CHORUS A Concept of Collaboration and a Tale of Togetherness Alison Mc. Cleery – Convenor, Universities Scotland Research Training Sub-Committee and Director of Research Strategy at Universities Scotland Singing in CHORUS Cross-sector generic skills support for Scotland’s researchers Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
What is CHORUS? A proposal for a • collaborative HUB of opportunities for researchers in Scottish universities which • responds to the challenge of embedding the Roberts concept efficiently & effectively and • sings from the same song sheet across the diverse HE research landscape in Scotland Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry 2012
Scottish HE Research Collaboration • • Research competitiveness through collaboration SFC/SG promotion of Scottish research excellence Excellent precedent of doing research via pooling ESRC DTC Scotland / Scottish Graduate School Appetite for sector-wide generic skills training too KE, PE and Impact now all-important for the REF KE Step Change Pilot Project won THE 2010 Award US research training sub-committee ideal vehicle Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
The Duty of Care to Researchers The researchers: ECRs are the research leaders of tomorrow to whom we owe a duty of care The requirement: ECRs must make a real world impact and be capacity built in order to do so The rationale: initial investment in personal gain translates in turn into delivery of public good The reach: A sector-wide approach to delivery produces essential cross-fertilisation of ideas as well as desirable economies of scale Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
The KE Step Change Exemplar What: to translate research into impact through a cross-sector culture change across the cohort of ECRs How: by changing the researcher mindset so that KE is perceived as a core element of the ‘normal’ research portfolio Why: to instil attributes of openness, flexibility and adaptability and so make an impact beyond the academy Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
Engaging Experiences • Across discipline boundaries: opportunities for semi-structured encounters between ECRs from a range of disciplines • Across sector boundaries: opportunities formal and informal encounters by ECRs with entrepreneurs and innovators • Across institutional boundaries: opportunities for exploring key national institutions and analysing their inter-linked functions Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
Something for Everyone Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
Something from Everyone: Genuine Collaboration Coordinated by Universities Scotland & funded by Scottish Funding Council with buy-in from: • Scotland’s HEIs (all in it together!) • Scottish Government • RSE & NESTA • Key enterprise stakeholders A ‘step change’ for KE; a key change for HE? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – build on it!! Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
What did the participants say? ‘Life-changing’ ‘Worthwhile but time-consuming’ ‘Worthwhile and thought provoking’ ‘No magic answer. . . just confidence and a prepared approach’ • ‘If it makes sense, then we can do it – maybe!’ A development opportunity worth investing in for its career-enhancing, capacity-building potential • • Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
Building on participants What did the Scottish Successsay? • By offering distinctive added value building capacity collaboratively • By responding to social and economic needs enhancing pgr/ecr employability (1 in 8) • By tackling sector and societal challenges promoting equality & diversity • By securing high-level sector buy-in for an expanded but optional initiative Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
Projected CHORUS outcomes • • Systematic, enduring engagement between employers and research organisations, focused on ensuring the supply of high level skills for the Scottish economy; A resource base of exemplars of good practice in developing the employability of researchers; Enhanced employability for all researchers participating in CHORUS projects; Substantial progress in ensuring equality and diversity in research careers, within and beyond academic institutions; Significant efficiencies in researcher development, enabling both sustainability and future investment to extend and enhance provision; Researcher development which is fully embedded within research leadership, management and performance as a key contribution to research excellence; A streamlined researcher development landscape within Scotland, combining strategic leadership and practitioner support; Substantial enhancements to Scotland’s brand reputation for excellence in research, attested by external quality assurance and REF performance Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
From Rhetoric to Reality • Strategic Barriers – political, institutional, financial, definitional • Operational Challenges – too little, too late; or too much, too soon? • Difficult Dilemmas – driven by excellence, or by economy & efficiency • Sensible Solutions – consult, communicate, compromise, complete Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
CHORUS Status Report • SFC R & KE Committee – content with a previous version • US R & KE Committee – content in principle but not yet in practice • SFC Investment Committee – yet to be approached and convinced • Writing team – needing to communicate, consult and compromise – at risk of fracturing along predictable fault lines Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
CHORUS Next Steps • • Keep calm and carry on Collaborate and compete locally Collaborate to compete globally Don’t cut off your nose. . . Remember the ESRC DTC Communicate and consult widely If at first you don’t succeed. . . Watch this space! Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
Thank you for your attention Any questions? Universities Scotland Singing in CHORUS Cross-sector generic skills support for Scotland’s researchers Alison Mc. Cleery MURG Spring Conference Coventry March 2012
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