Structure and Remit of Department Research Committees
Department Research Committees:
Membership of at least 3, including HoD. The size will vary by department and each
department, via the Head of that Department, should take responsibility for membership,
which must be approved by the Director of Research and Head of School. All members must
have undertaken Equalities training. In constituting their Research Committees, Departments
are urged to give full consideration to equalities issues.
Responsible for:
Research Planning and Support at department level, long- and short- term, including:
REF submission
Supporting research of individual members of department
Promoting wider standing and significance of department’s research
Through:
1 maintaining and updating RPR of academic faculty at least annually
2 on the basis of RPRs, providing support from individuals and their projects (mentoring,
critical reading etc);
3 For advising/assisting academic faculty through at least annual meetings over RPRs;
4 Advising on and recommending University-funded leave, on the basis of RPRs;
5 Developing and supporting the generation of grant income including advising on and
recommending grant applications for projects identified in RPRs;
6 Developing and promoting Impact and public engagement across all areas of research;
identifying and supporting REF impact case-studies;
7 Distributing HEIF funding; monitoring progress of HEIF-funded projects
8 At-least-annual monitoring of progress for REF submission in the three areas of
environment, outputs and impact;
9 At-least-annual monitoring of research of individual members of the Department;
10 At-least-annual monitoring of standing of the Department's research;
11 updating and emending Department research strategies
12 ensuring Research Equalities within department
13 reporting on all of these matters to the School Research Committee and to the DoR via
notes, action plans and minutes (where appropriate)
Committees should meet a minimum of twice a term.
School Research Committee:
Chaired by DoR; reports to University
Membership: DoR, HoDs, Chairs of Department Research Committees, HoS (ex officio);
School Administrator (by invitation). Where Chair of DRC and HoD are the same person,
then another member of that DRC, chosen by the DRC, should be a member. All members
must have undertaken Equalities training.
Responsible for:
Research Planning and Support at School level, , long- and short- term, including
Deciding and updating School research strategies and policies
Monitoring and supporting DRCs in carrying out their responsibilities
Promoting the School’s research within the University (and beyond)
Practical Tasks:
Approving DRC recommendations for Research leave
Making decisions about Leverhulmes and other research posts involving School money
Monitoring REF progress of the UoAs
Monitoring other areas of School research activity (Centres, research support fund)
Allocating funds from School Research Development Fund
Reporting on the School’s research to the University
Committee should meet a minimum of twice a term.
DoR:
1) Chairing the SRC;
(2) Representing the SRC to the University, and vice versa;
(3) Formally approving applications for grants and other funding;
(4) Research appraisal of individual members of staff where appropriate.
Breaks down as:
Monitor REF progress of UoAs and individuals (outputs, environment, impact)
Monitor research profiles of academic faculty (PRPs and 5 year plans)
Monitor applications for research funding and sign off
Monitor equality and transparency of School research processes
Monitoring and updating School research strategies
Monitoring HEIF money
Monitoring research days and ring fencing research time
Dealing with and disseminating stuff from the University
Reading grant bids prior to signing off but after DRC process
‘Paperwork’
All RPRs need to be kept accessible to be on shared drive, accessible to the Department
Research Committee, the Director of Research and the Head of School. It is the responsibility
of the Department Research Committee to ensure that they are regularly updated and the DoR
to monitor this.
These structures will be revisited on a regular basis in the final HAHP Research Committee
meeting of each academic year.
LJ
Feb 2016