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Parallel sessions

Policy and strategy

The parallel sessions detailed below have been identified as falling under the theme "Policy and strategy". Most sessions have this as their primary theme, but for some it is a secondary theme. Please review the description of each session for further information about what it will cover.

For other sessions, see also:

103: Practitioner Reflections: The theory and practice of designing, implementing and maintaining Electronic Research Administration systems (panel discussion)

Ian McCormick, Director of Research & Business Services, University of East Anglia
Alan Bates, Senior Consultant H.E sector, Baum Hart & Partners, UK
Serena Cooper, System Manager, Science and Technology Facilities Council
David Downton, Research Operations Officer, University of Leicester, UK
Robin Drennan, Executive Director: GMSA, National Research Foundation, South Africa
Yvonne Fox, Research Support Manager, University of Lancaster, UK
Ian McCormick, Director of Research & Business Services, University of East Anglia

This panel session is designed to give a practical insight into the design, implementation and maintenance of electronic research administration systems from the perspectives of research organisations, funders and commercial suppliers. Each member of the panel will give a short presentation to highlight some key points, and then the discussion will be opened up to the audience.

104: Ethics, governance, research and enterprise: management approaches to conflicts of interest

Dr Peter Hooper, Head of Research Services, University of Keele
Prof Laetus O K Lategan, Dean: Research and Development, Central University Technology, Free State

With the developing agenda of 'user-engagement', enterprise and entrepreneurship, it is vital that universities and research organisations have clear procedures for dealing with real or perceived conflicts of interest in research projects. A fundamental strand of any policy in this area must the awareness of researchers (and others) of what is an appropriate approach and when to seek guidance. Not all cases of potential conflict of interest are clear-cut and institutions need to have clear, defensible and consistent approaches when dealing with these with these issues. The area of 'business ethics' and 'environmental ethics' are overlooked but increasingly important aspects of research and enterprise activity.

106: The Development of Research Clusters

Peter Townsend, Director, Research Office, Loughborough University
Janet Dibb-Smith, Senior Advisor, Research and Innovation Cluster Directorate, University of South Australia

This session will explore the development of research clustering where universities are increasingly realising the importance of facilitating inter-disciplinary research and of undertaking collaborative research between two or more regionally based institutions, based upon supporting a particular theme or industry which may also be geographically co-located. Examples will be drawn from the presenters' own institutions including from the fields of energy technologies, sustainable communities, health and defence. The rationale for such collaboration, success factors, and implications for institutions and their research support functions will be explored.

203: Working with Industry

Colin Cooper, Assistant Director of Research, University of Liverpool
Dr Alison Hodge, Univesity Partnerships Director, QinetiQ

This session will provide views from a university and an industrial perspective:

  1. One of the fundamental activities of a contemporary university is to engage in collaboration with external bodies where both parties can use the generation of new knowledge to further their own core activities. This presentation will review how universities collaborate with Industry focusing on relationships, contractual arrangements and what makes for a successful collaboration.
  2. The UK Government wants universities to work more extensively with business and industry. However, the take-up is still not as high as perhaps wished for. Why? This presentation will explore some of the issues that influence business and industry in why and how they wish to interact with the academic sector. Topics to be considered can include the impact of full economic costs, the value of intellectual property both background and foreground, commercial and other sensitivities, freedom to publish and the availability of appropriate resources. Does industry expect too much or are we satisfied?

205: Best Practice in using Business Intelligence in determining Research Strategy

Mark Hochman, Director, Research and Innovation Services, University of South Australia
Kim Davidson, Deputy Director, Research and Innovation Services, University of South Australia
John Green, Chief Co-ordinating Officer, Imperial College, London

Most universities collect data at both project and institutional level. We are well used to using such data for comparative or benchmarking purposes, yet often this is where the use of such data stops. There is a wealth of additional information - business intelligence - that can be gleaned from standard university data and readily available business data from external sources. This session will explore how using such data can assist in developing institutional research strategies, determining institutional distinctiveness, identifying new business opportunities and supporting strategic growth.

307: The UK Research Excellence Framework

Paul Hubbard, Head of Research Policy, Higher Education Funding Council for England

  • Target Audience: UK research administrators who may be involved in supporting REF preparations
  • UK/International: UK delegates
  • Experience Level: Any

In November 2007 the Higher Education Funding Council for England published a consultation paper concerning proposals for the future assessment and funding of research. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) will consist of an over-arching framework for the funding and assessment of research that takes account of key differences between the different disciplines. Research income, research student data and a new bibliometric indicator of research quality will drive assessment and funding for the science-based disciplines. For the arts, humanities and social sciences (where quantitative approaches are less developed) the REF will use a light-touch form of peer review. The new framework will be phased in; it will inform funding gradually for the science-based disciplines from 2010. The light-touch peer review exercise for the other disciplines will take place in 2013. The new framework will drive funding for all disciplines fully from 2014. An analysis of the responses to the consultation exercise will be published in spring 2008. This session will provide an update on recent developments and next steps to be taken, and allow participants to debate key issues.

308: The RCUK review of Full Economic Costing

Stuart Ward, Director of Resources, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Ian Carter, Director of Research, University of Liverpool

UK higher education institutions have developed and implemented full economic costing (FEC) for all research over the past three years and Research Councils have been required to fund research projects on the basis of FEC, in order to help to address the sustainability of research. Its introduction has had numbers of effects within the sector. At the start of the process, the government indicated that FEC would be reviewed after three years. That review, by Research Councils UK, has now been initiated, to report by the end of 2008. This session will discuss some of the issues arising from the introduction of FEC, and the approach being taken in the review.

406: Striving for Excellence: Strategic Planning and Capacity Building in Research

Jane Hobson, Manager, Research Quality, Policy and Planning, Office of Research Services, University of Western Sydney
Mogodisheng Sekhwela, Research & Development Office, University of Botswana
Aldo Stoebel, Head of Internationalisation, University of the Free State

  • Target Audience: All (of particular relevance to new and emerging research organisations in any location)
  • UK/International: Not geographically specific
  • Experience Level: Any

This session will examine the role of strategic planning and strategic management of research in developing and sustaining research excellence and capacity. Case studies will be presented from three very different universities working with a diverse set of policy and strategic challenges. The session will include a panel discussion.

502: The auditor and the audited: reflections on quality assurance processes employed by Research Councils in the UK

Gareth MacDonald, RCUK Head of Assurance, Research Councils UK
UK university speaker to be confirmed

  • Target Audience: Research administrators in departments and in central administration functions (of particular relevance to new and emerging research organisations in any location)
  • UK/International: Not geographically specific
  • Experience Level: Intermediate

This session will give an overview of the UK Research Councils' current quality assurance processes (Funding Assurance Programme, formerly known as "Dipstick Testing") from the perspective of the Research Councils and an institution which has been visited. It will cover the accommodation of the recent implementation of "full economic costs" (fEC) requirements for Research Council funding in the UK. The session has been designed to accommodate an international audience.

506: Supporting Global Partnerships: the Research Manager's Role

Dr John Kirkland, Deputy Secretary General (Development), Association of Commonwealth Universities
Ann Anderson, Controller and Associate Vice President, University of Washington
Lawrie Robertson, Director of Finance and Administration, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington
Additional speakers to be confirmed

  • Target Audience: Administrative managers at all levels within an institution (of particular relevance to new and emerging research organisations in any location)
  • UK/International: Not geographically specific
  • Experience Level: No/basic experience

This session will look at the administrative infrastructure challenges for research managers in supporting global partnerships with a particular focus on research collaboration with developing country institutions. The session will aim to bring together views from research administrators in the US, EU and a developing country and also include a donor perspective to highlight the issues, describe initiatives being undertaken and suggest potential good practice.

606: Science Policy Development in Europe, the US and Australia

William F Schweri, Director of Federal Relations, University of Kentucky
Campbell Warden, Executive Secretary, Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias
Bradley Smith, Executive Director, Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies

This session will compare and contrast how science policy and funding is developed in the US, Europe and Australia. Understanding how science policy is developed and how subsequent funding decisions are made at the national level provides research managers with a crystal ball to predict future policy directions, funding opportunities and how their organisations can position themselves accordingly. Science & Technology Foresight is one of the tools used in policy formulation, and offers the possibility to involve many of the stakeholders in the process. The session will include, therefore, a discussion of the use of Foresight in policy formulation in a European context.

See also: