
c7f2d5a44f2c907eb0bfd979f3b49c92.ppt
- Количество слайдов: 33
Realising Research Support Potential in a Devolved Environment Kathy Brownridge & Jennifer Johnson
Overview • • Leeds’ history of Research Support Devolution The Operations Team Framework for Training & Professionalisation • Research Support Systems / Processes Project • The Future
Internal context (2003 – 2006) • Split in cradle-to-grave support between FROs (pre) and RSU (post) • Volume of awards increased by one third in 3 years (£ 71 m £ 117 m) • Implementation of f. EC in September 2005 – complexities of Leeds approach • Development and implementation of a bespoke costing tool • Implementation of grants administration system Oct 04 – new to sector (SAP GM) • Huge change management programme, escalating workload, no add. resources • Sound familiar?
Fall Out • Huge data quality issues and backlog of data entry • Demoralised staff – high turnover, loss of scarce skills, firefighting • Backlog of claims – over 200 in arrears • Research debtors £ 2. 7 m • 600 accounts awaiting closure • Customer dissatisfaction all time high ‘more important than the RAE’
Pre Devolution – Central Research Support Unit (RSU) • • • Policy and Performance European / International Data Management Contracts Post-Award Finance and Systems • TOTAL FTES • TOTAL COST 3. 8 5. 6 3. 0 4. 0 5. 6 2. 0 24. 0 (34%) £ 826 K (32%)
Pre Devolution – Faculty Research Offices (FROs) • • • Medicine and Health 16. 8 Environment 8. 4 Biological Sciences 6. 0 Engineering 4. 2 Maths / Physical Sciences 3. 0 Business 2. 0 Performance / Visual Arts / Comms 2. 0 Social Sciences 2. 0 Arts 2. 0 TOTAL FTES 46. 4 (66%) TOTAL COST £ 1743 K (68%)
Pre Devolution – Faculty Research Offices (FROs) • Differentially resourced / portfolio of activities / processes / reporting structures • Skills shortages / internal market / poaching of staff • No standardisation of role profiles / grading disparities – no career pathway • Lack of critical mass in smaller FROs • Fragmentation of support within Medicine and Health • Differing levels of customer experience for PIs
Benchmarking – Lessons Learned • No ideal model – adapted ideas from each as appropriate to Leeds • Imperial: Fully devolved system of research support for cradle to grave administration to Faculties with full responsibility, accountability, resources • Coupled with central team – strategy, systems, compliance, support, QA • Campus-based research support offices for medical schools • Don’t rush devolution – careful planning, dedicated team, training schedule • Newcastle: Joint NHS / University research office • Sheffield: Risk-based approach to review of awards / training research admins
Research Support at the University of Leeds: Recommendations for Change • Recommended devolution of database & post-award support to Faculties • Centre – Policy & Performance, EU/International, Contracts, Operations • Faculties – cradle-to-grave support for research applications and awards • Medicine & Health to move towards 2 campus-based offices / links to NHS • Instigated project to improve research process and systems (RSP) September 2007
Devolution Process • Phased implementation July – December 2008 • Comprehensive training package & materials designed • 3 cohorts of trainees received a 2 month programme of training based in RSU • Detailed negotiations with FROs re who to be trained, in what, when, etc. • Comprehensive Research Support Handbook developed • Successfully completed by December 2008
Career Pathways & Grades • Report recommended parity of grading, workloads and responsibilities across Faculties • Development of generic job descriptions for all Facultybased staff • Consistency of job titles • Central involvement in Faculty recruitment process • Ensures parity, identifies training and induction needs
Resources Post Devolution • Additional 15 FTEs involved research support • Three quarters of staff engaged in research support now in Faculties: – Pre-award 32 – Post-award 34 – Other 19 – TOTAL FTES 85 – FACULTY 75% – CENTRE 25%
Post Devolution – Central Research Support (RS) • • Policy and Performance European / International Contracts Operations • TOTAL FTES 4. 8 6. 6 5. 0 4. 0 20. 4
Operations Team • Key contact point • Harmonisation of procedures • Quality assurance & internal audit • Key performance indicators • Recruitment & training • Systems & processes • Ethics & Governance
Harmonisation of Procedures • Nine faculties – ONE University • Research Support Handbook • Research Support Helpdesk • Research Support Website http: //Research. Support. Leeds. ac. uk
Quality Assurance • Quality Assurance Reports • Cost sharing • Ethical approval required? • DAC Journals set up? • QA Contacts Network • QA Training • Internal Audit
Key Performance Indicators • Quarterly distribution • Faculty checks: – – Late starting certificates Grants overdue for closure Credit notes raised Outstanding QA issues • Central RS checks: – Number of contracts completed – Contract review turnaround times – Number of staff trained / training feedback scores
Staff Training – The National Picture • ‘Professionalising Research Management’, March 2009, John Green & David Langley • Gaps in provision of training across the spectrum of research management • Ad-hoc delivery of training with little co-ordination between providers • No accreditation • No recognised career pathway for research support • No agreement on who should now move this agenda forwards – or how
Staff Training – The Leeds Response Research Support at the University of Leeds: A Framework for Training and Professionalisation of Research Administrators and Managers September 2008
Recommendations • Generic job descriptions • Training strands with named coordinators • Training for pre-award, post-award and FRM roles • Training at 3 different levels • Induction training for all new staff • Train the trainer
Implementation • • 55 courses identified Training needs analysis / prioritisation Professionalisation Training Project Group Identification of trainers Development of materials Training database / email networks Online booking Administration of courses
Training courses • 25 courses so far, across 12 ‘strands’ • Examples include: – – – – Providing Professional Research Support Research Performance Monitoring & Reporting Good practice in costing research grants Introductory Contracts VAT for EU grants Introduction to TRAC Advanced MIS
Feedback 110 people attended training between Jan 09 and March 10. – Very useful, well structured, flexible delivery, all round brilliant – Constanze Vageler, FRM Helicopter training – A very good course – covered a lot of things that will save me time – Keri Dunning, Advanced MIS – Excellent, succinct, informative and well presented – Rosie Corbin, The Research Application Process at Leeds
Mentoring • Mentoring is a protected relationship where learning and experimentation can occur, potential skills can be developed and in which results can be measured in terms of competencies rather than curricular territory covered. ” Collin (1979) • ‘Offline help by one person to another making significant transitions in knowledge, work of thinking’ European Mentoring Centre (2001)
The Professionalisation Mentoring Scheme • • • Coordinator – Operations Manager Publicity/marketing of scheme Process for matching mentor with mentee Training for mentors & mentees Written guidance for mentor/mentee Monitor and review • 9 pairs currently matched • Recruitment underway for second round
Research Support Conference • Three successful conferences to date – 2007 Professionalism in Research Support – 2008 Redefining our partnership – 2009 Excellence with impact • Fourth conference December 2010 – Collaboration & Concentration • Over 100 delegates • External speakers
The Future of The Professionalisation Framework • Training courses – Brainstorming – Training Needs Analysis – New courses & new contributors • Networking events / sharing of best practice • Secondments
Future challenges for the devolved model: Systems & Processes • Poor integration of pre and post-award systems • Plethora of local systems – especially costing and scenario planning • Duplication of data entry • Requirement for staff commitments – financial and time (for RCUK) • Support For EU and EKT awards – single process • Embed risk reviews – ethics, contracts, health & safety • Need for systems to support large, programme, multi-collaborator awards
Research Support Systems / Processes Project (RSP) • RSP project due to deliver May 2011 • Aim to deliver a single process - seamless integrated research environment • Reviewed systems on the market - developing preaward in-house • Vision – portal web-based system • Move to risk-based approach to authorisation of applications and awards • Dashboard – RAG status of cost/benefit, contract T&Cs, ethical & internal peer reviews
So, was it all worth it? • Devolution of cradle-to-grave support to Faculties great success • Specialist support close to academic staff • Operations Team also large part of that success – supporting Faculties • Medicine & Health – move to two site office / joint NHS - on-going • RSP project – rocky path but on course – ‘sector leading’ • Great – we can sit back and reap the benefit of our endeavours!
Just when you thought everything was sorted – Think Again! • The world does not stand still! • Research and Innovation support currently separate services • Reviewing alignment university-wide • Balance between central and local provision • Likely that we will move towards single integrated service • Build upon lessons learned through research review
Contact Details Kathy Brownridge Director of Research Support 0113 343 6050 Jennifer Johnson Operations Manager 0113 343 1944 http: //Research. Support. Leeds. ac. uk
http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=6 VLYp. KG VBUg