FRC 17-18 M4 Item A.3 Minutes of Previous Meeting FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES MEETING OF THE FACULTY RESEARCH COMMITTEE (FRC) Wednesday, 6th March 2019, 2:30 pm SPD.F327, DCU St. Patrick’s Campus Chairperson: Prof. Eugene McNulty MINUTES Present: Dr. Eugene McNulty (Associate Dean for Research, Chair), Ms Michelle Brennan (Secretary), Ms. Hazel Langan (Recording Secretary), Dr. Jane Carrigan (Research Development Officer, Research & Innovation Support Services), Dr. Yvonne Daly (Law & Government), Dr. Tanya Lokot (Communications), Dr. Áine McGillicuddy (CTTS), Dr. Pádraig Ó Liatháin (Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge), Dr. Ryoko Sasamoto (SALIS), Dr. Jim Shanahan (English), Mr Clark Powers (Postgraduate Research Student Rep), Ms Victoria Smyth (Library). Apologies: Dr. Patricia Flynn (Theology, Philosophy, and Music) and Dr. Leeann Lane (History & Geography). SECTION A: MINUTES AND RELATED ISSUES 1. Apologies The apologies were noted. 2. Adoption of Agenda The agenda was adopted. 3. Approval of minutes of previous meeting [9th January 2019] The minutes of the previous meeting were deemed approved. 4. Matters arising from minutes of previous meeting DCU Research Ethics Committee reporting mechanism to be clarified. Chair agreed to follow up and advise at the next meeting. ACTION: Chair IPM role and availability reminder to research students was actioned by Research Convenors. GTE Research methods module titles have been reviewed by the Chair and module co-ordinator and updates are in progress. SECTION B: STUDENT ISSUES 5. Applications for change to supervisory arrangements Noted. Page | 1 FRC 17-18 M4 Item A.3 Minutes of Previous Meeting 6. Postgraduate research matters [C. Powers] It was reported that a chat server hosted by ‘Discord’ platform was set up in recent weeks to centralize communications for PhD students in the School of Communications. This is a small scale pilot which provides a central platform for students to exchange ideas and discuss topical items. C. Powers confirmed that he is currently monitoring content and that guidelines are being drafted. The Chair noted this is a student led initiative and is not within DCU systems. It was agreed that C Powers update the Committee on the chat server’s suitability and if there will be any further plans to roll it out to other Schools. ACTION: C. Powers SECTION C: POLICY AND STRATEGY 7.1 University 7.1.1 Research Committee Research Integrity Training It was noted that research integrity training is provided for staff and students on Loop. Given the shift in research funding a requirement to have this training completed is anticipated. Research Convenors agreed to encourage staff and research students to complete this training. The Epigeum research integrity training for staff was also discussed. ACTION: Secretary & Research Convenors President Research and Impact Awards 2019 There are two internal funding schemes currently open, the President’s Impact Awards and the President’s Research Award both with a closing date of 8th March. This is the first year the scheme is separated to award for Impact and Innovation. The committee were requested to remind schools to provide nominations. ACTION: Research Convenors Research Strategy and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) The Chair advised of ongoing discussions regarding suitable KPIs to align with the Research Strategy, some of which are publishing in quartile one journals and citations. The Chair emphasized that while there is a sense that the KPIs are high level, the objective is to set targets and drive behaviors. Discussions on possible funding to encourage behavior continue between the VP for Research and the Deans. 7.1.2 Graduate Research Studies Board (GRSB) Phd Remote Supervision Proposed changes to the academic regulations regarding research students residing abroad for more than six months were discussed. It was suggested that research student residing abroad between six and twelve months be approved at Faculty level and requests to reside abroad for longer are considered by GRSB. Secretary agreed to seek clarification if the six to twelve month period applies to part time or full time research students and at what stage in the application should the application be made to GRSB for approval. Chair agreed to convey the committee feedback to GRSB. Action: Secretary & Chair ISSE Postgrad Survey Results of the first ISSE postgraduate survey piloted this year were circulated for information and discussed briefly. The noted an analysis has yet to be completed by the University. Confusion of Page | 2 FRC 17-18 M4 Item A.3 Minutes of Previous Meeting the various forms for research students was raised as a concern and a call for online forms was noted. 7.2 Faculty 7.2.1 Quality Review The faculty will undergo a quality review this year and a major piece of the review will focus on research. As such the Chair noted that input will be required from the Committee. Templates are being designed by Faculty Management Board and once received a plan will be put in place regarding completion. 7.2.2 Structured Pathways The 2019 structured PhD pathway for each of the schools were circulated to the committee and approved. The pathways will be updated by the Graduate Studies Office and tabled at GRSB for final approval. Two new graduate training elements below were approved. LG609 – Research Design for the Social Sciences LC602 – Advanced Reading in Applied Linguistics Secretary will progress with GRSB for approval. Action: Secretary 7.2.3 Communications & Marketing follow up The media training recently organized by Communications and Marketing was well received by the 8 attendees and feedback was positive. The Chair reported that he met with the Head of the Unit and it was acknowledged that up until now there was very little co-ordination of information between Research and the Communications & Marketing team to promote research activities outside DCU. It was confirmed that Thomas Kelly is the faculty’s point of contact to promote research. Monthly research meetings are scheduled and staff are invited to attend or contact Thomas Kelly directly to discuss early stage research and public interest, upcoming events, publications and generally to assist with developing a media plan. Convenors were asked to contact the Chair by Monday 11th March with details of upcoming events or research related items requiring PR attention. 7.2.4 Metrics strategy – school meetings Dr. Sally Smith and Isobel Hidalgo, RIS are providing information sessions on metrics and strategy. Sessions with five of the faculty’s schools have been confirmed. 7.2.5 Schools Report COMMUNICATIONS [T. LOKOT] Research Events FuJo held an inaugural conference for its JOLT EU-funded project on February 1, 2019. The conference is titled “Journalism in the Age of Hybrid Media” and features project Page | 3 FRC 17-18 M4 Item A.3 Minutes of Previous Meeting partners and leading media and journalism scholars. Details here: https://fujomedia.eu/events/jolt-conference-journalism-age-hybrid-media/ Dr David Robbins, together with Dr Diarmiud Torney (Law and Gov) co-organised a one-day conference in DCU to mark the inaugural year of the new MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society programme. The conference, The Climate Challenge: Policy, Media and Society (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/one-day-conference-the-climate-challenge-policy- media-society-tickets-54286243616#) took place on February 8, 2019. The conference was funded (€5K) by the EPA and had 200 attendees. Dr Robbins also presented his own paper at the conference, titled “How the media covers climate change”. FuJo is organising a workshop on deliberative democracy in legislative domains, as part of PEREDEP, a Marie Curie funded project spearheaded by Dr Anastasia Deligiaouri (Marie Curie Experienced Research Fellow). The workshop will take place on May 9th, 2019. Details: https://fujomedia.eu/call-papers-workshop-deliberative-democracy/ Dr Tanya Lokot is co-organising (together with Dr Maria Falina in the School of History and Geography) the 42nd IARCEES International Annual Conference (Irish Association of Russian, Central and East European Studies), the CfP was released in November, the conference is in All Hallows Campus on May 9-11, 2019. Registration opens on March 15. Funding Applications Dr Alessio Cornia is participating in a collaborative application for the NORFACE 2019 funding call, submitted in late February 2019. Dr Jim Rogers (with partners in Spain) is preparing an application for a H2020 Research and Innovation Action project under "Digitisation, Digital Single Market and European culture: new challenges for creativity, intellectual property rights and copyright" (DT-Governance-13-2019) - for submission in late March 2019. Dr Tanya Lokot is participating in an Erasmus funding application (DCU and partners in Poland, Georgia, Ukraine and elsewhere) to develop innovative masters programmes. The application lead at DCU is Prof. Eileen Connoly. PGR/PhD Student Updates (from Jim Rogers) 1) Three PhD students (Niamh Kirk, Colm Kearns and Stephen Hughes) will have their respective viva voce examinations in the weeks ahead. 2) An additional seven students are due to submit their final dissertations for examination across the current calendar year (meaning that there will be a very significant turnover of PhDs in our school in the near future). 3) Two of our current second-year PhD students (Orla Ni Dhuill and Daniel Carey), and one research master's student applicant (Shaimaa Fayed) have reached the second round of the Irish Research Council PG competition. 4) In the first half of March the School of Comms will issue a call for up to six new PhD scholarships. This will include both targeted and general scholarships Page | 4 FRC 17-18 M4 Item A.3 Minutes of Previous Meeting 5) Recent new registrations have brought the total number of PG researchers in our school to thirty- eight. Conference Presentations and other Public Events Dr Declan Tuite presented his multimedia composition, From the Wall to the Door (2018) in November 2018, at the ISSTA conference, Derry.