Chair: Professor Tom Barnes Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise)
Secretary: Ms Chipo Nyandoro-Kunzvi Tel: 7902 Fax: 8630 Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE
Minutes for the third meeting of the Research and Enterprise Committee in the 2009/10 academic session, to be held on Thursday 25th February 2010, 2.15pm, S309, Avery Hill Campus.
PRESENT: Prof T Barnes (Chair) Ms T Banton (Research & Enterprise) Prof C Bailey (Computing & Mathematical Sciences) Dr A Benati (Humanities & Social Sciences) Ms W Curran (Finance) Dr M Davies (Research & Enterprise) Prof Sue Golding (Research Ethics) Dr J Jameson (Education & Training) Prof A Reed (Vice-Chair) Dr S Richardson (Science) Prof E West (Health & Social Care) Prof A Westby (Natural Resources Institute) Prof G White (Business) Dr S Woodhead (Engineering) Ms C Nyandoro-Kunzvi (Secretary)
IN ATTENDANCE: Prof P Maras (Health & Social Care) Dr L McCoomb (Guest Speaker, Durham University)
THEMATIC PRESENTATIONS
1.1 Supporting Early Career Researchers and Academic Staff (Durham University)
Prof Barnes welcomed Dr Lowry McCoomb, Director of Postgraduate Training, Durham University, as guest speaker who spoke of the initiatives introduced by Durham University to support Early Career Researchers (ECR). These fall within the remit of the Training Team located within the Graduate School. Eight members of staff facilitate a portfolio of generic and transferable skills training, and related support.
Dr McCoomb spoke in detail about these initiatives including the 2006/07 e-learning module covering health and safety, diversity and equality, student support services and a compulsory workshop tailored to relevant teaching and assessment activities. Attendance at relevant workshops is also recorded by Human Resources. Dr McCoomb also noted that all first year research students are required to undertake a training needs analysis in the first month of their studies which was formally reviewed with their academic supervisor based on the Joint Skills Statement of the Research Councils’/AHRB’s Training Requirements for Research Students. Dr McCoomb gave an overview of the other services offered by his team in relation to research management, teaching, enterprise, outreach, career development and regional activities. Prof Barnes thanked Dr McCoomb on behalf of the Committee.
1.2 University of Greenwich Early Career Researcher Initiative
Prof Pam Maras presented proposals for the launch an Early Career Researcher Network. Together with Dr Richardson she outlined a number of initiatives to support the management and career development of early career researchers across the University in accordance with the Concordat. The work programme will identify ways of working with the ECR community to support personal and career development, and, develop a peer support network for early career researchers across the University.
Prof Maras presented information received from School Heads identifying the number of early career researchers in each school. The Committee noted that 115 researchers have been identified. It was agreed that Ms Banton will remove any sensitive information from the list of names and forward it to each member.
An online survey will be distributed to each ECR to find out their views regarding training and support requirements. The survey will be anonymous, and the questions based on current roles, training needs, personal & career development in accordance with the Concordat. Aggregate results of the survey will be posted on the web. Prof Maras sought the committee’s views regarding an online survey directed at all managers/supervisors of ECR’s. Members agreed that the survey should be sent to the DRE for each school to forward to respective recipients.
There will also be a webpage dedicated to ECRs providing up to date information such as prizes, staff development, news and a bulletin board. Prof Barnes invited all members of the Committee to the official ECR launch scheduled for the evening of Wednesday 21st April 2010 following the Research and Enterprise Committee. The evening will also include the launch of the Young Research Communicator of the Year competition. Action: All DRE’s to liaise with School Heads and contact Ms Banton with any amendments. Action: Prof Maras/Ms Banton to complete and send out the ECR online survey. The Manager’s/ Supervisor will be routed through the DRE’s for dissemination. Action: Ms Banton to send names of Early Career Researchers to each DRE for information.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr D Beazleigh (Finance) Prof E Galea (Computing & Mathematical Sciences) Prof D Isaac (Architecture & Construction) Prof A Mathie (Pharmacy) Dr J Morton (Natural Resources Institute) Prof S Palmer (Greenwich Maritime Institute) Mr J Wallace (Administrative Secretary Dr D Wray (Science) 3. ITEMS FROM THE CHAIR
4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE HELD IN 2009 ON THE 16th DECEMBER 2009.
The minutes of the Research and Enterprise Committee held on the 16 th December 2009 were agreed as an accurate record of the last meeting.
5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
3.6 Impact and what it means to the University of Greenwich
Prof Barnes reported that he and Dr Davies had met to discuss the suggested actions raised at the last Committee meeting and three high priority actions had been identified for implementation namely; 1. Ms Banton and Dr Woodhead would be attending the EPSRC regional meeting on the 5 th March 2010 and would report at the next meeting. 2. GRE was working on plans to hold a series of seminars and workshops regarding impact. 3. Impact was the main topic of the next committee meeting and plans were in progress to invite a external speaker to make a presentation to the members. Action: Ms Banton and Dr Woodhead would be attending the EPSRC regional meeting on the 5th March 2010 and would report at the next meeting. Action: GRE was working on plans to hold a series of seminars and workshops regarding impact Action: Ms Nyandoro-Kunzvi to add Impact as the main topic of the next committee meeting
5.2 Attracting and Retaining PhD students
Prof Reed informed the committee that he would report at the next meeting on the progress of promoting PhD students through a new look webpage. At present there was a concern with resources to implement and manage the proposed webpages. Action: Prof Reed to give an update report to the Committee at the next meeting.
5.3 Addressing Financial Difficulties Experienced by Postgraduate Research Students in receipt of University funded bursaries: Long Term Sickness and Maternity Leave
Prof Barnes informed the Committee that Mr Wallace had reported that the issue of funding students on long term sickness/maternity leave from an insurance point of view had been forwarded to the University insurers. Action: Mr Wallace to give a progress report to the committee regarding the issue of funding students on long term sickness/maternity leave from an insurance point of view.
6. GREENWICH RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE
6.1 Research and Enterprise Activity Reports Prof Barnes presented to the Research and Enterprise financial activity report to the end of January 2010. Revenue figures were encouraging in comparison to last year with the data showed that revenues have increased to £7.3m at the end of January 2010 including NRI, and £2.6m excluding NRI. Prof Barnes noted that NRI was doing well, but there has also been steady growth across most schools this year, notably the Schools of Computing & Mathematical Sciences, Engineering and also Science. In comparison to the same period last year revenues were up by £2.8m (63%), of which £2.6m was NRI.
Prof Barnes presented slides that reflected the breakdown of contracting values by Total Contract Value (including partner allocations on projects which Greenwich are leading) as well as the UoG Contract Values (monies retained by the University). Prof Barnes reported that the data showed that the University was increasingly becoming a lead partner in multi-institution bids, thereby subcontracting monies and this trend was advantageous as the University is viewed as an institution that has capacity to manage large projects.
Prof Barnes reported that contracting had increased to £7.6m with NRI at £5.7m and £1.9m excluding NRI. In comparison to the same period last year contracting was up by £1.6m (28%). Prof Barnes also noted that although NRI were up by £2.4m, the rest of the schools were down by £729k. However, a breakdown of cumulative contracting by School showed that some were doing well, for example the School of Health & Social Care showed contracting figures at the highest over the last four years – but the situation was not as positive for other Schools, . GMI had been awarded a new DEFRA/EFF contract worth £46k and CMS had also been recently awarded a new framework project as the lead partner which was seen as encouraging.
6.2 Research and Enterprise Bidding Activity Report
Ms Banton presented the Research & Enterprise bidding activity report for the current academic session to end January 2010. The total UoG retained value of bids submitted for this period is £12.4M including NRI (£7.2M bids submitted excluding NRI). Of this total value, 31% were submissions to European Union with the University as a collaborative partner, 28% to the Research Councils, and 20% to the UK Central Government.
A comparison table showing the total number of bids submitted between September 2008 and January 2009 against September 2009 and January 2010, showed only a small difference in the number of submitted bids submitted, but the UoG value of submitted bids was increasing. A table showing the total number of bids submitted for the 2008/9 in comparison to the data collected in the first two quarters of the current academic session showed that the bidding activity for 2009/10 was already almost half that of 2008/09, at £12.4M, including NRI. Prof Barnes noted that in order to increase contracting across the University, a possibility would be to focus on the submission of larger collaborative initiatives.
6.3 Research and Enterprise Funding Opportunities
Ms Banton presented the following funding calls for the Committee to note: 6.3.1 Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)/Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC): Energy and Communities Collaborative Venture 6.3.2 Department of Health (DH) National Institute of Health (NIHR): Applied Health 6.3.3 European Union (EU): FP7 Grants (FP7-ICT-2009-6) 6.3.4 European Research Advisory Board (ERAB): Alcohol Research
6.4 University of Greenwich Research & Enterprise Strategy
Prof Barnes brought to the attention of the Committee the first draft of the Research & Enterprise Strategy in response to a request by Court. Prof Barnes noted that a new University strategic plan is in preparation, and the research strategy was complimentary to the strategic plan. Prof Barnes added that the paper placed more weight on being strategic rather than operational, with an overall vision to become a research informed University. This included a target of 50% of staff involved in research, need to do much more to increase activity within the broad culture of research across the institution. One of the drivers is to increase the number of staff going into the next Research Excellence Framework.
Prof Bailey remarked that the draft strategy was good and suggested it be amended to state the University would aim to be a research informed institution through our own research and not only by research done at other institutions as could be implied from the term ‘research-informed’. Prof Reed observed that the important role of postgraduate research should also be included in the plan. Dr Woodhead noted that early career researchers did not seem to be included in the plan and a phrase along the lines of ‘supporting the next generation of researchers’ would be beneficial. Prof Golding suggested that a phrase to include ‘the University is dedicated to maintaining a research – teaching ‘nexus’ would further strengthen the plan and also encourage students to come to the University because of research and teaching. Prof Golding also proposed that the plan include terms such as ‘institutes or centres of excellence’ as institutes have allowed the University to secure funding and centres of excellence created a sense of vibrancy and development at the University. Dr Benati thanked Prof Barnes for the draft plan and explained that the plan was a stepping-stone for implementing a research strategy at School level, as well as executing the research mission of the University.
Prof Westby queried as to whether the plan would be a public document, and if so suggested the use of terminology such as ‘developing, contributing to, impact, translational research’ to help the University pitch itself at the right level to the external community, and encourage attract businesses as well as attract students to come to the University. Prof Maras agreed with Prof Westby and added that the plan might include our strengths, crossovers between schools and departments and include specific keywords.
Prof Barnes thanked the committee for their discussion and input and noted suggestions for revision and circulation to members. Members were also encouraged to contact Prof Barnes if they had any further comments or suggestions to the draft plan.
Action: Schools to contact Prof Barnes with any further thoughts or amendments to the draft strategy Action: Prof Barnes to include the suggested amendments to the paper and circulate to all committee members
6.5 Report on the Institutional Repository and Publications Data
Ms Banton presented an update report on the institutional repository (GALA) and the publications data. 82% of the known publications and artefacts have now been collected and student assistance has been extended to complete the exercise. Of the 1400 research outputs for 2007-2009, 40% were journal articles, 19% were conference papers and 8% were book sections.
Prof Barnes informed the Committee that although there were catch-up issues, providing more assistance will help complete the process. He also noted that he had been given access to the system, and had been most impressed. The system will allow the University to be cited more, will raise researcher profiles in terms of quality, , and should increase impact factors for the institution. The repository will contain 2009 material across all Schools by the end of March 2010.
Copyright checking procedures are underway and conducted by ILS through the appointment of a full time Catalogue Assistant to check the metadata entries, assigning full text document, and verifying journal copyright permissions.
Ms Banton sought the committee’s endorsement of the report’s recommendations on the continuation of a full time Repository Administrator for a further year, DRE’s to be assigned as school repository champions and have non-editing account privileges One School Administrator’s contact who will liaise with the Repository Administrator for general queries. Members agreed to these recommendations.
Action: Ms Banton to go ahead with implementing the recommendations approved by the committee
7. ITEMS FROM SCHOOLS
7.1 Directors of Research and Enterprise Presentations on Successes, Opportunities and Challenges in Research and Enterprise activities in each School
Name: Dr David Wray and Dr Simon Richardson School: Science
SUCCESSES : Prof Pat Harvey: ACP Project: Capacity building in South Africa, Namibia and Ghana to create sustainable, non food bio-oil supply chains. Managed via SoS. Total revenue €857k, to UoG €251k Dr Milan Antoijevic: TEMPUS IV; Postgraduate qualification in pharmacy: the way forward. With the School of Pharmacy, Belgrade. €20,125 to UoG (total project €675.473). Dr John Spencer: collaboration with Nanoporetech, £98k to support a 1-year postdoc Prof Pat Harvey: SEEDA / ERDF: Zerowise sustainable food waste solutions. Project managed by Remade SE (total value £800k), value to UoG £72k over 2 years. The school of Science published 74 papers over 2009, up 142% from 2008. Further there are another 61 papers either submitted or in press which indicates that this trend will continue through 2010. Dr Richardson has recently had a paper selected for the cover of The Journal of Controlled Release, one of the top international journals for drug delivery.
OPPORTUNITIES Dr John Spencer: Selcia; talks held with a view to providing contract synthesis. Estimated £10-25K may be generated subject to contract. Prof Pat Harvey: two EOIs for algae based research submitted to The Integrated Biorefinery Technology Institute / BBSRC, total value to UoG £400k. Dr Bruce Alexander & others: FP7 Space 2010-1 Long Lasting Light 30 month project to improve laser performance for space applications. Led by CILAS (France) Value to UoG £235k (total project >£1M). Dr Dennis Douroumis: Interreg IVa Development of a multifunctional drug eluting stent. Value to UoG €139k. Dr Joshua Boateng: EPSRC: Bioactive Wound Healing Drug Delivery Systems £125k. Dr Colin Hills: Canadian Government: stabilisation / solidification of coal tar contaminated soils. $130k (Canadian) The school will have approximately 18 postdoctoral researchers employed this year. This is an opportunity to utilise staff time to grow the School of Science’s Research and Enterprise Agenda.
CHALLENGES Financial restructuring within companies due to the general economic situation is displacing or removing industrial contacts and causing uncertainty relating to R&E funding streams. Despite the additional PDRAs mentioned above, there is still significant stress placed upon the School’s research and enterprise agenda by increased student numbers. This is not only in the form of limiting staff time but also in the form of equipment availability and lab space.
Name: Dr Jill Jameson School: Education and Training
SUCCESSES The School’s work on the Discourse, Power, Resistance (DPR) international research conference, with the theme of ‘Trust’, 30th Mar – 1st Apr 2010, attracted 63 abstracts in the first call for papers from international, UK and local presenters, including ten from Greenwich. Related research partnerships are developing with Prof Norman K. Denzin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, North West and Free State Universities, South Africa, Manchester Met and Sheffield Universities, HEIs in the Caribbean and China. The Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE) appointed Dr Jill Jameson as Chair of the SRHE 2010 international research conference to be held December, 2010. Research Grants: Dr Gordon Ade-Ojo awarded two LSIS research grants, Alison Hales, Primary Education Dept: research grant for museum education with Bexley Council. Keynote speech invitations: Prof Patrick Ainley, Dr Jill Jameson, Dr Gordon Ade-Ojo.
OPPORTUNITIES A range of bids to the European Commission and European Research Council for education and lifelong learning research initiatives are in preparation. New KTP Partnerships with Greenwich Council, St Paul’s School, Second Wave Youth Arts and London Metropolitan Police are in formation with support from Dr Linda Hyder. New research council and charitable fund research bids are being prepared by all RAE-REF funded colleagues, as identified in the targets for the School’s RAE/REF funds. The School has developed a new Research Mentor scheme and R&E Strategy to promote research, enterprise and scholarship activity – this aims to provide new opportunities for colleagues’ research initiatives to be supported in a variety of cost-effective ways.
CHALLENGES Responses from staff continue to indicate that a major barrier to research in Education (both at Greenwich and in many Schools of Education across the UK, especially in post-1992 universities) is the allocation of sufficient time to carry out R&E activities, as well as a relative lack of funding and support, given recession-affected budgets, combined with challenges arising from the complex practice-linked professional nature of Education. To overcome these challenges, we need to capitalise on new opportunities. The drift of research active staff away from Greenwich 2001-09 continues to be a problem: it remains essential for the School and university to recognise existing and new research-active Education staff at Greenwich positively: the mentoring scheme will help. Doctoral supervision overloads: being sorted out with the invitation of a range of new supervisors for PhD and EdD, but this continues to be a challenge in view of the large number of doctoral students in the School. R&E financial records are improving slowly: the School is continues to work with University (GRE) and School Finance staff to address these issues.
Name: Dr David Isaac School:Architecture and Construction
SUCCESSES More bidding is taking place. Collaborations and dissemination have increased in the sustainable buildings area. There had been more development of research in Safety, Health and the Environment. On the publishing side, several new books have been commissioned from staff.
OPPORTUNITIES More bidding is going on. New staff are being encouraged to develop ideas. RAE monies have been distributed to a range of projects and this is encouraging more research participation across the school.
CHALLENGES Really need still more staff to contribute to the research effort. It is taking time to bring people on and get them to bid.
Name: Professor Geoff White School: Business School
SUCCESSES Successful Research Funding Bids White, G. (with Croucher, R. Middlesex University Business School) Low Pay Commission. An international literature review of minimum wages and youth employment. £21,000 (Greenwich share £10,500) (report due end of October 2010). Consultancy contracts won White, G. Pay benchmarking study for Bolton Council to inform ET case. £17k plus expenses. Report due 26 February. Barry, T. Knowledge Connect contract. OPPORTUNITIES Submitted Bids White, Symon and Hawkes. Tender to City Parochial Foundation (CPF) for £50k consultancy over four years to evaluate the impact of the Living Wage campaign in London. No result yet. White, G., McGurk P. and and Gornastaeva, G. Tender for RICS evaluation of the 2012 Olympic Legacy Phase 1. Value £19,980. Shortlisted but unsuccessful. Good feedback but stated that it needed a stronger Built Environment element. Corby, S. (with Latreille, P. Swansea University) ESRC bid for £99k over one year. Deb Sircar & Eleni Tzouramani, “ESRC Global uncertainties research synthesis”, ESRC, £19,000, submitted on 14/01/2010 to ESRC, waiting for result. Farrall M. (Humanities) with Symon, G., Veersma U., Cronin, B. and Johnson, S. FP7 bid to call on Public Services of the Future. (Greenwich lead HEI). £2,218,730 (Greenwich share £711,479). Lobina, E., Hawkes, D., Hall, D., Lethbridge, J, Thomas, S. FP7 bid concerning the role of public services with University of Milan. . Soroosh Saghiri, et al. “A letter of interest for a supply chain strategy development project for NHS London”. Pending. Li Zhou, et al., “Informed logistics”, TSB, £175,000, unsuccessful. Petros Ieromonachou, a joint proposal with Simon Walker & Malcolm Ryan (PIs in Westminster U.), “Enhancing Learning and Teaching through the use of Technology: Evidence-based Practice Syntheses” , to 'Higher Education Academy Technology Grant, £19,397 (Submitted Nov/ received feedback Dec 2009). Unsuccessful. Nola Stair, Petros Ieromonachou, Eleni Tzouramani: a proposal submitted for the 2010 Dragons Den Innovation Project in our University, regarding a project on e-induction. We have been asked to make our 'pitch' in early March. Amount: £2,000 (submitted February/ process ongoing
CHALLENGES The School’s recent 3 year strategic plan has indicated the pending requirement to replace senior experienced researchers within the school as a significant proportion of these staff approach retirement. In any case, the complement of senior, experienced research staff needs expansion, not least because research leadership skills are in short supply.
Name: Professor Sarah Palmer School: Greenwich Maritime Institute
SUCCESSES £46,359 consultancy award, February 2010, to Dr Minghua Zhao for consultancy for Marine & Fisheries Agency. £55,000 Gift, February 2010, from Dr Zhonghui Luan for the Zhonghui Maritime Education and Research Programme. This will support, over five years, three research scholarships, research seminars and research development in the GMI.
OPPORTUNITIES Symposium River Thames, Stakeholders and the Environmental Governance: Past, Present and Future, 14 April. Organised as part of the RAE formulaic funded project to develop ESRC bid, submission May, on Public Policy, Stakeholders and the River: a study of the Governance of the River Thames – Port and Waterway – from 1900 to the present. The aim is to publicise the project and to strengthen the bid by providing evidence of potential impact on/engagement by interest groups. A GMI research team is working up a research grant bid (AHRC or private sponsor: submission May) Compassion and Politics: Age, Disability and the Greenwich Hospital Project 1694-1763.
CHALLENGES To succeed in raising research funding for the above two projects.
Name: Dr Alessandro Benati School: Humanities and Social Sciences January 2010
SUCCESSES (January 2010) Ross Davies was awarded £150K by EPSRC. This is a three year digital economy project, entitled PATINA. This is part of an overall bid of £2.5M, with other five universities involved in the partnership (Bristol, Southampton, Brighton, Newcastle, Swansea). Maria Arche received a Visiting Scholarship at the Department of Linguistics of the University of Massachussetts. Lunch of Enterprise Centre (Lingo) Enterprise Activity: CPD/consultancy for New York College 15K from a donor for a PhD Scholarship in Linguistics (Artificial Language project)
OPPORTUNITIES Update on external bidding/for January-February 2010 Sue Golding: bid for £11.2K British Academy for organising next ICAS Conference. The Newton Fellowship (The Time-Image): £99K (Prof Golding) EU bid (The Jean Monnet Programme): Mary Farrell World Bank Project: Nandini Dasgupta (approx 45K)
CHALLENGES Implementation of workshops on enterprise/research activities in the School Develop the new Enterprise Centre
Name: Prof Chris Bailey & Prof Ed Galea School: Computing & Mathematical Sciences
SUCCESSES CMRG (Prof C Bailey): Consultancy work with TRW (£6000) CMRG (Prof C Bailey): Optical communications in defence systems funded by DSTL/DGA (£11,350) CMRG (Prof C Bailey): Grant to cover Professor Baileys expenses/time as an executive board member of IeMRC (£22,500) FSEG (Prof Ed Galea): Extension to project with US FRA (US$11,100) E-Centre (Dr Liz Bacon): EU FP7 project “Pandora: Advanced Training Environment for Crisis Scenarios”. Funded under the security area of FP7. Total budget 2.93 million Euros, 250,000 Euros to Greenwich. Tony Mann, Higher Education Academy MSOR Network (the HEA Subject Centre for maths), Grant £3526. OPPORTUNITIES CMRG (Prof Bailey): Two proposals have been shortlisted by IeMRC. One on electronic packaging (£215,000) and other on Automotive Electronics Reliability (£216,000). CMRG (Prof Bailey): An EU Strep proposal has been submitted by Thales with five other partners. Total value to Greenwich 372,000 euros. CMRG (Prof Bailey) EU proposal is being written for a STREP-SICA proposal related to reliability for in developing countries. Suggested grant to Greenwich 250,000 euros. FSEG (Prof Ed Galea): Five EU FP7 proposals submitted to two separate calls (Security and Transportation). Total value to UoG €2.3 million. FSEG (Prof Ed Galea): HO project proposal submitted (CBRN programme) (£49K) FSEG (Prof Ed Galea): Initial discussions with Bombardier Canada involving analysis of new aircraft design (circa £30K) FSEG (Prof Ed Galea): Initial discussions with Shell concerning safety analysis of off-shore facility (circa £30K) FSEG (Prof Ed Galea): Initial discussions with Lloyds Insurance concerning fire analysis relating to a £90 million fire loss (circa £40K). FSEG (Prof Ed Galea): As part of an international competition to select software for use by US Army, EXODUS software has been shortlisted (3 software tools shortlisted from a field of over 100). SORG (Dr Ramesh) The joint proposal in collaboration with Imperial College has been submitted to the NERC.Total value to Greenwich is £183,452. CCSC (Richard Anthony), EPSRC proposal, Leadership Fellowship Grant, “Verification, Robustness and Interoperability of Autonomic, Context-aware and Self- managing systems” Grant amount (Requested): £ 421,914 CCSC (Richard Anthony), EU proposal, “Robustness and Validation of Dynamic Adaptive and Autonomic Systems [RAVODAS]”, EU ICT FP7-Call5, STREP Grant amount (Requested): £ 480,922
CHALLENGES Difficulties for Visiting Professorial Staff for short term visits of 1-6 moths (lack of accommodation at reasonable prices, etc) Difficult to bring high quality PhD students to Greenwich. Difficult to run short courses (lack of labs at suitable times of the year) Joint award of PhD’s between Greenwich and other institutions (i.e. Grenoble, Hong Kong, Imperial College)
Name: Dr Elizabeth West School: Health and Social Care
SUCCESSES Three new research centres have been established in the School: These are the Centre for Children, Families and Schools, Centre for the Support of Fragile Families, Centre for Nursing Research and Policy. Each Centre will have an Advisory Panel that will bring expertise into the School, each will have a high profile launch, and each has set targets to be achieved by the end of the financial year. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Greenwich PCT designed to facilitate patient and public engagement in health care across the borough has been awarded. This is central to one of the major themes of the School’s research strategy which is to involve patients and the public in their care.
The Diabetes Pilot Study, funded by GRE, has received ethical approval from IRAS and both Greenwich and Medway PCTs have agreed to facilitate implementation of the study with their nursing staff and patients.
Health Education and Innovation Cluster: The School is part of a successful bid, led jointly by Kings and St Georges. It is one of 17 HEIC across the country but it the largest in funding which will be £1m per annum for 3 years. The main strands are dementia, diabetes, infection control and the effective use of medicines and the HEIC will offer many opportunities for career development among our staff.
OPPORTUNITIES Two members of staff (John Foster and Sue Shea) are preparing Programme Development bids for the National Institute of Health Research. These innovative awards enable researchers to apply for up to £100K to bring together an international team to work on a bid for a NIHR Programme Grant of up to £2m. The topics are “Home Drinking” and “Compassion in Health and Social Care”.
Three new KTPs are in the early stages of discussion, one with Sutton PCT (public health interventions for obesity), one with the Greenwich Association for People with Disabilities and a mini-KTP with the Community Empowerment Network. KTPs play a major role in our current research strategy. There is a possibility also of developing a KTP with the British Pregnancy Advisory Service on abortion provision in community settings.
Kent and Medway LINKs are a Local Involvement Network sponsored by the Department of Health to give patients and the public an opportunity to comment on the quality of services they receive. We have submitted a bid outlining a range of support we can provide and expect to have a decision by the end of March. This partnership would not only bring funds into the School, but would be a key indicator of “impact” on health and social care. There is a call for research support from the Children’s Workforce Development Council and work in being co-ordinated by David Armstrong (BDM) to submit a joint bid from the School of E&T and H&SC. Our recently appointed an Olympic Challenge Research and Development Fellow, Angeliki Schiza has identified a number of funding sources that we can bid to for research associated with the Olympics. An informal interest group focusing on sexual health training and research has been established. The group has submitted a bid for an ESRC seminar series (with Sheffield Hallam University), and is preparing two research funding bids. One to Tower Hamlets PCT for a sexual health needs assessment; the second, an ESRC application with BPAS on teenage sexual behaviour following an abortion. The group has also submitted an EOI to NICE for fieldwork testing draft recommendations in the field of HIV/AIDS.
CHALLENGES We have in the past been hampered by the small number of research active staff and the lack of a BDM. However the critical mass of researchers has increased over the last few months and a new BDM, shared with the School of Education and Training will commence on March 1st. However, we still have to forgo opportunities due to lack of researchers.
Time constraints on teaching staff make it difficult for them to pursue research bids, and improve their REF profile. No Report received from NRI
8. POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH MATTERS None to Report
9. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION None to Report
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
10.1 Prof Westby’s appointment as Director of NRI
Prof Barnes congratulated Prof Westby on his recent appointment as the Director of Natural Resources Institute (NRI). On behalf of the Committee, Prof Barnes thanked Prof Westby for his valuable contribution as a member of the Research & Enterprise Committee. Prof Westby noted that his current post had been advertised and anticipated that his new replacement would be attending the next committee meeting. Members of the Committee wished Prof Westby well in his new post.
11. DATES OF NEXT COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meeting Papers Received by Wednesday 21st April 2010, 2.15pm, QA075, Greenwich 7th April 2010 Wednesday 2nd June 2010, 2.15pm, 028, Blake, Medway 19th May 2010 Wednesday 14th July 2010, 2.15pm, S311, Avery Hill 29th June 2010