Computing Research, Consultancy and External Activities Committee

Strategic context

Our research strategy operates in the context of the University and Faculty strategies.

1.            University research strategy

The University's current research strategy[4] dates from 1999 and covers the period to 2004. The overall principle is summarised in the strategy as "The University believes that research, scholarship, learning and teaching and technology transfer are interdependent and interrelated activities which are necessary qualifications for university status and for its international standing. It is therefore axiomatic that the University of Portsmouth aspires to excellence in these aspects of its activities. The University expects its academic programmes, particularly at level 3 and postgraduate level, to be supported and underpinned by its research." See Appendix D.2 for the University's definition of research.

Section 4.1 (Aim) states "The University wishes to encourage further growth in research activity and has recognised that for this to occur its staff need opportunity, encouragement and motivation. By its efforts and investment the University aims to create an intellectual environment which will generate a research culture. It will also put more effort into acknowledging and publicising research successes." The University distributes financial support for research to Faculties in proportion to the QR income earned by the UoAs in each faculty.

Section 4.7 (Academic Staff) states "The University expects that all new academic appointments will be, or have the potential to be, research active." A broad objective (emanating originally from the 1995 Strategic Plan) is that 75% of academic staff should be "generally active in research" but recognises that the definition of research activity will not be identical to the criteria on which staff will be entered into the RAE. "The evaluation of an individual member of staff's performance in terms of research and scholarship will be part of the standard University appraisal system."

Section 4.8 (Selectivity and interdisciplinary) states "Selectivity is an essential element of the University's research strategy. The University will continue to make selective investments in those areas that have the potential to develop reputations for national and international excellence. Selectivity will be based on the quality of the research output, actual and potential success in external funding and may be influenced by the need for research and scholarship to underpin both undergraduate and postgraduate provision."

2.            Other relevant University strategies

As well as a strategy for research, the University has an income generation strategy[5].

The mission statement from this states "The University will actively support its staff in the development of relevant external commercial or research relationships that lead to financial or academic benefit both to the University, its staff and the business community. It will devise suitable mechanisms that encourage growth in this area, whilst at the same time exercising prudent financial judgement at all times."

The preamble states that "The Income Generation Strategy recognises the University's strategic goal of increasing surpluses from commercial activity by an annual increment of 30% based upon actual 1997/1998 figures. This will be achieved by providing increased personal opportunity and motivation, easing some bureaucratic internal procedures and the effective marketing the University's expertise externally."

There are also policies on consultancy[6] and additional payments to staff[7]. The latter states "The financial health of the University and its individual budget centres requires that we generate income from an increasing range of sources, and that we regard virtually all such activity as core business." This reflects the importance of not treating research and consultancy activities as simply a "bonus" to our teaching activities.

3.            Faculty research strategy

The Faculty of Technology's aim (as set out in its 2002 strategy[8]) is to have at least one grade 5* and at least two grade 5 units of assessment in the next RAE. Since the decision was taken at University level not to make a submission in electronic engineering, LIM has de facto become the "third" research area after Applied Mathematics (Cosmology) and Mechanical Engineering. Nevertheless, the Faculty has stated its intention to continue to support research in electronics and computer science with a view to the long-term future of these subject areas.

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