Research and Innovation Briefing

Introduction Celebrating the diversity of Research and innovation are the beating heart of higher education. They the higher education sector ensure the generation of new knowledge on which the UK’s international reputation for excellence rests. Continuous creation and dissemination of this knowledge, as well as the high-level skills that research engenders in Briefing 3: Research and academics, students and public and private sector collaborators, also Innovation underpins current – and future – economic growth.

This is a new series of monthly This is the third in a series of briefings highlighting the contribution of a range of institutions that are often not featured in the national spotlight – briefings produced by GuildHE from the highly specialised subject-specific institutions, to smaller looking at different aspects of a institutions with just a few thousand students to larger institutions with a diverse higher education sector. particular focus, whether delivering part-time courses or celebrating their religious roots. February 2015

This briefing focuses on research and innovation in these institutions and the impact this has on society, culture and the economy in the UK and Briefing 2: World-Class beyond. Infrastructure

1. Environment small, specialist and locally facing higher Briefing 1: Student Experience and Engagement The creation of new knowledge that education institutions (HEIs) embedded combines excellence with impact is “the in international research and innovation life-blood of economic growth and societal systems can increase and sustain their 1. Research Councils UK, progress”1. contributions to regional and sectorial http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/RCUK- economic growth. prod/assets/documents/RCUKStra There are centres of excellent research tegicVision.pdf The project demonstrated how these operating within and across all universities 2. Innovation systems and the role diverse institutions – working with and higher education institutions, as of small and specialist Higher shown in both the Research Assessment public and private partners in specialist Education institutions published in Exercise (RAE) 2008 and the recent sectors, including food security, the April 2014 in partnership with the Research Excellence Framework (REF) creative industries, health, and social OECD, and available online at: 2014. The amount of research and subject innovation – possess a unique potential, specialism may vary, but this excellence is enabled in part by new technologies, to www.guildhe.ac.uk/publications collaborate with diverse bodies of users: important to foster and support, and students, graduates, businesses, and should be funded wherever it is found. Address: providers of public services. GuildHE Limited In 2014, at a time when Government Woburn House support for the innovation and research These institutions have been 20 Tavistock Square potential for business and higher particularly adept at leveraging small education collaboration was undergoing a pots of funding, innovating both in London substantial recalibration towards a more terms of how they integrate research WC1H 9HB ‘activist’ or ‘interventionist’ approach, a into the academic, civic and enterprise- 2 © GuildHE (This information may be freely used major GuildHE project explored and informed culture of the university or and copied for non-commercial purposes, demonstrated the ways in which college. provided that the source is acknowledged.)

‘Debates about Higher Education Case study: The CREST Summer School In September 2014 CREST and GuildHE reform have often concentrated on played host to PhD candidates and Early teaching quality and incentives to Career Researchers from 17 institutions improve it. At other times we have at the first CREST Summer School. talked about world-class research Developed by Heads of Research from and how it will drive economic 22 institutions, the event focused on performance and the global how – and why – researchers engage reputation of our universities. with audiences beyond the academy. 27 Ministers regularly talk about research students and staff with teaching institutions and research- leadership potential spent the two days intensive universities, but less learning how to design collaborative often about how the two projects; discussing research projects important agendas come with potential collaborators (including together.’ the Crafts and Design Councils, UnLtd Professor Chris Gaskell, Principal of and the Young Foundation); thinking the Royal Agricultural University about how to better disseminate and Chair of CREST research (with representatives from Taylor & Francis and Routledge); and These institutions simultaneously Celebrating the diversity reflecting on research skills (with Vitae). make use of long-standing relationships with industry networks of the higher education Participants also visited the British to encourage research, innovation sector and knowledge exchange Library to talk about their current HE initiatives and collections, and spent an partnerships, and to embed these afternoon at the Wellcome Trust and symbiotic networks and the new Collections learning about their various knowledge they generate in the Briefing 3: Research and curriculum. funding programmes, and designing Innovation potential collaborative projects that were then pitched to the Trust’s staff. Dr Research Networks Brian Lobel from the University of There are many examples of universities working together to Chichester, Wellcome Trust Public February 2015 Engagement Fellow, spoke at the develop strategic research Summer School dinner, offering advice – partnerships, with N8, M5, GW4 and both practical and inspirational – on his Eastern Arc often cited. These own research into how performance can networks allow universities to make be used to communicate complex ideas the most of their important role in ‘The University of the Arts about the experience of serious illness, the research and innovation London is not a traditional ecosystem. and what is possible when you think university...our 1,200+ teaching creatively about the different audiences staff, as active professional for research. Another good example of a research artists, practitioners, designers, network is Consortium for Research “Those two days were full of innovative Excellence, Support and Training critics, and theorists, leads the ideas that made me rethink the way in (CREST), founded in 2008 by 12 way on creative and which I approach my research and GuildHE institutions; the experimental practice. Each understand it. It also opened up new organisation has since grown to 22 College has extensive horizons of thinking productively members in 2015. CREST enables the engagement and relationships beyond the PhD itself, and more into sharing of best practice with respect with industry partners that public engagement, which I personally to, support for and management of promote dense linkages found a vital issue to consider.” research, and means that research between working and learning.’ Hawra Salman, Phd Student, students and staff can create new Dani Salvadori, Director of University for the Creative Arts and networks built on discrete Innovation, Business and CREST Summer School participant specialisms and shared expertise. External Relations, University CREST also allows for joint of the Arts London. investments in infrastructure, for example through CREST Collections, the Group’s Open Access repository which makes it possible for the public to gain access to emerging ‘pure’ and translational research, © GuildHE (This information may be Image: Summer School participants freely used and copied for non- develop collaborative research projects see the case study on the left, for commercial purposes, provided that the around the theme of public health at the information about the CREST source is acknowledged.) Wellcome Trust, 8th September 2014. Summer School.

Case Study: 2. Excellence Sports science Dr Steve Myers, Reader in Exercise Excellence in research is not Physiology and colleagues have determined by the scale but by undertaken research into the design of achieving an understanding – and High Speed Marine Craft (HSMC), ultimately a direct insight – into a assessing human factors that impact on difficult question. A diverse range of performance, agility, control and stamina. institutions continue (as highlighted in The research has contributed to improved part by this briefing) to demonstrate working conditions and working practices, their ability to take on some of the as well as equipment design and most pertinent and challenging procurement for military and civil personal questions facing society in the 21st in the UK and overseas. century.

The initial interdisciplinary research team Some smaller and more specialist was funded by the UK Ministry of Defence; institutions have shown that they are the Engineering and Physical Sciences particularly agile when it comes to Research Council (EPSRC) awarded matching their expert knowledge, additional funding. Theoretical and gleaned in the laboratory, the clinic, Celebrating the practical research – including sea-trials – the studio and/or library to real-world diversity of the higher created a new representative data-set situations with the aim of designing that underpinned a series of academic practical solutions for public and education sector articles reporting the findings. This caught private sector partners. the attention of additional international partners, including the Office of Naval Often they are able to achieve Research Global, the Royal Marines, and meaningful collaborations because Briefing 3: Research the US Navy. staff and students – from and Innovation

undergraduates to postgraduates – The research also led directly to the bring their own experience of work creation of two successful commercial and industry to bear on their research. February 2015 spin-outs: STResearch Ltd and FRC Mature research students and staff International LRC. QinetiQ Ltd, a world- brought in from industry possess both ‘In line with our mission, leading defence technology and security passion and perspective, enriching the improving health company with 9000 employees world- academic culture both for colleagues worldwide, we concentrate wide, also served as commercial project and potential partners. Diversity and partners, and have modified landing craft engagement ensure that researchers our efforts on excellent developed for the MoD based on the understand the context for their research that addresses the findings of the Chichester-based team. research, so can anticipate its major health challenges potential applications. facing the world, and what The HSMC project team also now deliver can be done about them. educational courses for organisations It is interesting to note the wide range This research may not world-wide, including the Police Service of of institutions, including the highly always attract the attention Northern Ireland, the Canadian Navy and specialised, that were among the top of the top journals, but our the RNLI. performers in terms of the impact of performance on impact their research in REF2014. demonstrates our success in Their research has also resulted in the creation and revision of international translating the results of standards and guidance. Made available rigorous research into real through Open Access platforms, this has life benefits.’ become the default reference document Professor Anne Mills, for nations including the UK, Canada, Deputy Director and Australia, the United States of America Provost, London School of and the Netherlands. Hygiene and Tropical Medicine This project contributed to the University of Chichester’s strong performance in the REF2014, where the Sport and Exercise

Sciences submission received a 53.3% © GuildHE (This information may ‘world leading’ impact rating. Source: Times Higher Education ‘Top 10 by be freely used and copied for non- impact’ 18th December 2014 commercial purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged.)

While the excellent research Case Study: Harper Adams undertaken at these institutions rarely University secures national recognition from policy Precision Farming and Food Security makers, it is clear that such institutions Data integration is key to the success are in high-demand as partners in of precision livestock farming. Dr. international projects. Colleagues in Mark Rutter (pictured below with emerging economies in South America, the Harper Adams dairy herd) leads Asia and Africa recognise the precision livestock farming (PLF) importance of the research undertaken research at the University, including in specialist institutions. Governments the Dairy Animal Sensor Integrate send experienced professionals to study Engineering (DASIE) project – which and work as partners on policy and aims to improve dairy cow health practice-orientated research. Large and welfare through the use of companies and emerging SMEs send sensor technology. their staff to train with specialist researchers. Established research teams The project focuses on data and at well-funded research-intensive farm system integration, as well as universities seek out the expert advice the development of dedicated of colleagues in these more focused sensor technology which will enable institutions. Research findings, dairy farmers to improve cattle effectively communicated, save and health and welfare through Celebrating the diversity enhance lives in the UK and around the continuous monitoring of animal of the higher education world. behavior. It relies on research into sector new technologies such as Google Case Study: Glass eyewear and other augmented Dementia reality applications, which when Building on the successful research applied allow farmers to improve Briefing 3: Research and centre, the Association of Dementia herd management techniques. Studies, the University of Worcester, Innovation working in partnership with colleagues DASIE represents one way in which at the University of Nottingham, has institutions can leverage specialist received funding for a cohort of 6 PhD networks to bring together students, each of whom will undertake researchers (Dr Rutter and ‘The REF results show how projects that contribute to the theme colleagues) the UK’s innovation specialist and regional universities ‘The Arts and Dementia (TAnDEM): agency (Innovate UK) and private can leverage excellent research to Evidence-based ways to live well with manufacturers and business achieve significant impact in dementia through the creative arts’. (IceRobotics Ltd., Dairy Crest and broader cultural and economic

Kingshay) to address one of the UK’s terms. GuildHE/CREST institutions This joint Doctoral Training Centre is – and the EU’s – key grand and their researchers have built up funded by the Alzheimer’s Society, challenges: food security. an impressive body of collaborators supporting future Dementia Research and beneficiaries, as evidenced by Leaders. The evidence generated by theirs and HEFCE’s work at academics and students working in gathering information on the partnership with the NHS and care ‘impact’ of research. Key homes’ patients and staff will be used beneficiaries and partners include to underpin the development of high- local businesses, charities, quality arts interventions for people museums, cultural organisations with dementia. and policy makers, in particular

those working in the areas of 'Knowing first-hand how vital social religion, agriculture, education, support is for both carers and people HAU are now in the process of social welfare and public health.’ with dementia and in particular the establishing sector specific meetings

importance of music, this project is to to discuss the issues raised in more Dr. Andy Dixon, Director of be highly commended and encouraged. detail with the various stakeholders. Research at the University of It is a challenge in care homes to find Dr Rutter said: “We also hope to Chichester and Director of CREST new and innovative activities to begin to change the public’s

stimulate and involve residents with perception of PLF, as there is a

dementia. So this research has current mistrust of intensification potentially a positive impact for a range and automation. But what is of care and support scenarios. Research important to remember is that PLF is into best practice in services delivery is not necessarily about making © GuildHE (This information may be all too rare and, therefore, encouraging intensive farms more intensive, it is freely used and copied for non- to see here.' about monitoring individual animals commercial purposes, provided that the The Alzheimer’s Society Research so that farmers can better cater for source is acknowledged.) Network: ‘Why we funded this’ their individual needs.”

3. Impact Case Study: The University for the Research centres in smaller and specialist Creative Arts institutions tend towards applied, close-to- Sustainable Business Design market research. The translational nature of In the South East, the University for this research fills a much needed gap the Creative Arts (UCA) has made between blue-skies academic research and use of its unique nature as a multi- action on the ground. campus specialist creative arts institution to reach a wide variety of They provide a particularly important role in creative businesses in a key region UK’s interconnected local, regional, national for high growth businesses. Through and global innovation ecosystems with the services of the Centre for respect to forging meaningful relationships Sustainable Design (CfSD – with microbusinesses and SMEs. These are established in 1995) UCA has the companies developing the products and targeted the sustainability agenda, services on which the short, medium and and Eco-design specifically, assisting long term wealth of UK economy and society and training large and small depends. businesses in the local area and internationally – in Europe, North These institutions were particularly pleased America and Asia – to change their that the most recent REF allowed practices and address sustainable innovation and product institutions to articulate their various pathways to impact with respect to HE- sustainability issues throughout derived research, and to benchmark their their business models. Key activity with colleagues across the sector. initiatives have included: Celebrating the diversity

Their success in leveraging embedded of the higher education relationships with businesses and the third  Towards Zero Waste in sector in key sectors – from public health Industrial Networks sector and education to the creative industries – (ZEROWIN) was confirmed by their impact ratings.  Sustainable Supply Chains

through Innovation The inclusion of a measure of research and (SUSCIN) innovation impact in the exercise allows the  Environmental Market and Briefing 3: Research and sector, institutions and individuals to Innovation Development operate within a joined-up system and Innovation (ECOMIND) makes possible the constant exchange of  Sustainable Research new knowledge between HE and existing Consumption Exchanges and emerging industry. Many would welcome an increase in the percentage (SCORE) impact contributes to their overall score in  Asia Eco-Design Electronics February 2015 future REFs; this important funding stream (AEDE) allows them to support direct interactions between, and collaborations that benefit, These projects have achieved significant funding from the businesses, students and ultimately the UK as a competitive global innovation player. European Commission as well as through a variety of private sector 4. Why does this matter? and international partnerships. This briefing has demonstrated how a diverse range of institutions leverage As well as using their knowledge relatively low levels of funding to generate and skills to help external stakeholders the Centre also draws research that benefits users locally, For more information: regionally, nationally and internationally. upon its partners to help deliver Although broader trends towards expert lectures and workshops to [email protected] the student population at UCA. concentrating research funding hamper these institutions’ ability to fulfil their full Hence the CfSD is fully embedded in potential as integral links in the chain university life. between ‘blue skies’ and ‘translational’ research, their achievements to date are The success of the CfSD and other significant. It is important that future policy innovative research initiatives contributed to UCA receiving a 90% encourages this valuable work, and that © GuildHE (This information may be policy makers understand the impact of world-leading and internationally freely used and copied for non- diversity, specialism and collaboration to the excellent impact rating in REF2014. commercial purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged.) knowledge economy.