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Parallel sessions 1: Tuesday 17 June, 11:15-12:45

101: Funding for Multidisciplinary Research

Pete Munday, Eureka UK National Project Coordinator, Technology Strategy Board
Oliver Flude, Project Manager (Science Links), British Council
Dr Anne Dean, Assistant Director, Leverhulme Trust

The speakers will outline the remit of their respective organisations including strategic priorities and funds available across all disciplines. Details will be provided on the eligibility criteria for applicants, allowed costs, and the application processes. As well as giving a broad overview of the funding themes, the speakers will give details of current funding opportunities, and those which will appear in the near future. The British Council funds international activities and this section may be of interest to both UK and non-UK delegates.

102: Good Practice in Managing International Collaborative Projects

Prof Richard Higgott, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Senior Scientist, GARNET Network of Excellence, Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation, University of Warwick
Eleni Tsingou, GARNET Programme Manager and Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation, University of Warwick
Sandra Nordahl CRA, Manager, Sponsored Research Administration, San Diego State University Research Foundation

This session will address the challenges of managing international research networks and establishing good practice and long term sustainability. Drawing on the experience of the EU-funded GARNET Network of Excellence, the session will assess the usefulness of available management tools and techniques, evaluate the specific problems arising from cross-border collaboration and consider the importance of management transparency and accountability, taking into account the considerable costs of project management in an international context.

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.

105: Profiling the Research Administrator: Who are we and where are we going?

Dr John Kirkland, Deputy Secretary General (Development), Association of Commonwealth Universities
Dr John Green, Chief Coordinating Officer, Imperial College London

Both the size and functions of research administration offices have increased in recent years. Often, this expansion has been ad-hoc in nature, responding to specific opportunities. There remains a lack of information about the background and motivation of the individuals that make up the profession.

This session will provide the first results of a major international survey conducted by the Association of Commonwealth Universities. It will address questions such as: what type of person becomes a research administrator? What are their backgrounds and aspirations? What skills do research administrators need, and what skills are lacking? What, in the view of those working in research administration, are the major challenges facing the profession?

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.

107: Capacity building and managing research in emerging research environments

Prof Adelani Ogunrinade, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lesotho
Prof Ishekumba Kahwa, Head, Department of Chemistry, University of West Indies
Dr Hans Hagen, Senior Manager, International Grants, Royal Society

This session will focus on capacity building from the perspective of a UK funder, and of institutions in developing countries.

Newly emerging universities and research institutes, as well as established ones, in developing countries face a plethora of problems arising from lack of human and material resources, lack of research infrastructure, lack of mentors and role models often categorised as a 'lack of research culture'. The presentation will focus on how to get things done from scratch, often with little money but a lot of ingenuity and creativity, involving case studies on kick-starting and managing research in these institutions.

The second presentation will address approaches to supporting capacity building, including a discussion of reconciling the different needs and deliverables from the sponsor's and recipient's perspective, which will include support for both research and post-graduate training.

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