Summary notes of the Executive Committee held on 20 December 2006
-
HEFCE Assurance Review Visit: 5-7 December 2006
As mentioned at the Heads of Department meeting, this visit had been positive. A formal report would be sent by the HEFCE in due course.
- University Research Studentships: Research themes assessment and proposals for distribution
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) reported that applications had been received for a total of 158 studentships, covering 32 research themes. Following detailed consideration by the University Research Committee, it was proposed that the 40 studentships to be allocated by competition should be distributed among nine of the themes, identified as supporting existing research strengths, pump-priming new areas or supporting collaborative activity. This distribution offered support for ten departments. A further five would benefit from collaborative activity.
- Draft Consultancy Strategy
The Director of Research and Innovation Services said that this draft Strategy aimed to grow consultancy income for the University and its staff, grow research and grant contract income through the provision of consultancy services, and to enhance knowledge transfer by strengthening links with selected external organisations. The draft had been developed following extensive consultations with staff across the University and was broadly supported by the University Research Committee. The key issue was to agree a suitable division of consultancy income between individual academic staff, the Department and the University. This, in turn, required incentives to be offered at a University level through the provision of indemnity insurance and professional/administrative support.
- The Gender Equality Duty: Gender Equality Scheme
The Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor reported that the Gender Equality Duty, due to come into force on 6 April 2007, placed a duty on public bodies to develop and publish a Gender Equality Scheme. This duty differed from previous sex equality legislation by establishing a positive requirement for organisations to take action against discrimination, rather than waiting for individuals to bring forward cases, and a positive requirement to promote gender equality, rather than just to avoid discrimination. It was proposed that the format of the draft Gender Equality Scheme, and the associated consultation process and timescale, should follow that used for the Disability Equality Scheme. The draft would need to be ready for presentation at the February 2007 meeting of Council.
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- RCUK consultation on Peer Review
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) introduced a draft response to the RCUK consultation on the efficiency and effectiveness of peer review. This incorporated comments received from a number of Academic Heads of Department. The draft made clear that the University supported the continued use of peer review as a basis for funding decisions by Research Councils.
It was suggested that the draft should state that the proposed use of potential economic impact in the assessment of research applications should be extended to include social impact.
- University Risk Register: Progress report on improvement actions - December 2006
The Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor gave progress reports on LT3 (Failure to Widening Participation Activities - Failure progression routes leading to decline in relations with partner FECS) and KT2 (Lack of overall institutional strategy for focussing resources - No clear framework for consultancy).
The following items were received without comment:
Research and Innovation Services Summary Quarterly Report for August – October 2006
Notes of the Heads of Department Committee, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: 6 November 2006
Notes of the Faculty of Science Executive: 31 October 2006
Notes of the School of Management Executive Board: 13 September, 26 September 2006, 24 October and 31 October 2006
Notes of the School for Health Executive: 31 October and 28 November 2006
Notes of the Division for Lifelong Learning Executive: 11 September, 10 October, 26 October and 8 November 2006
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