published and is available at http://www.ref.ac.uk/ under Timetable.
Membership of the assessment panels has also been confirmed and is available at http://www.ref.ac.uk/ under Expert panels.
Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any queries.
Monthly archives
Light touch ethical review pilot
Are you a researcher based in Arts, ESSL, Environment, LUBS or PVAC and planning on applying for University ethical review in the near future?
If so, from 1st March 2011 you may be eligible to apply for ‘light touch’ ethical review as part of the light touch pilot in these five faculties.
Further information on the light touch review process is available on the light touch review webpage.
If you are based in Biological Sciences, Engineering, MaPS or Medicine and Health you will have to apply for full ethical review as the pilot is not taking place in these faculties.
Other areas you may be interested in:
Monthly archives
Chief Executive of MRC says blue skies research is still vital
Sir John Savill, Chief Executive of the MRC tells the Times Higher Education that, whilst being aware of the immediate need to deliver impact, blue-skies research is vital for the germination of the best research ideas. Read the full article, by Paul Jump, at http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=415173&encCode=586380622BC70972875JTBS737226611
Monthly archives
Changes in BBSRC Grants Procedures and Processes
In March there will be a substantial change in management of the research grants process, as BBSRC follows other Research Councils in transferring a significant amount of grant processing activity to the RCUK Shared Services Centre. This will involve some temporary slowing of normal service, and to allow for this grant closing dates will be altered. At the same time we are also introducing a number of other modifications.
For more information see http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/policy/2011/110124-n-changes-in-bbsrc-grants.aspx
Monthly archives
Vice-Chancellor features in latest edition of MRC Network
MRC Network is their bimonthly magazine that keeps you up-to-date with what’s going on in the MRC.
The January/February 2011 edition features our Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Arthur.
In an article wiithin, he speculates about how higher education funding cuts will impact the UK research councils.
You can dowload the edition from here:
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Utilities/Documentrecord/index.htm?d=MRC007661
Monthly archives
Leadership development web site for principal investigators goes live
Newly appointed principal investigators (PIs) are expected to lead and manage a research team, secure new research grants, liaise with stakeholders, publish, respond to institutional issues and agendas, and maintain and develop their own research expertise. Frequently they simultaneously carry out a range of teaching and administrative duties too.
A leadership development web site for principal investigators has been developed and is now live
HEFCE’s Leadership, Governance and Management (LGM) fund supported this collaborative project, which involved the universities of Nottingham, Loughborough, Cambridge, Newcastle, Sunderland, UCL and Leicester, as well as Vitae, Research Councils UK, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, Association of Research Managers and Administrators, and Universities UK.
Monthly archives
Research Councils publish delivery plans for 2011-15
The individual budgets for the seven UK Research Councils over the 2011/12-2014/15 spending review period have been announced by David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science.
For more information see:
AHRC
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News/Latest/Pages/AHRCfouryearfinancialallocation.aspx
BBSRC
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/policy/2010/101220_pr_BBSRC_Delivery_Plan.aspx
EPSRC
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/plans/approach/deliveryplan/Pages/default.aspx
ESRC
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/index.aspx
MRC
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Newspublications/News/MRC007639
NERC
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/press/briefings/2010/08-deliveryplan.asp
STFC
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About+STFC/20594.aspx
RCUK
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/2010news/Pages/101220.aspx
HEFCE
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2010/grant1112/
BIS
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=417165&NewsAreaID=2
Monthly archives
2010 Research Support Conference
This year’s annual Research Support conference on Tuesday 7 December 2010 offered sessions on everything from managing large scale collaborations to the Research Excellence Framework.
The conference theme was Collaboration and Concentration in response to Research Councils increasingly focusing on funding excellent research in areas of strategic importance done by the best people and teams.
Held at Weetwood Hall, the conference had nine break-out sessions covering topics such as the funding environment; innovation; research pipelines; looking to the future; pathways to impact in Research Council applications; good practice in research; synergies between research and innovation support.
The keynote speakers were Dr Steven Hill, Head of Research Councils UK (RCUK) Strategy Unit; and Dr Roger Blake, External Liaison Manager, Wellcome Trust.
Copies of the individual presentations will be available to download shortly.
Research Support Conference 2010 webpage
Monthly archives
Public Benefit Test
The University is a charity, and to retain this status, research within the University must comply with the University’s educational charitable objects.
These include the requirement that our research must be of public benefit.
The University must now include within its annual financial statement confirmation that it has regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and report on how is has delivered its charitable purposes for the public benefit.
For full details see this new section of our web site
Monthly archives
Andrew Thompson joins AHRC Council
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research Professor Andrew Thompson has been appointed an independent academic member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) governing body.
Professor Thompson is one of four new independent academic members of the AHRC’s Council.The appointments took effect from 1st September and were announced by Minister for Universities & Science David Willetts.
Read the AHRC’s press release at http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News/Latest/Pages/newcouncilmembers2010.aspx
Monthly archives
Developing tools to inform research management and translate existing good practice
The findings of this JISC-funded project were announced at a final workshop at Imperial College on 27 August 2010. The event was attended by over seventy-five stakeholders from across the HEI sector, including the University of Leeds.
The final project report is available to download in full at: http://www.researchdatatools.com/findings-and-publications.php
The project reviewed the HEI sector’s success in implementing research management systems and evaluated and compared the tools HEIs use to manage research-related data. It has resulted in a number of far-reaching findings and recommendations that will affect the management of research in institutions, including:
- Institutions should work more collaboratively to harmonise their approach to processes and to minimise wasteful duplication of investment in systems.
- Institutions and funders should work more collaboratively to identify commonality in systems and processes so they may share data in more cost effective and less resource intensive ways.
- Institutions should develop stronger relationships with suppliers and work with them to define needs more clearly.
- A national framework for data standards should be developed across the sector.
- Suppliers should look to participate in the development of data standards with the sector in an effort to drive consistency in research systems.
- Institutions, supported by funding organisations, should be encouraged to develop long-term system strategies focussed upon core research management processes and information needs.
- Work should be undertaken jointly by funders and the sector to harmonise external benchmarking data and to ensure it is accessible to institutions in a timely and consistent manner.
- The sector should develop a culture that moves away from reactive information towards using information to anticipate change. Suppliers should be encouraged to equip institutions with user-friendly modelling tools to allow them to do this.
- The sector should develop a framework within which they can build a knowledge base of experience across the sector and share lessons learned of specifying, developing and implementing research management systems.
Monthly archives
MRC Outputs Gathering Survey opens 4th October
The MRC 2010 outputs gathering survey will be open from Monday October 4th to Friday November 26th.
All MRC grantholders who are required to complete the survey will be contacted direct by MRC.
Further information about this year’s question set is at http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Utilities/Documentrecord/index.htm?d=MRC007039
Background about e-Val is at http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Achievementsimpact/Outputsoutcomes/e-Val/index.htm
Monthly archives
Future funding for researcher development
Please see the letter from RCUK here:
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/cmsweb/downloads/rcuk/researchcareers/robertletter.pdf
This outlines the proposed recovery of funds for skills training once the Roberts funding ends in March 2011.
The letter advises that organisations are expected to recover the cost of skills training for PGRs through a possibly increase in fees.
Further guidance is to be issued on how we should recover the cost of skills training for research staff on grants.
Monthly archives
Publications database enhanced
The Publications database was updated on 19th July 2010. The upgrade includes these enhancements:
- Minor name and menu changes
- The addition of three new data sources, so that the requirement to add records manually may be reduced
- A facility to upload full text files to White Rose Research Online
- Some improvements to searching and reporting
For further details please see http://tinyurl.com/July2010Update.
Additional changes (to accommodate the selection of outputs for the REF) will be released in due course.
Monthly archives
REF2014 panel recruitment and timetable
The Research Excellence Framework timetable has been published and panel recruitment is under way.
Sub-panel chair applications must be submitted to HEFCE by 17 September and nominations for panel membership by 8 October.
Units of Assessment have also been confirmed.
Further details are at http://www.ref.ac.uk/
Monthly archives
EPSRC Statements of Support
EPSRC - Letters of support are now statements of support
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2010/Pages/statementsofsupport.aspx
The EPSRC has made changes to the requirements for letters of support and these will now be known as statements of support in order to clarify their purpose.
The purpose of this change is to focus the information provided to make it easier for Peer Review to assess the proposed collaboration.
The EPSRC now requires a statement of support from each Project Partner collaborating on a project. They indicate that a well written statement of support can significantly strengthen a research proposal by demonstrating the benefits of the collaboration, and the relevance and potential impact of the research for the Project Partners.
The statement of support gives the Project Partners the opportunity to highlight why they are supporting the proposal and what they hope to get out of it.
What has changed?
Project Partners are now being asked to answer some specific questions regarding their involvement in the project, rather than providing a more general letter of support.
When does this change come into effect?
This change is effective immediately and will be enforced from 01 September 2010.
Monthly archives
EPSRC Workshop - Pathways to Impact
EPSRC WORKSHOP - PATHWAYS TO IMPACT
WEDNESDAY 7 JULY 10AM TO 12 NOON
Jonathan Williams, the University’s EPSRC contact, is visiting the University on Wednesday 7 July 2010 and as part of the visit Jon, in collaboration with the University, will be holding a ‘Pathways to Impact’ Workshop between 10am and 12 noon. The venue is room 1.34 in the Graduate Training and Support Centre, Level 1 Parkinson Building.
Directions can be found at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/sddu/top/gts_location.html
‘Pathways to Impact’ statements are an essential part of any application to EPSRC.” and the session will give those who are intending or considering applying the chance to hear ‘what is needed’. There will also be the opportunity to review and discuss within small groups examples of actual pathways to impact statements.
As this session is likely to be extremely popular it is essential that you register to attend by close of Thursday 1 July
You should provide Annette Caplan with the following information:
Name:
School:
E-Mail:
Annette Caplan
Research Support
3 Cavendish Road
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
tel: 0113 343 4091
fax: 0113 343 4058
e.mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Monthly archives
Leeds research shows courtroom witnesses are being failed by current system
Cross-examination is leaving courtroom witnesses confused, angry and their evidence potentially unreliable, according to new research from the universities of Leeds and Liverpool.
“People are going into the witness box with very little knowledge and preparation,” explained Dr Louise Ellison, senior lecturer in law at Leeds, who led the work alongside forensic psychologist Dr Jacqueline Wheatcroft from Liverpool. “The lay person has very little idea of what to expect and this understandably impacts on their evidence.”
The research team is now calling for witnesses to be given advice and guidance to prepare them for their time on the stand.
For more details see http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News/Latest/Pages/courtroomwitnesses.aspx
Monthly archives
Andrew Miller elected chair of Science and Technology Committee
Mr Andrew Miller, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, has been elected chair of the Commons Science and Technology Committee.
He “… would like to see the Committee focussing its attention on helping to maintain the strength of the UK’s science base and also improving public understanding of some of the challenging scientific issues facing us today”
http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/andrew-miller/25451
Monthly archives
AHRC have moved
From Monday 21st June the new contact details are:
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1FL
Telephone: 01793 41 6000
For more details see:
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/about/ContactUs/Pages/default.aspx
Monthly archives
RCUK Fee and Stipend Levels for 2010/11
We have received notification of the Research Councils UK Fee and Stipend levels for 2010/11 as follows:
The maximum RCUK will pay towards fees for 2010/11 is £3,466 p.a.
The national minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2010/11 is £13,590 p.a.
For more information please see http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/100513_2.htm
Monthly archives
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS - COLLABORATION FUND
THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS - COLLABORATION FUND
Call for Proposals Deadline 28 May 2010
Background
The University of Leeds has been selected by EPSRC to take part in a pilot which involves retaining underspends on EPSRC grants ending in 2009 and applying them strategically to areas covered by the EPSRC remit. EPSRC has approved our proposal to create a Collaboration Fund with some of the underspend. The aim of this Fund will be to support the creation of new collaborations and projects (within EPSRC subject areas), the generation of data to support research publications or pilot studies, and/or the development of new funding streams that will broaden the University’s funding base within Engineering and the Physical Sciences.
A significant challenge to our research at Leeds is to apply our expertise in new application areas and with new collaborators – typically working on a “best with the best” basis. In some cases the collaborations form naturally and can lead to some highly ambitious research proposals and outstanding research outcomes. We propose to support the development of such collaborations through this Fund so as to increase the number of very high quality collaborative research projects and proposals that are led by Leeds. This includes EPSRC programme grants but also, noting that “the best” is not always to be found in the UK, through ambitious European projects within the EPSRC remit areas.
Call for Proposals
We would like to invite bids to the Fund with a deadline of 28 May 2010.
The total value of the Fund is £40k and a maximum of four bids will be supported with a value of between £10k and £15k.
All proposals should seek to overcome a specific problem or roadblock that is slowing down the development of new collaborative grant applications. All activities must be within the EPSRC remit and should be driven by the specific problem that is identified.
Examples of the type of activity that might be suitable for this fund include:
- Buy out of academic time to generate collaborative grant applications.
- The organisation and facilitation of workshops focused around specific problem areas that will bring together new potential research partners from academia and industry and from the UK and beyond – and with specific target funding opportunities (e.g. EPSRC, TSB, EU, etc.)
- Short-term research visitors to establish new scientific relationships or to develop new funding proposals for EPSRC
- Small pots of money to undertake provisional studies that, if successful, would provide proof-of-concept for EPSRC proposals
- Minor investments to help to remove “road blocks” that may be preventing new research (e.g. certain consumables, access to a particular piece of equipment, etc.)
A condition of the pilot is that all funds must be expended by 31 March 2011, so applicants are requested to bear this in mind when formulating their proposals.
In accordance with EPSRC’s normal grant conditions, the University will be expected to account for its expenditure and provide a final report on the academic activities funded at the end of the award.
Applications should be submitted to Annette Caplan (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) on a pro-forma that can be obtained from her. Bids will be reviewed by Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and relevant Pro-Deans and successful applicants will be informed by 14 June latest.
Monthly archives
EPSRC Process, Environment and Sustainability team visit the University of Leeds
Research Support is pleased to be able to let you know EPSRC PES Programme Team is visiting the University on Wednesday 5th May and as part of the visit there will be an open presentation by Philippa Hemmings the Programme Manager. The details are as follows:-
Date: Wednesday 5th May
Time: 12.45pm
Venue: Agilent Lecture Theatre (1.52), Electronic and Electrical Engineering
The research areas covered by the programme are:-
- Process engineering
- Built environment and civil engineering
- Water, waste and coastal engineering
- Transport management
- Energy, impact and adaptation to climate change
- Energy generation and distributed and electrical engineering
- Combustion
- Science and heritage
- Sustainable urban environment
To find out more about the programme please use the following web link
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/progs/pes/Pages/default.aspx
If you would like to register please email Annette Caplan with your name and school.
Monthly archives
BBSRC Responsive Mode Deadline has been brought forward
Could you please note that if you are intending to apply for the next round of BBSRC responsive mode applications, the deadline for this has been brought forward to the 23rd June, with the following deadline being 6 October 2010.
Click here to view details of all BBSRC application deadlines
Monthly archives
Research Councils UK Impact Plans become Pathways to Impact
RCUK have decided to change the name of Impact Plans to “Pathways to Impact”, in order to clarify what they are asking for. Although the name has changed, the information requested has not.
This change of name will be reflected on the Je-S system (and helptext) from Tuesday 20th April 2010.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) has put together guidance and resources for completing the Research Councils Je-S application form and understanding the pathways towards economic and societal impacts. See http://impacts.rcuk.ac.uk/default.htm
Monthly archives
Summer closing date brought forward for NERC applications
NERC Applications - Summer closing date brought forward to 10th June 2010
NERC have informed us of a change to the summer closing date for their Standard, Partnership and Consortium grants. The 1st July 2010 closing date has been brought forward to 10th June. Any proposals for these schemes which arrive after 10th June will not be accepted into this round.
The change is due to the anticipated transfer of grant processing activities to the RCUK Shared Services Centre in the second half of 2010. There may be further announcements of closing date changes. NERC do not expect that any closing dates will be brought forward by more than 3 weeks, and some may be moved back. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear.
Monthly archives
HEFCE publishes the outcomes of the recent consultation on the Research Excellence Framework
HEFCE has published high level outcomes of the consultation.
Click here for the full details
Some of the main points are:
Staff
- Eligible staff - Cat A eligibility includes staff whose primary employment function is to undertake either research or research and teaching (ie not teaching only); Research Assistants and research fellows eligible by exception in comparatively few cases - similar to RAE2008
- Proportion of staff not a significant factor in assessment
Outputs
- Up to 4 outputs per member of staff
- HEFCE will “proceed with caution” in making citation data available to panels
- Panels will be able to request “output statements” for pre-specified reasons eg for user-focused or applied outputs - to explain potential user significance; for non-text of practice-based outputs - short description of research process
Impact
- Awaits outcome of pilot
Environment
- Given wider base of UOAs, not expected to relate to single, coherent organisational structure
- Consideration being given to using HESA data for staff and students (ie not directly linked to staff submitted)
Other Points
- UOAs - there will be between 30 and 40
- Strengthened measures to address equalities and diversity
Monthly archives
Science and Technology Committee - Sixth Report
The Science and Technology Committee report identifies the strategic choice for Government - invest in areas with the greatest potential to influence and improve other areas of public spending, or make cuts of little significance now, that will have a devastating effect on British science and economy.
Click here to browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee.
Recommendations and Conclusions include:
- Failure to continue to increase investment in science would be counterproductive.
- The Government’s long-term objective for the UK economy is to increase the ratio of R&D spending to Gross Domestic Product from 1.9% to 2.5% by 2014. To achieve this the ratio would have to grow at around 5.5% per year (compared to an annual rate of 2.75% since 2004), ie public investment needs to increase. For the US the ratio is 2.77% and President Obama has committed to raising this to 3%.
- Impact in REF - the difficulties of capturing past impacts and allocating funding fairly on the basis of them will be insurmountable.
- Impact in Research Council proposals - the consideration of pathways to potential impacts should not be used as a “tie-breaker” in grant applications; Research Councils should make it clearer that applicants are not being asked to predict impact, but to address how impact would be developed.
- Maintaining a broad portfolio of excellent research need not be incompatible with capitalising on areas in which UK has potential to be world-leading. Such areas should be supported at national level. The committee noted the importance of the work of the TSB here.
- Science and Technology Facilities Council(STFC) - the committee was not satisfied with the outcome of the STFC’s reprioritisation exercise and recommends that withdrawals from programmes should be suspended until next Comprehensive Spending Review allocations are known.
- HEFCE funding for STEM subjects should reflect higher costs of teaching science. HEFCE’s decision to cut capital grants will disproportionately affect science teaching.
- The committee was in favour of the concentration of research on the basis of excellence, where ever it is found.
- It should be made easier and more financially viable for universities to collaborate and cut costs where they can.
You may also be interested in:
Monthly archives
Wellcome Trust Strategic Plan
Dr David Lynn and Dr Roger Blake visited the University of Leeds on Friday March 19th to present the Wellcome Trust’s Strategic Plan
David Lynn and Roger Blake presentation - Strategic Plan 2010 to 2020
More about the Wellcom Trust Strategy and Strategic Plan 2010
Monthly archives
MRC makes further change to final grant reports
Following the success of e-Val, the MRC has made a further change to the final grant report to remove the Science in Society section as this is covered by the Dissemination section of e-Val, and we are keen to continue to work to reduce the administrative burden on researchers.
Final grant reports are still required but are now only a statement of final expenditure and some contractual compliance details. Details can be found here:
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Utilities/Documentrecord/index.htm?d=MRC001903
Please ensure that you use the new template for all final grant reports (unless directed otherwise by MRC programme managers.)
Monthly archives
Peer review: good for all purposes?
Peer review is both a principle and a set of mechanisms at the heart of the arrangements for evaluating and assuring the quality of research. A new guide from the Research Information Network provides for researchers and others an outline of how the peer review system works, and highlights some of the challenges as well as the opportunities it faces in the internet age
Peer review: A guide for researchers sets out the processes involved in peer review for both grant applications and publications. It also looks at the issues that have been raised in a series of recent reports on the costs of the system, and how effective and fair it is.
The growth in the size of the research community and of the volumes of research being undertaken in the UK and across the world means that the amount of time and effort put into the peer review system is growing too, and that it is coming under increasing scrutiny. The guide looks at how effective peer review is in selecting the best research proposals, as well as in detecting misconduct and malpractice.
The guide also looks at how fair the system is, and at the different levels of transparency involved in the process: from completely closed systems, where the identities of reviewers and those whose work is being reviewed are kept hidden from each other, and reports are not revealed, to completely transparent systems where identities and reports are openly revealed. The burdens on researchers as submitters and reviewers are by far the biggest costs in the peer review system, and the guide outlines some of the measures that are being taken to reduce those burdens, or at least to keep them in check.
A growing number of researchers are taking the view that they should be paid for the time they spend in reviewing grant applications and draft publications. But there are also concerns that such payment would significantly increase the costs of the system, and also of scholarly publications. A RIN report in 2008 estimated that if reviewers were to be paid in cash for the full economic costs of their time, then UK academic libraries would have to pay 45% more for their subscriptions to scholarly journals.
The internet has speeded up the process of peer review, and widened the pool of reviewers who can be drawn on. It has also provided new channels through which researchers can communicate their findings, and through which other researchers can comment on, annotate and evaluate them. These new opportunities bring new challenges as well. The take-up of the opportunities for open comments, ratings and recommender systems has been patchy to date; and we currently lack clear protocols for the review of findings circulated in multiple formats, including blogs and wikis. The mechanisms for peer review will undoubtedly change in coming years, but the principle will remain central to all those involved in the research community.
Peer review: A guide for researchers is available at www.rin.ac.uk/peer-review-guide. Hard copies are also available to distribute to colleagues and students, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
(Source: www.rin.ac.uk)
Monthly archives
Independent Review of HEFCE Published
A review of HEFCE has concluded that it is a high-performing organisation that has the confidence of the higher education sector and the Government
The review, carried out by an independent review group chaired by Dame Sandra Burslem, was informed by research carried out by Oakleigh Consulting Limited.This involved consultation with over 200 representatives from 47 higher education providers and 30 other organisations, resulting in the publication today of the Oakleigh report and the review group’s commentary.
The review group has endorsed the findings of the Oakleigh report which concluded that HEFCE provides good value for money to the taxpayer. HEFCE was found to be efficient both in the use of its own resources and in the processes it administers for funding universities and colleges. HEFCE was also found to be effective in delivering its core functions.
The report concluded that the sector and Government ‘can be confident that the Council is both alive and responding to the many different challenges it must face’, whilst emphasising the importance of maintaining the integrity of the ‘successful model of sector relationship management that the Council has developed over the period of its existence’.
Dame Sandra Burslem said, ‘Oakleigh’s report makes it clear that HEFCE is a well established agency that in several respects could be judged to exemplify the best of what can be achieved in the public sector. It highlights that the Council’s role as a broker is important to both the sector and Government and warns that this depends critically on buy-in from institutional leaders which may come under pressure as public sector funding tightens. The Council clearly faces many demanding and complex challenges in the coming period. Our commentary and Oakleigh’s report examine these and the various steps HEFCE will need to take to manage them.’
Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, said, ‘Over the years HEFCE has built up an enviable reputation for effectiveness and efficiency in distributing large sums of public money. All of this stands HEFCE in a strong position to handle those difficult decisions as we ask the sector for some modest belt tightening. I am sure that HEFCE will respond positively to those issues that the Review Group has identified to further strengthen the organisation.’
Sir Alan Langlands, HEFCE Chief Executive, said, ‘This is a very positive and thorough report on HEFCE’s performance, but there is no room for complacency. The review has helpfully identified challenges that we, and universities and colleges, face in the future and we shall be considering carefully the recommendations both in the review group’s commentary and the report itself.’
The report found that the Council was for the most part reflective and self-critical in character with a good grasp of where it needs to improve its performance or adjust to external circumstances. The need for such change in the past five years has been in relation to its assurance and regulatory activities and its interactions with universities and colleges through its institutional teams.
The review group’s commentary argues that HEFCE has responded successfully to changes in the past and understands the challenges it will face in the future. These include: challenges to HEFCE’s culture, style and ways of working caused by greater pressure on public funding; challenges to the stability of the sector and its financial sustainability; and greater pressures on HEFCE’s relationships with the sector and other external bodies.
Oakleigh’s report warns that ‘one possible consequence of these challenges is that the model of consensual and consultative policy development that has characterised much of HEFCE’s work may be undermined’ and recommends that how HEFCE actively manages this issue be ‘formally incorporated within the Board’s register of strategic risks’.
The model of flexible resourcing it has adopted based on a more strategic management approach should be built on, supported by a light-touch, focused application of best practice project and programme management.
To read a copy of the review, please click here
(Source: http://www.hefce.ac.uk)
Monthly archives
KTP plans and achievements
The University’s current Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) strategy plan sees the University achieving 40 KTPs by July 2011. This is new target was set in July 2008. Our previous target was 28 which was set in March 2005 and which was achieved in September 2008. However, given the recession, which came after the new target was set, the University’s main aim now is to maintain - and ideally improve - our position as a top 4 KTP University nationally. The maintenance of this comparative position is seen as a better benchmark at this time given the uncertain economic situation. However, the ability to reach our target of 40 KTPs in total is still feasible in the longer term though the timescale is likely to slip.
Overall breakdown of the current KTP figures is as follows:
KTP Plan and Current Performance
- Current KTP Position Nationally (as at 8 March 2010) 5th
- Target KTP Position Nationally 2008 - 2011 ‘Top 4’
- Total REF Income from current 27 KTPs £4.010M
- KTP Target for July 2011 40 KTP Target for March 2010 25
- Actual KTPs for March 2010 27
- Target % KTPs recruited & producing income for March 2010 75%
- Actual % KTPs recruited & producing income for March 2010 67%
Breakdown of Current KTPs
Schools’ Totals- Mechanical Engineering 7
- SPEME 4
- Civil Eng 3
- LUBS (inc.Centre for Innovation in Health Management) 2
- Institute of Psychological Sciences 2
- Healthcare 2
- Elec Eng 2
- Design 2
- Computing 1
- Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine 1
- Chemistry 1
Size of Companies
- Large 17
- SME 10
Location of Companies
- Yorkshire & Humber 16
- Rest of UK 11
And finally, please contact the Keyworth Institute
- If you would like the Keyworth Institute to give any presentations to your staff on KTPs
- If you or your faculty any potential new projects they would like help with
- If you would like further information on the new Short KTP (10-40 weeks).
Other areas you may be interested in:
Monthly archives
HEFCE funding distribution decisions
HEFCE has announced the main decisions made by the Board at its meeting on 28th January on the provisional distribution of funding to universities and colleges in 2010-11. These decisions were taken in the light of the Secretary of State’s grant letter of 22nd December 2009.
The detailed approach taken by the Board and the decisions are contained in HEFCE Circular letter 02/2010 ‘Funding for universities and colleges in 2010-11’.
The Board agreed the allocation of £7,356 million for the 2010-11 academic year covering teaching, research, capital and related activities. The grants to individual institutions will be decided by the Board at its meeting on 4 March, and the full grant announcement will be published on 18 March.
The main decisions made by the Board were:
- £4,727 million recurrent funding for teaching. This represents an increase of 0.4 per cent in cash terms or a decrease of 1.6 per cent in real terms, compared with 2009-10.
- £1,603 million recurrent funding for research. This represents a £32 million or 2 per cent increase in cash terms (maintained in real terms) on the £1,571 million allocated for the 2009-10 academic year.
- £562 million in capital funding, which represents a 14.9 per cent reduction in cash terms on the 2009-10 allocation.
- £294 million in special funding for national programmes and initiatives. This represents a 7 per cent reduction in cash terms on 2009-10.
- £150 million for the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), which compares with £134 million in 2009-10. This represents an 11.9 per cent increase.
Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said: ‘This is a challenging financial settlement, but we are doing all that we can to support excellence in teaching and research by keeping across-the-board reductions in core funding to universities and colleges to a minimum. Our approach will also give institutions maximum flexibility to pursue their priorities.
‘In addition we will maintain our commitment to widening participation and to strategically important subjects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We will continue to support excellent research across a wide range of disciplines, and build on the success of HEIF to forge even stronger relationships with industry and other public and third sector partners. These are testing times but higher education has benefited from very substantial growth over the past 10 years, and we should continue to aim for the very best within available resources. UK higher education generates nearly £60 billion for the economy with a multiplier effect of 3:1 from public investment. It clearly makes sense for the Government to take full account of this in setting priorities for the effective use of public funding in future spending rounds.’
( Source: http://www.hefce.ac.uk )
Monthly archives
BBSRC strategic framework
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has outlined the strategic framework that will shape its direction and funding decisions for the next 5 years.
Many of the challenges facing society have their potential solutions in biological science, making the 21st Century the ‘Age of Bioscience’. In its Strategic Plan for 2010-2015, published today, BBSRC details how it will support UK bioscience to meet these challenges and the opportunities for bioscience to benefit society and the UK economy.
The new Strategic Plan can be downloaded from the BBSRC website at: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/strategy.
In a webcast, streamed on the BBSRC website, Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive, outlined the main features of the plan.
- A commitment to fund excellent UK bioscience and skills across the BBSRC remit
- Three strategic research priorities – food security, bioenergy and industrial biotechnology, and basic bioscience underpinning health
- Three underpinning themes – knowledge exchange, innovation and skills, exploiting new ways of working and partnerships
Professor Kell said, “The new BBSRC strategic plan outlines our vision to lead 21st century bioscience. This is a field where the UK is truly world-leading. Through excellent science BBSRC is committed to promoting innovation to realise benefits from the bioscience research base for people in the UK and beyond. The BBSRC strategic plan details the priorities and themes that are essential to keep the UK at the cutting edge of international bioscience – and our plans for BBSRC to use its unique and central position to achieve our vision. We will continue to fund excellent research across our remit to fund the best ideas from the best people. Building on our world-leading bioscience research base, we will give particular focus to the three strategic research priorities as delivering food security, sustainable bio-based alternatives to fossil fuels and the basic bioscience to deliver health are areas where our funded scientists can contribute to meeting major challenges society must overcome.”
The three underpinning themes are broad cross-cutting activities that are vital to ensure that the full potential of 21st century bioscience is reached and that the wider public see the maximum social and economic benefit.
Knowledge exchange, innovation and skills will mean maximising the impact of the research and skills funded by BBSRC. Exploiting new ways of working will entail harnessing the power of new tools and technologies, including large datasets and next generation internet, to tackle increasingly complex questions. In partnerships, BBSRC recognises that achieving its ambitions for bioscience in the modern world will require close work with UK and international partners.
Professor Kell said, “The underpinning themes are a vital part of the strategic plan. We understand that embedding them will involve commitment and, in some cases, cultural change, not just amongst our scientists but within BBSRC as well. However, we see these as absolutely key to delivering the future of bioscience and maximum benefit for society.”
Download a copy of the strategy. ( Source: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk )
Monthly archives
Information about the implementation of the Wellcome Trust’s new Investigator Award scheme
Statement from the Wellcome Trust:
Below is further information about the implementation of the Wellcome Trust’s new Investigator Award scheme, and specifically about how we plan to handle the transition process, during which some of our current grant schemes will be phased out and Investigator Awards introduced.
1. Changes to the Trust’s biomedical science grant programmes
As we announced late last year, the Investigator Award scheme will open on 1 October 2010. During the transition to Investigator Awards, the following grant schemes are being phased out:
- project grants
- programme grants
- equipment grants
- biomedical resources grants
- technology development grants
- University Awards
- Flexible Travel Awards
Please note that funding schemes managed through our Technology Transfer and Medicine, Society and History divisions are not affected by these changes.
2. Applications for Investigator Awards
We will be open for Investigator Award applications from 1 October 2010 onwards. If you wish to send an application for consideration at the first Investigator Awards funding round, you will need to apply before the closing date of Monday 22 November 2010. Applications received after this date will be considered at subsequent funding rounds.
Full details of the Investigator Award application form and process will be available from 2 June 2010.
In order to manage an expected high volume of applications during the phasing out of the above schemes and to ensure that each application is given a fair and rigorous assessment, we will have to limit the number of applications that any applicant may have under consideration at one time during the transition period. You will not, therefore, be able to submit applications for Investigator Awards either:
- while you are waiting to hear the outcome of an application submitted to a grant scheme that is being phased out (please see further information in section 4 below); or
- if you are currently a programme grant holder and the grant still has more than two years to run.
3. If you are applying for any of the schemes that are being phased out, please bear in mind the following information
The following submission deadlines for full applications will apply:
Full application deadline date - Funding Committee round
Friday 12 February 2010 - June-July 2010
Friday 30 April 2010 - October 2010
Friday 30 July 2010 - March 2011
If you are currently preparing an application or are thinking of applying to the last two rounds of any of the schemes being phased out, we suggest that you bear this timetable in mind and give yourself plenty of time to submit your application. Please be aware that some of these schemes require a preliminary application, and that we may take up to four weeks to assess a preliminary application before a full application can be invited.
4. If you have already submitted an application to one of the schemes being phased out
If you have already submitted an application to us as of the date of this letter or intend to do so for the June-July Funding Committee round, a decision on your application will be made before 1 October 2010, and therefore you will be able to apply for an Investigator Award from 1 October 2010 onwards. If, however, you submit an application for consideration at the Funding Committe rounds in October 2010 or March 2011, you will not be able to apply for an Investigator Award until a decision has been made on your existing application.
Please note that we do not normally accept the resubmission of unsuccessful applications. This policy will be strictly applied from the beginning of April 2010 onwards for all applications to schemes being phased out.
5. If you have questions or would like more information
If you have any queries about any of the arrangements above, or about any other aspect of the new Investigator Award scheme, please contact your named Grants Adviser (if your question relates to an existing application) or contact our Help Desk on 020 7611 2020 or at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
A summary of significant dates is attached for your quick reference. We will issue another update about Investigator Awards and the transition process during March 2010.
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Quinn
Head of Grants Management
Significant dates
Friday 12 February 2010 - Closing date for applications to the June-July 2010 Funding Committee round
Friday 30 April 2010 - Closing date for applications to the October 2010 Funding Committee round
Friday 30 July 2010 - Closing date for applications to the March 2011 Funding Committee round
Friday 1 October 2010 onwards - Applications for Investigator Awards can be submitted via eGrants
Monday 22 November 2010 - Closing date for the first round of Investigator Award applications (decisions in May 2011)
Monthly archives
Important information for applicants to AHRC funding schemes
Statement from AHRC:
In 2010 the AHRC, along with the other Research Councils, will be transferring its grants processing activities to the new RCUK Shared Services Centre. This important change is being made in order to harmonise common processes across all Councils and to secure efficiency savings for the research budget which will be channelled into further investment in research. It will also allow for greater consistency across the Councils in the application procedure as well as the operation of peer review.
In addition, the AHRC office will be moving from Bristol to Swindon in June. Together, these changes will impact significantly on the AHRC’s planned schedule of activities over the coming nine months or so. While the AHRC will do its utmost to minimise the disruption to applicants and others, normal timescales for assessing grant applications will have to be changed to enable these changes to take place as smoothly as possible and for normal business to resume after the new systems are in place.
In particular, AHRC applicants should be aware of the following changes:
- Research Grants and Fellowships Schemes – We will not be accepting applications between 19 March 2010 – 31 May 2010. In addition, Fellowship applicants are strongly advised to submit their applications before the end of February as the outcomes of some applications submitted in March are unlikely to be announced until spring 2011. We are also rescheduling our panel meetings during 2010 which may mean that applicants will not receive outcomes when they would have been expecting them.
- Research Networking Scheme – We will not be accepting applications between 26 February and 31 May 2010.
- Knowledge Transfer Fellowships - The planned closing date in May will not occur. The scheme will re-open later in 2010 on an open deadline basis on a date to be confirmed.
- Knowledge Catalysts – We will not be accepting applications between 26 February 2010 and 31 August 2010. This will give time to consider the outcomes of the current review of the scheme due to be completed by end of March and implement any changes in the light of the review.
Applicants are advised to allow as much time as possible between submitting applications and the suggested start date for projects. Applicants should also bear in mind when submitting proposals that award announcements may be delayed by a number of months, and successful applicants may be required to change the start date of their projects to take this into account.
All schemes not mentioned above, including all postgraduate programmes, will continue as planned, and we will be processing all applications already submitted before the dates outlined above. It should also be noted that the overall AHRC budget will not be affected by these changes.
Professor Rick Rylance, Chief Executive of the AHRC, said: “The AHRC has a demanding year ahead with very considerable organisational upheaval. We hope that you will bear with us during this period. We will of course do everything we can to minimise disruption and to ensure everyone in the arts and humanities research community is kept fully up to date with progress in a timely way.”
Further measures may need to be taken by the AHRC in the autumn of 2010, but these will be communicated in good time and through the usual channels.
For further information, please go to: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk.
If you would like to discuss any issues you might have about these changes or their implications, please contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Head of Communications.
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Monthly archives
Lanch of new programme of research support training courses
The new programme of courses and workshops covers a range of ‘training strands’ from professional skills to grant administration and hopefully offers something for everyone.
Many of the courses we have presented in the past 10 months, for example ‘Advanced MIS’ have proved to be highly relevant and popular amongst our research support and EKT community, and we are therefore pleased to be able to include new dates for these courses in the forthcoming months. In addition there are a number of new courses including ‘Introduction to TRAC’ and ‘EU Post-Award for Marie Curie grants’ which I hope that you will find relevant and interesting.
All courses are open to staff in Faculty Research Support Offices and those outside of the Faculty Research Support Offices with research support or knowledge transfer as part of their role
We hope that many of these courses will be of interest to you and look forward to seeing you on the courses and to receiving your feedback.
Other areas you may be interested in:
Monthly archives
N8 Research Partnership announces new strategy
The N8 Research Partnership, a consortium of the eight research-intensive universities in the North of England, has set out its new strategy and business plan.
The Vice-Chancellors of the eight N8 universities – Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York – approved the newly-developed strategy and business plan which will:
- promote innovation by exploiting the world-class research capabilities of the universities;
- encourage multidisciplinary collaborations by pooling complementary capabilities;
- maximise our use of resources and facilities, leading to greater efficiencies;
- focus on working together for mutual benefit;
- provide more effective support for business.
The new business plan also restates N8’s priorities to assist businesses by providing access to a vast wealth of research capability, generating new engagement with companies, promoting knowledge transfer and supporting successful exploitation of new ideas.
A new Director, Sarah Jackson, has been appointed to lead N8 in its operation and delivery of the new strategy.
Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University and chair of the N8 Board, said: “The recession and increasing economic pressures on resources mean that collaborative working is now more relevant than ever. N8 allows our universities to focus our research capabilities more effectively, which will be of benefit to all our universities and also to businesses during this vital economic recovery phase”.
Sarah Jackson, the new N8 Director, said “This is a great opportunity to work with the N8 universities to drive new research collaborations. By bringing together our best academics from across the universities, N8 can build teams of world class academic and help businesses access and apply this research to support innovation and growth”.
Other areas you may be interested in:
Monthly archives
MRC e-Val
MRC is seeking researchers’ opinions on its E-val system.
Please complete the questionnaire and return it to Philip Anderson, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by 31st January 2010.
Further information on E-val is available at http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Achievementsimpact/Outputsoutcomes/e-Val/index.htm.
Monthly archives
Research Outcomes project launched
The Research Councils UK (RCUK) Research Outcomes project will establish an ongoing dialogue with the research community to allow the outcomes of research to be reported at any stage during the funding agreement and, most importantly beyond. RCUK recognises that outcomes of research are sometimes only realised after funding has ended. This project aims to develop an ongoing data collection system to improve the evidence available from the outcomes of UK research.
The project follows on from the Outputs & Outcomes Collection (OOCs) project, which simplified the research grant final reporting process and established the case for developing new processes of collecting research outcomes data. A new system will benefit researchers, academic institutions and Research Councils alike by providing access to data collected in a more systematic and immediate manner.
Consultation with the research community is now underway to establish requirements for the new system, and the project team is working closely with HEFCE to align, where possible, with similar requirements for the Research Excellence Framework (REF). Once this stage is complete RCUK will invite tenders to develop and implement a system. Subject to the successful completion of the tender, the project is expected to have a pilot system in operation by summer 2011, with full roll out in late 2011.
More information about the project can be found at: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/aboutrcuk/efficiency/ResearchOutcomes and this article appears in full at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/100111.htm.
Monthly archives
Transformation fund expression of interest deadline end of February 2010
The University of Leeds’ Transformation fund was established in 2007. The aim of the fund is to initiate projects which generate a step-change in the University’s research income through leverage of substantial external funds. Projects should deliver cutting-edge research in response to major global challenges, in line with Faculty/University strategic priorities. Bids of up to £1 million (with equivalent Faculty counterpart funding) are invited from research leaders with a proven track record in external research funding.
The closing dates for Expressions of Interest are the end of February and September each year. It is an essential part of the application stage that all Expressions of Interest are discussed in person with the PVC-R, relevant Deans and Pro-Deans, prior to submission, to explore the alignment of the proposal with Faculty strategic priorities.
Further information is available by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or on the Transformation Fund webpage.
Monthly archives
VAT rate changes
As you are aware the VAT rate reverted back to 17.5% on 1 January 2010. The University’s VAT office has produced a document which explains the changes and how they are being implemented at the University.
Further information
University of Leeds - central finance VAT website
HMRC FAQs
Monthly archives
STFC Science Programme Prioritisation 2010-2015
The Science and Technology Facilities Council has just concluding a major science prioritisation exercise, which commenced in May 2009 and concluded in December 2009. The prioritised programme that has been adopted by Council is based on reports from a group of independent scientists on our Science Board and its advisory committees.
Science and Technology Committee Select Committee Announcement
Science Programme Prioritisation 2010-2015
The Science and Technology Facilities Council has just announced that from 2010-11, it will make substantial cuts in future grants and also studentship and fellowship places. We are hugely disappointed that any cuts have to be made to the science research budget.
However, given the current challenges STFC is facing, we welcome the decision to not make cuts across the board, but to prioritise on the basis of the quality of science. In particular, we are pleased that major projects like Diamond and ISIS will be maintained at full capacity. We are also pleased that the major subscriptions - such as CERN - are being maintained, which is important if the UK is to remain a major international player in science over the long term.
We are hugely disappointed that studentships and fellowships will be cut. We hope that this is only a short term measure and that they will return to pre-2009 capacity as soon as possible.
It is clearly unacceptable that any Research Council has to bear the brunt of increased cost as a result of the vagaries of currency fluctuations. The Government needs to establish a centrally-driven, robust system for funding international subscriptions based on scientific peer review.
At the earliest opportunity we will examine these cuts in detail.
Details of STFC’s programme prioritisation.
The Russell Group response to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) review of priorities.
Responding to the recent announcement by STFC of the outcome of its priorities review, Dr Wendy Piatt said “We are deeply concerned about the impact of STFC’s decision to cut 25% of its studentships and fellowships, to reduce funding for particle physics and astronomy research in UK universities, and to withdraw from a number of international projects and facilities.
“Although the council consulted widely, we are particularly concerned about the message this decision sends to sends to students and young scientists about the UK’s commitment to physics and astronomy at a time when the US and other competitors are investing heavily. Cutting investment in the next generation of UK researchers is a shame at a time when the Large Hadron Collider coming on stream at CERN and unprecedented sources of data available to astronomers probing mysteries of the universe such as dark matter.
“We welcome the announcement by the Science Minister Lord Drayson to work with STFC and the research community to address the “real tensions” around the long-term funding of large research facilities, particularly the UK’s involvement in international facilities and programmes which may be subject to significant currency fluctuations. Russell Group universities wish to be involved in this activity.
“Russell Group universities have been successful in winning around 70% of STFC’s annual research grants funding (£96M in 2007-08) and host many of the UK’s leading research groups in these areas. Our universities already facing the real possibility of deep cuts announced in the Pre-Budget Report, and further cuts have the potential to damage the ability of these research groups to undertake excellent research and will impair international collaborations and other partnerships now and in the future.”
Donald MacLeod
Head of Communications
The Russell Group
Monthly archives
Research Data Backup Procedures go-live 1st January 2010
Further details can be found in the research data backup section of the website. These procedures are in line with an audit requirement.
Any questions regarding the procedures can be directed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and any questions regarding the actual data backup and storage requirements should be directed to Faculty IT Managers.
Monthly archives
Difficulties in accessing research information is affecting research
A report published by the Research Information Network highlights the problems researchers are facing when trying to access research information. The report’s key finding is that accessing is still a major concern for researchers, as opposed to locating the information in the first place. Read the full article on the RIN website.
Monthly archives
Launch of Professionalisation Mentoring Scheme
A brand new mentoring scheme for all staff involved in research support or enterprise and knowledge transfer is now available, for further information visit the Professionalisation Mentoring Scheme section of the website.
Monthly archives
BIS ‘Postgraduate Review’
The Postgraduate Review will focus on both taught and research aspects of the Postgraduate landscape in the UK. In each of these areas views are sought on whether any form of strategic intervention by government would seem appropriate.
Comments are to be submitted via http://www.bis.gov.uk/pgreview or emailed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The final deadline for submissions is the 18th December 2009.
Further information is available from the UKCGE website.
Monthly archives
Report shows the difference QR funding is making
HEFCE and Universities UK have published a joint report into how QR funding is used. The report implies that a number of medical breakthroughs have been made possible thanks to QR funding.
Read the full news story on the UKCGE website.
Monthly archives
NERC is keen to hear from stakeholders in the environmental sciences research base.
NERC has recognised the need for postgraduates with appropriate skills and knowledge as the world faces huge environmental challenges. As such NERC is keen to hear from stakeholders in the environmental sciences research base.
Visit the NERC website to take part in the consultation.
Read the full news story on the UKCGE website.
Monthly archives
Leeds research finds new piece of BSE puzzle
Read the full article on the MRC website.
Monthly archives
MRC outputs collection exercise
MRC has launched the 2009 outputs collection exercise, “e-Val”, which will run until 23rd December. MRC requires all current MRC grant-holders and those whose awards terminated in 2006, 2007 or 2008 to complete a return describing the outputs of MRC-funded work. Letters explaining the requirements have been sent to each relevant grant-holder. If you think you should have received a letter but have not done so please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) so that we can check and ensure you fulfil your MRC grant conditions. MRC has done a great deal of work to ensure that the system is much more straightforward to use than the one used for last year’s survey.
Further information is on the MRC website at http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Achievementsimpact/Outputsoutcomes/e-Val/index.htm
Monthly archives
Questions raised about fEC
Universities’ funding for research infrastructure is coming under increasing scrutiny as questions are asked about how the money has been spent to date, according to the Times Higher Education.
A task group is to be created in response to the recommendations of the review into fEC, further information is available at the Research Councils UK website.
Monthly archives
A Wellcome break from the funding treadmill
The Wellcome Trust - the UK’s largest medical-research charity - is to overhaul its funding with the aim of supporting more adventurous ideas and freeing researchers from the treadmill of applying for short-term grants according to the Times Higher Education supplement.
Other areas you may be interested in:
Monthly archives
Do you have suggestions of training courses you would like to attend?
A new programme of Research Support training courses is due to start in the New Year, and the Professionalisation and Training Project Group would like to hear from you if you have any ideas of courses you or your team would find useful.
The training and professionalisation activities currently in place or under development at Leeds are based around ‘ A Framework for Training and Professionalisation of Research Administrators and Managers’.
As well as giving staff another opportunity to attend previously run courses, there will be a number of brand-new courses and we would value your suggestions for these as well as comments about previous courses. Please email your ideas to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or telephone her on ext. 31944.
There are still a few places available on courses scheduled for November and December, view availability and reserve a place via the University’s training search engine.
The brochure listing the new courses will be available early December.
Other areas you may be interested in:
Monthly archives
Research Councils UK Launches Framework for the Future
Research Councils UK (RCUK) published a new framework on 19 October 2009 setting out their vision for the future.
The RCUK Framework for the Future: Excellence with impact shows the outstanding contribution made by Research Councils UK. RCUK enables the UK to have a productive economy, healthy society and contribute to a sustainable world, and these three mutually supportive areas form the basis of the framework.
Professor Alan J Thorpe, Chair of RCUK, endorsed the new framework. “RCUK spans all academic disciplines and this framework highlights how interdisciplinary and collaborative research has been, and will be, the key to solving many of the challenges facing both the nation and the world. Here in the UK we already have the skills needed to tackle these challenges, but we must ensure we continue to invest in researchers who can understand the problems and develop answers.”
“In the current economic climate, it is essential that the benefits research brings to the UK are recognised. Despite current pressure on public finances, we must maintain investment in research or we won’t be able to solve the problems facing us. RCUK’s commitment to funding excellent research, together with the stability and investment that has been seen within research over the last ten years, means that the UK is internationally recognised as being a world leader. To maintain this position, and to aid future growth and prosperity, it is vital that there is sustained public investment in research.”
For more information visit RCUK: Framework for the Future website
Monthly archives
Changes to annual adjustments applied to research Research Council grants and studentships
Research Councils UK have announced changes to the annual adjustments applied to research grants and studentships, following a fall in official forecasts of inflation.
Alan Thorpe, Chair of Research Councils UK said:
“The UK is now experiencing inflation at a lower rate than previously forecast, and therefore the inflation adjustment to grants will also be lower. The Research Councils are committed to ensuring that their investments represent value for money for the tax payer and reflect changes in economic circumstances. The decline in inflation needs to be reflected in the grants we award. All savings made as a result of changing the rate will be reinvested into research and postgraduate training.”
The Research Councils will be applying these changes to both new and existing grants and fellowships. The cash indexation applied to new grants will be based on the updated Treasury inflation forecast*. Any grant or fellowship announced using the previous Treasury figures will be re-valued from April 2010 onwards.
The Research Councils will contact research organisations to provide details of any changes this will have on the value of existing grants and fellowships. The reduction will be of the order of 1.2% for 2010/11. Where an award has outstanding payments of £100,000 or less as at 1st April 2010, the award value will remain as previously announced. All other grants will be adjusted at the new rate.
The cash indexation rate applied to new grants will continue to be reviewed annually in response to changes in HM Treasury’s inflation forecast. This will ensure that research grant payments in future years are informed by changes in the rate of inflation.
In addition, the Research Councils have considered the impact of lower inflation on adjustments to postgraduate stipends and research fees. In future, the preliminary value of fees and the minimum stipend will be announced in July. The final values will then be confirmed in the following April once the Treasury GDP deflators have been established for the year. This will ensure that the real value of stipends is maintained in line with inflation.
* Treasury GDP deflators for 2009/10 onwards had previously been at 2.75%. These were revised downwards, by the Treasury, in April 2009 to 1.0% for 2009/10 and 1.5% for 2010/11 and subsequent years.
(Source: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk)
Monthly archives
New Research Support website launched
Research Support are pleased to launch a new website for academic staff and research support staff at the University of Leeds.
We have worked with University approved external web design and development supplier WPA Pinfold to bring you a fresh look at Research Support and a revised structure to make it easy to find all of the information you may need.
We hope you enjoy using the new site and if you would like to let us know what you think of it please email the Research Support Operations Manager, Jennifer Johnson (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
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Monthly archives
Publication of REF consultation
HEFCE has now published proposals for the REF for consultation. A summary has been produced, which may be downloaded here.
The full proposals are available via the HEFCE REF website at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2009/09_38/.
The University’s response to the consultation will be developed over October and November, through discussion at relevant committees. In addition comments to inform the response may be sent to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to arrive no later than noon on 6th November.
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Annual Research Support Conference
The Annual Research Support Conference will take place on Tuesday 8 December 2009 at Weetwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre. This is the third annual conference and builds on successful events in previous years, each attended by in excess of 100 delegates.
The theme of this year’s conference is the contribution of research support to the delivery of research excellence with impact. As part of the University’s strategic objectives, it strives to deliver research excellence in all areas of its research and to increase its impact on a local to global scale. Our funders now increasingly require that we demonstrate both research excellence and impact in our research applications and in the outcomes and outputs of our research and also as part of the Research Excellence Framework (formerly the Research Assessment Exercise) we will be measured explicitly on research impact alongside excellence. We are consequently delighted that two of our plenary speakers this year are key participants in the excellence and impact agenda.
The conference will be opened by Professor Andrew Thompson, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research. Key note speakers who will also participate in sessions later in the day are:-
Professor John Fisher, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Leeds
John Baird, Head of Knowledge Transfer at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), whose responsibilities include increasing the commercialisation of EPSRC’s research grants, user involvement in Peer Review and interaction with Regional Development Agencies, the Technology Strategy Board and other Research Councils.
Graeme Rosenberg, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) – Graeme is the Project Manager for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) Pilot which has been developing and testing the process for the REF and will lead on the REF consultation process later this year.
Early booking is recommended as places at the conference are limited. Subsidies for conference places have once again been secured keeping the delegate fee at £25 per person.
To book a place please complete the online form available at http://tinyurl.com/RSConference2009 by 31 October 2009.
Further details about the 2009 Research Support conference
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Monthly archives
New professionalisation training courses
The Professionalisation Training Project Group (PTPG) are pleased to confirm that the schedule of training courses for September to December 2009 includes a number of brand new courses designed specifically for staff involved in research support at Leeds. Introduction to Research Contracts and Management of EU Projects are just two of the new courses available.
Courses can be booked online here, search for ‘professionalisation’ in the Keyword Search field. Alternatively if you would like to receive the printed version of our brochure of training courses for staff involved in research or EKT support at Leeds, you can request a copy from Jennifer Blaikie (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
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Monthly archives
New PVC for research takes the helm
Research Support extends a warm welcome to the new PVC for research, Professor Andrew Thompson who is taking over the role from Professor Margaret Atack. Read more about the new PVCR in the Reporter magazine.
Monthly archives
EPSRC physical sciences team visit
The EPSRC Physical Sciences Team visited the University of Leeds on the 4th September 2009. Download their presentations.
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Career changing grants awarded to Leeds Chemists
Two Leeds Chemists are celebrating the award of European Research Council grants. Dr Benjamin Murray and Dr Andrew Wilson have both been awarded European Research Council Starting Grants worth €1 million and €1.6 million over five years respectively. These highly prestigious fellowships awards will enable these academics to pursue groundbreaking research in their respective research fields. These awards will fund or part fund 10 researchers including the grant holders, postdocs and PhD students and other academics over the five-year period.
The Commission is launching the next round of ERC starting grants. For further information contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Monthly archives
Transformation fund expression of interest deadline approaching
The University of Leeds’ Transformation fund was established in 2007. The aim of the fund is to initiate projects which generate a step-change in the University’s research income through leverage of substantial external funds. Projects should deliver cutting-edge research in response to major global challenges, in line with Faculty/University strategic priorities. Bids of up to £1 million (with equivalent Faculty counterpart funding) are invited from research leaders with a proven track record in external research funding.
The closing dates for Expressions of Interest are the end of February and September each year. It is an essential part of the application stage that all Expressions of Interest are discussed in person with the PVC-R, relevant Deans and Pro-Deans, prior to submission, to explore the alignment of the proposal with Faculty strategic priorities.
Further information is available from the Director of Research Support, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or on the Transformation Fund webpage.
Monthly archives
RCUK reviews grant indexation policy
Research Councils UK is looking at its policy on payments on research grants to take inflation into account. The inflation rates applied to new grants will continue to be reviewed annually in response to changes in HM Treasury’s GDP deflator figures. This ensures that research grant payments in future years are in line with changes in the rate of inflation and underlying economic trends. In the light of recent significant falls in inflation, RCUK is now exploring whether these changes should also be applied to existing grants.
The review involves clarifying the position concerning changes to existing grants, and exploring the financial implications for both the Councils and the research base of such a move. This work is ongoing and a final decision will be reached and announced in the autumn.
Ian Diamond, Chair of the RCUK Executive Group said: “The Research Councils are committed to ensuring that their investments represent the best value for money for the tax payer. All savings made as a result of changing indexation rate are reinvested into research.”
Monthly archives
RCUK/ UUK Review of the Impact of Full Economic Costing on the HEI sector
Research Councils UK and Universities UK have undertaken a review of the impact of full economic costing on the HEI sector. The review has found that the objectives of fEC are, in general, being met. It makes a number of recommendations that are intended to improve the operation of fEC and it shows that the principle of fEC was well-founded.
You can download the review at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/review/fec/default.htm
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