Computing Research, Consultancy and External Activities Committee

Agenda

Notes

Action

Minutes of the last meeting

Minutes of the meeting on 31 January 2003 were accepted.

Matters arising from previous minutes

PhD students and milestones

Actions on JJS and JMC completed – students had no further adverse comments to date.

Research methods seminars

Action on JJS completed – most students are attending the seminars.

JSB to email students to thank them for attending and strongly recommend they attend regularly and remain until the end of sessions and express disappointment  with recent attendances.

 JSB

Newsletter

Action on JSB – ongoing – no progress but it was felt that a hard copy newsletter, with on line support, was needed sooner rather than later to raise profile of research in the department.

Subsequent to the meeting: David Anderson volunteered to edit a research newsletter

JSB

Website

Action on JSB – ongoing. The University has a new website content management system whose launch has been postponed due to technical problems – when live it should be flexible and powerful and bring a standard look to University material. 

It was felt that the Faculty of Technology website at present is poor and difficult to navigate and should be improved, however, the new system, following market research, will be aimed at 18 year old students and it was thought that a different website aimed at research academics should be formed.

It was decided JSB and SH should contact Simon Brooks of the Marketing Department for advice on behalf of this committee but that we have to wait for the new system to go live to improve the Faculty website.

JSB/SH

Terms of reference

The final version of the TOR, updated as a result of the discussions at the last meeting was agreed.

Links with Geography

Action on JSB - ongoing

JSB

Computing Research, Consultancy and External Activities Strategy

The revised strategy document was discussed.  It has been shortened and amended following the last committee meeting and comments had been received before the meeting – the Chairman asked for any further comments. 

It was agreed that Page 2 (6) wording ‘Increase number of research-active staff’ referred to both new and old staff, always bearing in mind that the curriculum has to be covered at the same time. 

Page 2 (7) the words ‘key researchers’ were discussed and it was expected that all staff would be involved, with teachers supporting researcher and vice versa with each group having equal promotion opportunities.

It was discussed that the primary aim in chapter one should not be RAE but to encourage high quality and productive reseach.

Page 2 (9) external speakers – there is a travel budget which would cover speakers costs but fees should not be expected.  There had been problems in the past with lack of audience for outside speakers and it was thought that a meeting following a Wednesday 5 would be a good opportunity and Thursday afternoons are already set aside for research meetings.  JSB to email Caroline to ‘protect’ staff time to allow them to attend meetings which must be well advertised.  SH to refer to ECAM to raise the profile of research.

In the document the word ‘encourage’ has been used regularly and it was asked how this should be done.  It was thought that the newsletter would be the best way and that perhaps someone else could take on the production of this. 

JSB

SH

A research group website should include publicity of published papers – Heads of Departments and Research Co-ordinator to get a list of the last years' publications.

HODs/JSB

JSB to produce a final draft strategy document for further comments.

JSB

Health Services Research

JSB reported that, since the last RAE, units of assessment that were awarded less than a grade 4 had received no funding. However, HEFCE had decided that, in certain areas, UK research was not mature enough and have provided a "capability fund" that 3A and 3B units can bid for. Health Services Research was one such unit and the funding could be worth £180k per year to the University for 3 years. JSB had been involved in preparing a strategy document and bid for this with Tara Dean and John Smart in the Faculty of Science.

External review of our research activities

Independent reviews of our research activities were discussed.  RAE gives an external view of how research is developing but it was thought an informal but honest and severe examination lasting 3 to 4 months with feedback would strengthen groups. A working party of the research co-ordinators (JSB, TRA, TKa) to be set up to take this forward.

JSB

EPSRC Referees Incentive Scheme

Staff should be encouraged, when approached, to provide referee reports promptly because it earns money for the departments. JSB to email all staff to alert them to this opportunity.

JSB

PgC in Research Methods

Jenny reported that a PgC in Research Methods is to start next academic year. It is to be university-wide and aimed at all research students. More details are expected shortly and JSB will forward to all on this committee when received.

JSB

Matters from other committees

Faculty Research Committee

It had been agreed at Faculty Research Committee that someone in the Faculty would be appointed to collate information about research bids, and that staff should inform that person when a bid is made.

Subsequent to the meeting, Alison Clyne was identified as the contact person.

Faculty Research Degrees Committee

None not raised elsewhere

University Research Committee

None

University Research Degrees Committee

None

Research group reports

Each group reported progress to date.  DA distributed hard copies of new website.

Research student progress

Student rep had no further business to discuss and left while one individual case was discussed.

Any Other Business

A new projector has been ordered for BT1.05.

Burnaby Terrace now has a wireless network facility.

Date of next meeting

Early Autumn term - to be decided

Meeting closed at 12.30pm