Presentation by Simon Kerridge (Director of Research Services at the University of Kent) at the Vitae event 'Preparing for the Research Excellence Framework: Researcher development, the environment and future impact' on 11 July 2012 in Manchester www.vitae.ac.uk/preparingfortheref

1. Preparing for the Research Excellence Framework
Researcher development, the environment and future impact
An institutional perspective
Dr Simon Kerridge
Director of Research Services, University of Kent

2. Researcher Development
• Why bother?
• The context
• The future
• What can you do?
• What are you doing?
• Some tips for the REF
slide 2 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

3. Researcher Development is Important
• And it is recognised as such in the REF
• But only as a small part of Environment…
• … so why bother?
• Well… every little helps!
• But more importantly, it
• Is investing in the future
•  Outputs (65%)
•  Impact (20%)
• Which are undoubtedly part of your research strategy!?
slide 3 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

4. Context
• Increased competition
• Increased regulation
• eg Research integrity (launched today)
• But… Increased professional support
• eg ARMA, AUA, UKCGE, Vitae
• Increased collaboration
• Increased concentration
slide 4 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

5. Long Term
• REF2014 should not be the focus
• REF2020 should not be the focus
• Need to ‘invest’ in developing new researchers…
• To meet institutional objectives…
• Enhance research culture
• Increase research intensity
• Invest in the future (secondary alma mater)
• Drive UK PLC
slide 5 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

6. What can you do now?
• RCUK Concordat
• Vitae RDF
• EU HR Excellence in Research
• PGCHE
• Athena Swan
• ARMA PDF
• AUA CPDF
• Local / Consortium PD (eg DTC, BGP etc)
slide 6 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

7. What can you do now?
• Don’t pay lip service!
• You will reap what you sow…
• Ask what researchers want / need
• Ask research leaders
• What are quick (cheap?) wins?
• But work towards a comprehensive policy
• Generally… research culture
slide 7 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

8. What are you doing?
• Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
• The forgotten middle
• Leadership
• Mentoring / Buddying
• Related central schemes (Learning and
Development [PGCHE], Research Office, HR,
Library, …)
• Faculty / School schemes…
slide 8 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

9. REF 2014
• University
• Faculty
• Department
• What do you do?
• PDPs, appraisal, professional development, development
funds, bid writing, paper writing, targeted support, prizes,
awards, stretching targets, timely information, assiduous
leaders, networks, cohorts, sabbaticals, travel, accelerated
promotion, discretionary funds, …
• Support for life after academia?
slide 9 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

10. REF 2014
• Outline your strategy (and how it relates to the
overall strategy of the department)
• Give (concrete) examples of concordat
implementation
• Evidence of support for E&D
• Sustainability of the staffing base
• Outline arrangements for developing research staff
• and specifically for ECRs and their integration
slide 10 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

11. Researcher Development @ Kent
• ECR Network
• Mentoring, Appraisal, Team Leaders, Senior
Managers, Coaching, E&D, Ctte Representation
• Targeted workshops
• The Grants Factory
• Sandpits
• Funder Visits
• Ethics and Governance
• Accelerated Promotion
• Funded Support (University, Faculty, School)
slide 11 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

12. Funded Support @ Kent
• Sabbaticals (1 in 7)
• Research Centre fund
• School discretionary funds
• Faculty discretionary funds
• University funds:
• PhD scholarships
• Large and Complex Grants
• University Fellowships?
slide 12 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

13. Summary
• Research Development is:
• Important
• Crucial
• Investing in the future
• Good for the University
• Good for the UK HE sector
• Good for UKPLC
• So… for the REF…
• Do more
• Say what you have done
slide 13 Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester

14. An Institutional Perspective
Dr Simon Kerridge
s.r.kerridge@kent.ac.uk
Director of Research Services,
University of Kent, United Kingdom
Simon is also a Director of ARMA
the Association of Research Managers
and Administrators
Simon Kerridge, Vitae: Preparing for the REF, 11th July 2012, Manchester