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New EU Funding Guide for Tourism

A new guide for EU funding in the tourism sector has been published in line with a European Commission drive to promote competitiveness in the European tourism sector.  The guide provides details of: type of tourism-related actions eligible for funding; type and level of funding; who can apply and how to apply. The guide is updated periodically and gives specific funding examples from previous projects. 

 

For further details, please follow the link: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7843

HEFCE are looking for views on a potential international REF in future…

Research assessment

HEFCE has published a survey inviting views on an internationalised system of research assessment.

This survey forms part of a project exploring the benefits and challenges of expanding the UK’s research assessment system, the Research Excellence Framework (REF), on an international basis. At the broadest level, this means an extension of the assessment to incorporate submissions from universities overseas.

This follows an invitation earlier this year from the then Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts, for HEFCE to provide an opinion on the feasibility of an international REF. The project belongs in a wider context of international interest in the exercise, on which HEFCE frequently provides information and advice to higher education policymakers and university senior management from overseas.

The THE ran a story about this in April 2014: HEFCE looks at overseas links for research excellence 

Responses are invited from any organisation or individual with an interest in higher education research or its assessment. The survey will be open until Wednesday 12 November 2014.

The survey only has four questions –

1. What do you think the key benefits would be of expanding the REF internationally?

2. What do you think the key challenges would be in expanding the REF internationally?

3. In view of the potential benefits and challenges overall, how supportive would you be of further work to explore the issues in more depth?

4. Have you got any further comments relating to internationalisation of REF?

To complete the survey visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/refinternationalisation

Third time lucky in Bangkok

Post-award

 

Group photo of the delegates at the opening of the Researcher Links Workshop in Bangkok on November 2

Working with partners at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, a team from BU led and participated in a British Council Researcher Links Workshop in Bangkok from November 2 to 4.

For Professor Tom Watson of the Media School and Associate Professor Jirayudh Sinthuphan of Chula’s Faculty of Communication Arts, it was ‘mission accomplished’, as the Workshop had been postponed twice in February and May because of Thailand’s febrile politics.

“This time, there were no problems as Bangkok was about as quiet as it will ever be,” said Professor Watson. “As a result, the Workshop was attended by representatives of four UK and seven Thai universities who worked very well together”.

From the three days of collaborative working, four projects related the Workshop theme of ‘the impact of social media upon corporate and marketing communication in Thailand and UK’ emerged. They will be developed over the coming months into research actions, bids for funding and publications.

With Professor Watson were Associate Professor John Oliver (Senior Researcher), Dr Ana Adi (Deputy Workshop Coordinator), Dr Tauheed Ramjaun and Mona Esfahani, all from the Corporate & Marketing Communications academic group. Among the Thai participants was Dr Waraporn Chatratichart of the University of the Thailand Chamber of Commerce, who is a PhD alumna from the Media School.

“The Workshop also reinforced the existing relationship between BU and Chulalongkorn University as the Dean of the Faculty of Communication Arts, Dr Duangkamol Chartprasert, and Professor Parichart Sthapitanonda both took part as Senior Researchers,” said Professor Watson. “The BU-Chula relationship has great potential for research collaboration and staff exchanges. I hope that other BU staff will follow the opportunity that the Workshop has opened up.”

 

NIHR Public Health Research Funding Board

Dear colleagues,

We would like to bring to your attention that the NIHR Public Health Research Funding Board is currently recruiting new members.

You can find out more information about the positions on the NIHR website here: http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5959c256494563d480b887fce&id=956d9306c8&e=19509b734a

The deadline for applications is 1pm, 17 November 2014.

Best wishes,

Jason Edwards

BU Cyber Security Unit attends Business Crime Conference

The BU Cyber Security Unit attended and presented at the annual business crime conference hosted by the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill. The Conference, titled ‘Putting Crime out of Business’ hosted a number of workshops including; online fraud, counterfeit goods and business scams, rural crime, counter terrorism and shoplifting. Dr Christopher Richardson, the Head of the BU Cyber Security Unit, held two workshops on online fraud. Attendees were enamored with the facts of online fraud and a number of the local businesses inquired as to how the Unit could help them counter online fraud. The Unit’s stand was also quite popular, most likely leading to the very intriguing Norse Live Attack map, which visualizes a tiny portion (<1%) of the data processed by the Norse DarkMatter™ platform every day.

Additionally this week, the Unit attended the Christchurch and East Dorset Growth Plan Launch and the Ferndown and Uddens Business meeting to discuss business support opportunities provided by the Unit and the University as a whole.

Later in the month, the BU Cyber Security Unit will attend the National Cyber Security Summit 2014 in London. The Summit will bring together over 350 cyber security experts, senior officials and policy-makers from across public sector and industry to discuss the ever-changing threats posed by cyber-crime and share best practice strategies to help the UK effectively combat these threats. Central to the discussion will be:

  • Ensuring Businesses are Safe in Cyberspace by 2016
  • Protecting the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure
  • Collaboration to Identify & Tackle the Cyber Crime Threat
  • Investing in Tomorrow’s Cyber Security Workforce
  • Successfully Managing Cyber Security as part of the Digital Transformation

 

British Council – Newton Institutional Links Opportunity

Funding opportunities

Newton Institutional Links are grants for the development of research and innovation collaborations between the UK and partner country institutions at the group, departmental or institutional level, as well as the commercial and not-for-profit sector. The countries included in this call are: Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam. In addition to this general Newton Institutional Links call, which includes Chile, there is a UK-Chile FONDEF IDeA call (formerly called Chile-specific CONICYT call) with separate guidelines and a different closing date.

Grants will be £30,000 to £300,000 over two years (depending on the country) and will cover collaborations between the UK and partner country. Grants can cover costs which support research and innovation collaboration, including:

  • research-related costs
  • the exchange of researchers, students and industry staff (including SMEs and not-for-profit organisations)
  • the costs of organising meetings, seminars, training
  • other activities to establish and strengthen collaborative links.

Other activities can also be funded. For a full list of eligible and ineligible costs, please read the guidelines document on the website link given above.

Under this Institutional Links call the British Council can commit up to £6 million, depending on matched funding from partner organisations and institutions.

Key Dates:

Deadline for applications: 16.00 UK time on Thursday 20 November 2014. Applications with Chile and Turkey (general Newton Institutional Links) close 27 November 2014.

Deadline for applications for the UK-Chile FONDEF IDeA call: Tuesday 18 November 2014

Please contact RKEO if you wish to apply.

See the website for other Newton Fund opportunties.

 

National Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Week – KTP benefits for academics

Yesterday marked the start of the first National KTP Week.  The idea behind this week is to publicise KTP to academics, business and graduates alike.

So with this in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the benefits of KTP for academics after giving a brief overview of KTP.

What is KTP?

KTP is a part-funded scheme that encourages collaboration on projects between businesses and academics.  KTPs are managed by Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) and provide benefits to all parties involved – this scheme offers a fusion of academic and industrial collaboration supported by an associate (graduate).

How does this benefit you?

KTP has a clear pathway to impact through knowledge exchange and also is a fantastic way of bringing in income.

Key benefits of KTP are:

  • Contributes to the REF
  • Improve links with industrial partners
  • Increases research funding
  • Raise academic profile among colleagues
  • Apply knowledge to an innovate and business-critical project
  • Develop new teaching materials
  • Potential route to further industrial collaborations

If this scheme is of interest to you and you would like to find out more, please contact Rachel Clarke, Knowledge Exchange Adviser (KTP) – clarker@bournemouth.ac.uk or 01202 961347

Innovate UK widens the appeal of £5,000 vouchers

Funding opportunities

Are you working with business?

Innovation Vouchers are open to all kinds of small businesses from 10 November 2014.  Businesses  can claim up to £5,000 towards the cost of expert advice if they classify as a start-up, micro or  SME . The funding encourages SMEs and start-ups to seek out fresh knowledge that can help their business to grow and develop. This could include advice on an innovative idea, learning more about using design within the  business or how to make the most of intellectual property.

The first round of applications for Innovation Vouchers under the new rules opens on 10 November.

Business challenge

Innovation Vouchers had been available only to those working in specific technology areas. Now a business can apply if  they  just meet these simple tests:

• you need specialist help to meet a business challenge

• it’s the first time you have worked with the university (a great first rung on the ladder before a KTP  perhaps?)

For more information, visit Innovation Vouchers .

 

BU 7th Annual Postgraduate Conference – Call for Abstracts

PG research

The BU 7th Annual Postgraduate Conference is a fantastic opportunity for postgraduate students to present their work via an abstract for oral presentation, poster or photo.

The submission deadline for all abstracts is Monday 10 November 2014. Find out more >>

The Conference will be held on:

Date: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 January 2015
Venue: Allsebrook Lecture Theatre & The Retreat Talbot Campus

Alternatively, if you’d like to just attend please register online >>

We hope to see you there

Best wishes

The Graduate School team

Launch of the BU Undergraduate Research Assistantship programme

I am delighted to announce today the launch of BU’s Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) programme. Funded by the Fusion Investment Fund, this programme will offer paid employment opportunities for approximately 40 BU undergraduate students to work in clusters, centres and institutes, under the guidance of experienced academics, in a research position that is directly related to their career path and/or academic discipline. This will enable the students to assist academic staff with their research whilst also gaining valuable research experience.

Research shows there is a direct link between student satisfaction and research-based learning, particularly when the opportunity is in their field of study[1], and that the undergraduate student experience is improved by engaging them with research early and often.[2] URAs are common in North America and are offered in a significant number of universities, for example Harvard University, Northern Illinois University, Kent State University and Cornell University.

In 2014-15 BU is offering two modes of the URA programme:

  1. semester-based programme (c. 20 part-time positions running for eight weeks in semester 2)
  2. summer programme (c. 20 full-time positions running for six weeks in June/July 2015)

There are two stages to the application process: 1) School/Faculty application stage whereby BU academic staff can apply for URA positions, and 2) student selection stage whereby School/Faculty staff recruit to the positions.

We are now accepting applications from academic staff for URA positions for the semester-based programme. The deadline for applications is 14th November 2014. All applications received will be reviewed by representatives from the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee, with decisions on which positions to fund announced at the start of December. There will be a second round next year for the summer programme.
Further details, including the application form, are available here: Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) programme

[1] For example: Healey and Jenkins (2011) Linking discipline-based research with teaching to benefit student learning, available from: http://www.mickhealey.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Linking-RT-Handout-Website1.doc

[2] For example: Madan, C R & Braden, D T (2013) The Benefits of Undergraduate Research: The Student’s Perspective, available from: http://dus.psu.edu/mentor/2013/05/undergraduate-research-students-perspective/

Funding opportunity: solving urban challenges with data

Funding opportunities

 Up to £7.5million is to be made availabe to support research into “Solving urban challenges with data”. Funding is being provided by Innovate UK, ESRC and NERC. Funding will be offered for projects which aim to create solutions and services that offer specific commercial benefits or limit risks and increase the resilience, quality of life or economic performance of urban areas by integrating environmental, social and economic data with data from other sources. The focus is on better defining and solving problems through finding innovative ways to combine data sources.

Briefing events will be held regarding this call, as follows:

  • Glasgow – 27 November
  • Harwell – 4 December
  • Birmingham – 8 December
  • Cardiff – 11 December
  • Manchester – 16 December
  • London – 6 January

Further information and booking for events can be found at https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/solving-urban-challenges-with-data/overview

Latest Major Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

The following funding opportunities have been announced. Please follow the link for more information:

British Archaeological Association, GB. The Reginald Taylor and Lord Fletcher essay prize recognises the best essay submitted on any subject of art-historical, archaeological or antiquarian interest within the period from the Roman era to 1830. The prize comprises £500 and a bronze medal. Closing date: 01/11/2015

Harvard University, US. The Center for International Development at Harvard University invites applications for its fellowships in sustainability science. These aim to facilitate the design, implementation and evaluation of effective interventions that promote sustainable development. Fellowships are worth up to US$55,000 over a maximum of one year depending on the experience of the candidate. The competition is open to advanced doctoral and post-doctoral students and to mid-career professionals engaged in research or practice to facilitate the design, implementation and evaluation of effective interventions that promote sustainable development. Closing date: 02/02/15

Palestine Exploration Fund, GB. The Palestine Exploration Fund invites applications for travel and research and enable scholars to conduct research into the archaeology and history, topography, geology, natural sciences, and manners, customs and culture of biblical Palestine and the Levant. A total of £4,000 is available, of which up to three awards of £500 each are set aside for student travel to the Levant. Closing date: 31/01/15

Please note that some funders specify a time for submission as well as a date. Please confirm this with your RKE Support Officer.

You can set up your own personalised alerts on ResearchProfessional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s RKE Officer in RKE Operations or see the recent post on this topic, which includes forthcoming training dates up to November 2014.

If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on ResearchProfessional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

 

Research Professional – all you need to know

Funding opportunities

Every BU academic has a Research Professional account which delivers weekly emails detailing funding opportunities in their broad subject area. To really make the most of your Research Professional account, you should tailor it further by establishing additional alerts based on your specific area of expertise.

Research Professional have created several guides to help introduce users to ResearchProfessional. These can be downloaded here.

Quick Start Guide: Explains to users their first steps with the website, from creating an account to searching for content and setting up email alerts, all in the space of a single page.

User Guide: More detailed information covering all the key aspects of using ResearchProfessional.

Administrator Guide: A detailed description of the administrator functionality.

In addition to the above, there are a set of 2-3 minute videos online, designed to take a user through all the key features of ResearchProfessional.  To access the videos, please use the following link: http://www.youtube.com/researchprofessional 

Research Professional are running a series of online training broadcasts aimed at introducing users to the basics of creating and configuring their accounts on ResearchProfessional.  They are holding monthly sessions, covering everything you need to get started with ResearchProfessional.  The broadcast sessions will run for no more than 60 minutes, with the opportunity to ask questions via text chat.  Each session will cover:

  • Self registration and logging in
  • Building searches
  • Setting personalised alerts
  • Saving and bookmarking items
  • Subscribing to news alerts
  • Configuring your personal profile

Each session will run between 10.00am and 11.00am (UK) on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  You can register here for your preferred date:

25 November 2014

These are free and comprehensive training sessions and so this is a good opportunity to get to grips with how Research Professional can work for you.

REF 2020 update

Research assessment

In approximately 7 weeks we will know the outcome of the REF 2014 exercise. It is hard to believe that it is almost a year since we submitted to the exercise and that the results are round the corner. Whilst the expert panels have been assessing the submissions this past year, HEFCE have been working hard to design and shape the post-2014 REF, currently being referred to as REF 2020. They are currently midway through a review of the role of metrics in research assessment to ascertain the extent to which metrics could be used in the assessment and management of research. They have commissioned RAND Europe to undertake an assessment of the impact element of REF 2014, part of which will include recommendations to the assessment of impact in future REF exercises. They are currently consulting on whether an international REF exercise, rather than a national one, is the way forward. And, arguably the most important announcement to date, they have confirmed their open access policy for the next REF which stipulates that in order to be eligible for submission to the next REF from April 2016 all journal papers and conference proceedings have to be made freely available in an institutional and/or subject repository at the time of acceptance. Outputs not made freely available in a repository at the time of acceptance after April 2016 will be exempt from inclusion.

The Research Blog’s REF pages have recently been updated and you can read more of what we know about REF 2020 here: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/ref/

As soon as we know more we will post it on the Blog. Until then we wait with anticipation for the REF 2014 results!