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Growing the Best and Brightest: the Drivers of Research Excellence

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Growing the Best and Brightest: the Drivers of Research Excellence Growing the best and brightest Growing the best and brightest March 2014 1.1. Background and objectives 5 1.2. Our approach and methodology 5 1.3. Key findings 5 1.4. Conclusions 6 1.5. Report structure 7 1.6. Acknowledgements 7 2.1. Introduction 9 2.2. Our approach 9 2.3. Methodology 10 2.3.1. Stage 1: Literature review ..................................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.2. Stage 2: Semi-structured interviews ................................................................................................................ 10 2.3.2.1. Selection of HEIs and subject areas ................................................................................................................ 10 2.3.2.2. Interview methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.3. Stage 3: Drawing conclusions .............................................................................................................................. 12 3.1. Overview 14 3.2. Recruitment practices 15 3.2.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 3.2.2. Evidence from the existing literature ............................................................................................................... 15 3.2.3. Evidence from the interviews .............................................................................................................................. 17 3.2.3.1. Identifying the need to hire a researcher .................................................................................................... 17 3.2.3.2. Advertising and encouraging researchers to apply ................................................................................ 18 3.2.3.3. Evaluating potential candidates ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.3.4. Making an offer to a preferred candidate .................................................................................................... 21 3.2.3.5. Integrating new recruits...................................................................................................................................... 21 3.2.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 3.3. Developing and motivating researchers 23 3.3.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 3.3.2. Evidence from the existing literature ............................................................................................................... 23 3.3.3. Evidence from the interviews .............................................................................................................................. 24 3.3.3.1. Mentoring, appraisal and leadership ............................................................................................................. 24 3.3.3.2. Training ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28 3.3.3.3. Incentives ................................................................................................................................................................... 28 3.3.3.4. Research environment and culture ................................................................................................................ 29 3.3.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Growing the best and brightest March 2014 3.4. Collaborating with others 30 3.4.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 30 3.4.2. Evidence from the existing literature ............................................................................................................... 30 3.4.3. Evidence from the interviews .............................................................................................................................. 31 3.4.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 3.5. Creating and implementing research strategies 36 3.5.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 36 3.5.2. Evidence from the existing literature ............................................................................................................... 36 3.5.3. Evidence from the interviews .............................................................................................................................. 37 3.5.3.1. Creating a strategy ................................................................................................................................................. 37 3.5.3.2. Benefits of institutional research strategy.................................................................................................. 38 3.5.3.3. Departmental strategies ...................................................................................................................................... 38 3.5.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 38 3.6. Securing a mix of funding 39 3.6.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 39 3.6.2. Evidence from the existing literature ............................................................................................................... 39 3.6.3. Evidence from the interviews .............................................................................................................................. 39 3.6.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.7. Competitive pressure 41 3.7.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 41 3.7.2. Evidence from the existing literature ............................................................................................................... 41 3.7.3. Evidence from the interviews .............................................................................................................................. 41 4.1. Summary of key findings 44 4.2. Conclusions 44 4.2.1. Conclusions relating to the drivers of research excellence .................................................................... 44 4.2.2. Conclusions relating to the UK’s competitive position ............................................................................ 45 4.3. Potential areas for further research 45 4.3.1. Recruitment practices ............................................................................................................................................. 45 4.3.2. Developing and motivating researchers ......................................................................................................... 46 4.3.3. Collaborating with others ...................................................................................................................................... 46 4.3.4. Creating and implementing research strategies ......................................................................................... 46 4.3.5. Securing a mix of funding ...................................................................................................................................... 46 4.3.6. Competitive pressure............................................................................................................................................... 46 Annex A – Summaries of Existing Literature Reviewed 48 Annex B – Sample Selection 89 Annex C – Discussion Guide 95 Growing the best and brightest March 2014 Drawing on a combination of the existing literature and interviews with 51 academics in 12 of the UK’s leading institutions we find: (i) the activities supporting the recruitment, development and motivation of researchers are critical drivers of research excellence; (ii) the activities relating to collaborating with others, creating and implementing research strategies, securing a mix of funding and responding to competitive pressures are also seen as important by interviewees; and (iii) in relation to many of these activities, our research emphasises that the “on-the- ground” or “day-to-day” initiatives by individual researchers can be at least as important as the “high-level
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