Research strategy

Department of Social & Policy Sciences (2011-2015)

An internationally-recognised research-intensive Department with a strong focus on policy and practice that contributes to social well-being.

To undertake high quality research of international significance in social and policy sciences, contributing to critical scientific understanding and to policy and practice;
To recruit, develop and retain academic staff of the highest calibre and promise;
To strengthen our research capacity and sustainability;
To further the aims and objectives of the University Research Strategy and Corporate Plan;
To sustain world-wide research partnerships of high repute and to strengthen the policy science community in the UK and internationally;
To secure impact for our research across the academic community and with public policy-makers, practitioners and users in public services, business, civil society and the media;
To strengthen the alignment between our research and our teaching, to enhance its vitality and ensure that our graduates are equipped to think in a critical and research-sensitive manner, as they move out into their careers;
To enable all academic staff, contract researchers and research students to participate in a common research culture and to find professional and personal fulfilment therein.

To provide a common and well-defined focus for research in the Department, integrating the various groups in a shared mission;
To ensure that the Department is well-prepared for a REF 2014 submission that will sustain its achievements in RAE 2008;
To strengthen the level of research grant and contract capture across the Department, both in value terms and in terms of the proportion of academic staff bidding;
To secure external impact and esteem for our research, including through consultancy and knowledge transfer activities;
To attract high calibre research students and provide them with a high quality environment;
To support and manage workloads and resources in support of the above.