Sandy Sparks, LDC Research Active Staff Network Funding August 2013
LDC FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ACTIVE STAFF NETWORKS
APPLICATION FORM
PART A
Details:
Name: Dr Vannessa Goodship
Job Title: PRF
Staff No: 9679324
Department/Centre/Unit/Faculty: WMG (IIPSI Building)
Departmental Administrator (name): Mrs Nicola Attridge
Purpose / Objective of the Research Staff Network:
The objective of this network is to encourage support, learning, communication, best
practice and risk taking within the existingWMG Researcher Forum network and
beyond if possible. WMG has continued to expand, leading to an ever growing internal
network of interdisciplinary research active staff. The network aims to provide support
within it in which researchers can practice new skills in a safe environment. WMG has
provided its own support of 3.5K and requests a further contribution of 2K to continue
its deep support for its development activity portfolio.
Details of the Skills/ Development Activity(ies) (Max 500 words):
This continues the performative operation of the existing network, in a manner which is
best suited to the cross disciplinary nature ofWMG, therefore in addition to existing
activities (Researcher Breakfast, Mentoring, Baby Board etc), we will also trial a system
of cross–disciplinary vertical group mentoring and the setting up of Mastermind groups
which are aimed at aspiring and inspiring like-minded enterprise driven individuals. We
hope to encourage individuals outside WMG to participate in these events. We would
also like to continue to encourage group-based research-active staff support activities
like paper and bid writing sessions, ideas sessions, and support the ‘draft reading’
sessions which were first trialled during CPD month (also supported by the LDC) in
March.
All events will be advertised internally through our weekly email communication and
through the website.
Sandy Sparks, LDC Research Active Staff Network Funding August 2013
There will therefore be a variety of activities aimed at different cross sections and levels
ofWMG staff.
Date of your activity/event(s), if known:
Throughout the year.
If you have a website, please give the URL:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/intranet/research/researcherforum/
Please state which events will be open to other University of Warwick research staff:
Vertical mentoring – dates TBC
Mastermind sessions – dates TBC
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)
There is now well in excess of 70 staff who would fall into the target audience.
Impact will be measured by numbers of engagement and feedback received. These
will also
be reported back to the LDC in the final report on activities.
How do you plan to let research staff know about your events/meetings?
All events will be advertised internally through our weekly email communication and through the
internal website.Word of mouth has also proved very useful, (especially for research breakfasts!)
All ‘externals- invited’ event dates will also be given in advance to the LDC.
How do you plan to share the learning / best practice with other University ofWarwick
Research
Staff Networks?
A final report and participation in the University’s research forum. If appropriate also through
workshop participation in ‘trainer based’ conference.
What is the benefit of your activity/activities to:
The University
Increased development activity engenders increased activity and communications to the
wider benefit of the University
Your department/organisation
WMG benefits from more highly trained and informed individuals leading to greater
participation, engagement and stimulating entrepreneurial activity within the department.
Sandy Sparks, LDC Research Active Staff Network Funding August 2013
Research agenda
Stimulating more ideas, applications and papers through communication and risk taking further
encourages individual performance and activity to meet the wider research agenda.
Total amount of funding requested:
£2K
Breakdown of funding requested (approximate):
£ 130 x 13 (This will support about 15 events for 30 researchers thoughout the year)
Other events will be covered by WMG matched funds.
*Signature of Applicant: V. Goodship . Date: 08.09.2013
Head of Department’s signature:
Head of Department: Professor Richard Dashwood
(please print)
**Signed: ……………………………………………….…………….… Date: 08.09.2013
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.
Approved by: ……………………………………………………..……..…. Date: …………………………….
(for LDC use)
Amount approved: £………………………………………….……………
Sandy Sparks, LDC Research Active Staff Network Funding August 2013
PART B
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 2014 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:
This money partially contributed to a whole academic year of WMG Forum activity and which aided
the continuing development of the research staff involved. On the whole I think events were
successful and a large number of research staff were engaged in varies activity across WMG in a
range of activity such as Researcher Breakfasts, Mentoring, Vertical/Lateral group mentoring,
AthenaSWAN sessions, research group sessions, paper writing and individual one-to-one sessions.
One researcher breakfast forum was attended by 40 participants with the number generally
ranging from 20 upwards.
How many research staff were involved in
a) the organisational process:
There is a small number of staff that contribute to organising larger events, the majority of these
come from the Future Leaders Board (was ‘Baby Board’). On the whole probably about 5 research
staff members have been involved in organisation this year.
b) presenting at the event itself:
There has been a range of presenters at events including research staff, postdoctoral students, the
WMG SME team and some external(to WMG) university contributors. This number is around 24.
Dr Sumit Hazra is now regularly chairing the researcher breakfasts, with Dr Bethany Middleton as the
deputy with me aiding in the background with the support, organisation of events and looking after
funding. In this way the forum is also being passed down to younger staff as another aspect of their
own development. With Dr Hazra also representing WMG on the Research Staff committee, this is
ideal as it provides a direct communication link to the breakfast sessions.
I was also an invited speaker in Jan 2014 , for an external strategic leadership programme for
academic staff. The development of the WMG Forum was presented as a case study as part of wider
training in mentoring. This was delivered in conjunction with Sandra Sparks (LDC) and received
excellent feedback and an invitation to speak again in 2015 as well as undertaking my own public
speaking development.
How it has contributed to the Department/ University/ Research Agenda:
It continues to encourage cross disciplinary communication and learning across WMG , thereby
contributing to both the research community and the research impact through access to greater
facilities and ideas. This impacts all agendas.
By externally presenting the development of the forum there is also now an external facing
component as we have been invited to return again as paid speakers in 2015.
What has been learnt:
In a multi-building, multi-disciplinary, stratified (industry/academic) department like WMG it is vital
that communication pathways across the entire researcher network base are encouraged and
supported to both foster the community and to ensure there is coherent access to knowledge and
opportunity. It also is a way to discourage incorrect information was hindering development.
Lateral mentoring can be a very powerful tool for development if the right chemistry exists within
the group. This can be demonstrated by the fact that every staff member on the lateral mentoring
pilot was nominated in the first WMG STAR awards by their colleagues.
For the PhD participant the process ‘ provided a way of breaking down the barriers between student
and academic staff’ to encourage greater communication.
What would be done differently next time:
I would be highly unlikely to change what is working such as the popular Researcher Breakfast
format, however there are a number of skills the researchers have expressed interest in developing
next year: Leadership, Project Management and Time Management and Strategic planning being
examples.
It is hoped that a pilot leadership programme will be developed to aid development of these skills.
Ongoing, the researcher breakfast forum already has a range of speakers agreed in principle for the
new term to cover Dignity at Work and university training opportunities (Sandra Sparks LDC) as well
as dedicated internal researcher and student presentations.
Impact/results/benefits:
I think these have already being well covered elsewhere. I believe it is fair to say, the 2K provided by
the LDC has delivered a lot of output and LDC support continues to be essential to the ongoing
internal researcher development portfolio.
Budget (provide breakdown of amounts spent):
£2,000 – partial contribution to a whole range of events throughout the funding period.
*Signature of Applicant: VGoodship
Date: 21.7.2014
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.
Report received (date): ……………………………….. Amount spent: £ ……………………………………
(for LDC use)