Canterbury Christ Church University Embedding our Research Culture

1. Canterbury Christ Church University Embedding our Research Culture Staff Conference January 5 2007 Professor Janet Druker

2. The aim of this session • Steps along the way…to update on key institutional challenges for 2007 & 2008 - Research Degree Awarding Powers (RDAP), Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and Research Informed Teaching (RIT) • To share problems and successes in research & to identify some routes to progress - both for experienced researchers and for those who are less experienced

3. What do we want our Research Culture to look/feel like? • Confident and experienced body of academic researchers generating significant outputs & achieving visibility through recognised ‘clusters’ of research excellence for which we are known • Effective research governance and man’t of research ethics • Sustainable research supported by income generation • Good spread of research with students in all Faculties experiencing research at first hand • Well-est’d Graduate School with high quality research degree students & well-trained research degree supervisors

4. PhD Canterbury Christ Church University • Submission for RDAP: maybe by May 07 • QAA Panel will be set up - visiting probably in 07-08 • Looking at governance and institutional management • Standards in research & advanced scholarship-Outputs, Recognition, CVs etc

5. RDAP panel will: - • Visit key committees - e.g. Research Policy and Research Degrees sub-committee • Scrutinise paperwork - e.g. from supervisors • Talk to (both experienced and less experienced) supervisors • Meet with RD students and PGRA • Reach conclusions and make recommendation to Privy Council

6. Research Assessment Exercise 2007-08 • Selective assessment based on ‘Units of Assessment’ that we choose to submit • Based upon Research Outputs, Research Income and Research Degree Students, • Individual staff submitted within UoA • Submission date is Nov 30 2007 for an outcome in 2008

7. Research Informed Teaching • An initiative supported by Hefce to encourage enhancement and development of learning and teaching through research • Developing research esp. in departments where previously there have been limited opportunities • Developing research about learning and teaching • Developing opportunities for students to engage in research

8. Newer researchers - getting started • Experienced professionals developing research skills & using professional knowledge • Publications output is key (& without it you cannot really claim to be a ‘researcher’!) • Use research training modules and support - e.g. through EdD • Use experienced colleagues as a resource • Work in pairs/teams & plan your time

9. Individually Improving range/quality of outputs - better journals or publishers? Generating income for your own work Explore knowledge transfer options Collectively -build a team(s) Work with others - here or elsewhere Mentor or encourage colleagues Develop research supervision skills Attract research students Already established? Getting On

10. Support University/Faculty/Departmental initiatives • Avoid the loneliness of the long distance researcher! • Support - to achieve university objectives • University support - to help you achieve yours (small grants/ development leave) • Faculty and departmental research committees play an important part

11. Challenges for 2007 • Delivering our own research degrees - managing the ‘hurdles’ associated with RDAP • Faculty & departmental leadership on research degree issues • Income generation - ensuring that our research is sustainable for the future • Balanced and appropriate RAE submissions

12. Success! • Transformation does take time - • It may take several years to build the research culture that we would like : So plan forward • By 2010 we will have RDAP; good RAE outcomes; stronger research income; more staff doing and more students encountering research relevant to their commitments