LDC FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ACTIVE STAFF (RAS) NETWORKS
APPLICATION FORM 2014-2015
PART A
Details: WMG Researcher Forum
Name: Dr Vannessa Goodship ( with Dr Bethany Middleton and Dr Sumit Hazra)
Job Title: Principal Research Fellow
Staff No: 9679324
Department/Centre/Unit/Faculty: WMG
Departmental Administrator (name): Vicky Neville
Purpose / Objective of the Research Staff Network:
This is a request for continuation of support for a network established and growing since 2011.
It forms the fulcrum for multidisciplinary researcher to researcher networking and development
activity within WMG, and allows central information hubs to link to other wider university researcher
activity.
We specifically request support towards the ongoing costs of the popular monthly researcher
breakfast activity, which will also enable us to invite speakers from across the university and
specifically other active networks as well as building external links and inviting speakers from other
local universities such as Birmingham and Coventry.
Details of the Skills/ Development Activity(ies) (Max 500 words):
There is a whole range of development activities that fall within the scope of this application based
around the central monthly breakfast format. We have an ever growing cohort of 80 contract
research staff and communication between groups and buildings remains of paramount importance.
We will also continue to develop our journal club, peer mentoring, the future leaders board and host
internal events. This 2K therefore is only a percentage of the matched funding required for such
activity. We also actively encourage our PhD and EngD to engage in this activity as well, again,
externally to the request for funds here.
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014
Date of your activity/event(s), if known:
Monthly breakfast sessions (TBC)
If you have a website, please give the URL:
Please state which events will be open to other University of Warwick Research Active staff or if
relevant to a specific facility or department.
These are open events, but traditionally researchers from other departments do not tend to attend
unless invited to speak. We would like to try to encourage wider participation by specifically inviting
the leads of the other active networks to share best practice with us.
Is this a new network or existing network?
Existing
Scope/ Evaluation / Impact of activity(ies) proposed
(Please give us an estimate of the numbers of staff who will be involved and an indication of how you will measure the impact of the
activity/activities. If you intend to follow up the activity by disseminating information, or using the outcomes to support other staff
development activities, please also let us know this)
We have a cohort of 80+ contract research staff, attendance at our meetings is used as a
measure of the % engagement we are getting. This number has been increasing year on year
as we continue to develop our internal practices.
We have a track record of, and continue to be, willing to share and promote our activities
through reports and case studies for the LDC website. This work will feed into ongoing
external dissemination through an external case study presentation into ‘mentoring
networks’ due to take place in Darlington in Jan 2015.
How do you plan to let Research Active Staff know about your events/meetings (LDC RAS website or
RAS e-newsletter can be used)?
Dates will be emailed once known.
How do you plan to share the learning / best practice with other University of Warwick Research
Staff Networks?
We will send invitations to speak to network leads and offer speakers the other way.
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014
What is the benefit of your activity/activities to:

The University
We have already seen best practice from our network feed out into other departments for
the benefit of the wider university and environment.

Your department/organisation
These activities match the WMG vision of creating an open, creative and collegiate culture,
therefore WMG is actively supportive of ongoing activity.

Research agenda
Encouraging networking, development and best practice has a positive impact on the quality
and breadth of researchers and their research activities at WMG.
Total amount of funding requested:
£2, 000
Breakdown of funding requested (approximate):
8 x researcher breakfasts (£200 each)
2 x lunchtime network events (£200 each)
*Signature of Applicant: VGoodship
Date: 23. 10. 2014
Head of Department’s signature:
Head of Department:
Sandy Sparks, LDC
……Richard Dashwood ………………………………………………
(please print)
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014
**Signed:
……
……………………
Date: ………………24/10/14……………...
Please send your completed form either in hard copy or electronically to Sandy Sparks
(Sandy.Sparks@warwick.ac.uk) in the Learning and Development Centre, University House.
If you have any queries, please contact Sandy to discuss (either via email at the above address or on
extn 74121).
*You can either sign a hardcopy, scan in your signature or email the application which will be taken as your signature.
**Your HOD can either sign a hardcopy, scan in their signature or send an email to Sandy Sparks stating they support your
application.
For LDC use
Approved by: ……………………………………………………..……..….
Date: …………………………….
Amount approved: £………………………………………….……………
Budget Code: ……………………..
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014
PART B (sent post event)
Report:
Funding awards are conditional upon a report being produced after the event or activity which
reflects on the value and impact of the activity in order to share best practice. We ask you to do this
by completing Part B of this form within 2 weeks of the event or by 31 July 2015 for a series of
events. (Please note that funding may be retracted where reports are not produced).
Please tell us:
How you felt the event/activity went:
How many research staff were involved in
a) the organisational process:
and
b) presenting at the event itself:
How it has contributed to the Department/ University/ Research Agenda:
What has been learnt:
What would be done differently next time:
Impact/results/benefits:
Budget (provide breakdown of amounts spent):
£
£
£
*Signature of Applicant: ………………………………………………………
Date: ……………………………………….
Please send your completed report either in hard copy or electronically to Sandy Sparks
(Sandy.Sparks@warwick.ac.uk) in the Learning and Development Centre, University House.
*You can either sign a hardcopy, scan in your signature or email the report which will be taken as your signature.
For LDC use
Report received (date): ………………………………..
Sandy Sparks, LDC
Amount spent: £ ……………………………………
Research Active Staff Network Funding
October 2014