BU Research Blog

The popular Co-Creation and Co-Production (CCCP) strand is open to applications. This strand was most popular of the three open to staff in the July round with 38 applications.

A total of £246, 102.96 was awarded to successful applicants, to get ahead of the competition please note an important addition to the strand policy:

Successful bids will need to have benefits to the student experience at the core – and be able to demonstrate how this will occur, so hitting the Education point in the BU Fusion triangle is now more important than before.

Applications that do not satisfy how education at BU will be improved will not be looked at favourably by the panel. To review the full strand developments and how this has affected the policy, you can view the updated FIF CCCP policy sept.

Our successful CCCP applicants have been blogging about their activity on our Research Blog, I hope that you will be successful in securing funds in this round and will join them! Read their blogs below:

Sarah Bate who has used Fusion Investment funds to develop the Centre for Face Processing Disorders at BU – Watch out for the Centre’s regular updates on the Research Blog, and also check out www.prosopagnosiaresearch.org for more information.

Hossein Hassani is leading an inter-disciplinary project to characterize the socio-economic drivers underpinning change in freshwater host biodiversity that lead to the emergence of immuno-suppressant related human disease.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the intervention programmes running this October and November!

For further details about the fund please see www.bournemouth.ac.uk/FIF

Best of luck!

11 October 2012

Adele Ladkin secures Fusion Investment Funding to visit the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in Andorra

Professor Adele Ladkin has received funding from the FIF staff mobility strand to undertake two week long visits to the UNWTO Themis Foundation Headquarters in Andorra.

As part of its Capacity Building Programme, the UNWTO.Themis Foundation provides educational courses and workshops for tourism industry experts. These are in a range of subjects, for example tourism marketing, adventure tourism and sustainable tourism. Because of the nature of these courses and the demand for different topics, subject experts from the tourism industry and public sectors are recruited as tutors to deliver the courses.

Adele and Ms Sònia Figueras, the UNWTO. Capacity Programme manager at the UNWTO Themis Foundation are engaged in collaborative work to produce a teaching guide and intensive training course for tutors responsible for delivering tourism capacity building courses and workshops as part of the UNWTO. Capacity Programme. The Themis Foundation enables UNWTO Member States to devise and implement education, training and capacity building policies, plans and tools that fully harness the employment potential of their tourism sector and effectively enhance its competitiveness and sustainability. Working with Ms Figueras, Adele will provide input into teaching methodologies commonly used in tourism programmes.

The collaboration has arisen as the School of Tourism is part of the Themis TedQual Network and aims to support activities undertaken in the areas of education, training and tourism capacity building. The impact of the collaboration will be practical through the dissemination and use of the teachers guide and the training course by highly experienced tourism subject experts. The collaboration and pedagogic approach will also be presented at an appropriate tourism educator’s conference. This knowledge exchange opportunity demonstrates the Schools commitment to supporting tourism education initiatives.

Adele will be spending time in Andorra at the headquarters of the Themis Foundation to work directly on the course materials as well as on-line collaborative working. The visits will enable Adele to spend a concentrated period of time working on the project, and will also give her further insight into the activities of the Themis Foundation. She plans to undertake the first visit later this year – weather permitting as the mountain roads into Andorra are often covered in snow!

11 October 2012

Joseph Rowntree Trust session – slides available

tstoller@bournemouth.ac.uk

Thank you to everyone who came to the Joseph Rowntree Trust session yesterday, presented by Tony Stoller – Chair of the Board of Trustees. Tony gave an extremely informative overview of the varied and fascinating work of the JR Trust and Housing Foundation.

Please click here to access the slides: JRF presentation – 10th October 2012

Funding: It is worth re-iterating that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation is not a grant-making organisation and generally does not accept speculative enquiries for funding.The JRF issues ‘calls for proposals’ and invites submissions to them. Via the JRF website you can sign up for alerts – this is the best way to keep in touch with the latest funding opportunities.

If you have any questions about JRF and their work please contact Tony Stoller himself:

or even better, Emma Stone who is the Head of Research:

Emma.stone@jrf.org.uk

11 October 2012

HEA Call for expressions of interest: teaching research methods in the Social Sciences

HEA have launched a call for expressions of interest in working with the HEA Social Sciences cluster on their strategic project – teaching research methods in the Social Sciences projects. Project strands include:

1.      Developing STEM skills in qualitative research methods teaching and learning
2.      Assessment for learning in research methods
3.      Teaching research methods within HE programmes in FE settings
4.      Making the most of open educational resources (OER) in research methods teaching and learning
5.      Research methods and knowledge exchange

For further details and to submit an expression of interest: http://mail.heacademy.ac.uk/12ZA-ZWSN-6DLHZU-DXEGR-0/c.aspx

11 October 2012

FIF Launch Week – Focus on Staff Mobility and Networking strand

The Staff Mobility and Networking (SMN) strand exists to fund £1k-£10k projects enabling networking. In round one the committee funded 13 applications, awards totalling £72,771.33.

A development for the second round of the strand is the inclusion of an Erasmus Staff Mobility strand which has been added to the scope of the SMN committee. Erasmus Application and Guidance (Word 2010).

The SMN strand of the FIF saw exciting initiatives from staff across BU, staff are starting to share their experiences and hopes for their projects using the Research Blog. I hope you will be inspired to apply yourself to this strand!

Read blog posts from funded applicants in round one below:

Chris Pullen – In this post Chris explains the background for his project entitled ‘A ‘tool kit’ to address Bullying and Name Calling in School: Teaching Practice and the use of Media in the Classroom’.

Some great research has already taken place looking at LGBT identity issues in school, Chris is looking to extend these ideas, looking at how media is used in the secondary school classroom. Exploring name calling that goes unchallenged within diverse social environments.

Jian Chang – who will establish a strategic partnership between the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) of Bournemouth University and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), and to create opportunities in joint research, enterprise and education endeavours. UESTC has been among the top ranked Chinese universities, and has been the best educational base in China for computer science and electronic engineering. It is located in Chengdu, one of the largest cities in Western China

Dont forget to apply before the 1st December deadline!

10 October 2012

British Academy – booking in problems

Many of you are experiencing problems when trying to book onto the British Academy session.

This is very furstrating – its an external problem, and is being investigated.

Until the problem is resolved: please email Dianne Goodman and she will book you in.

Thank you for your patience!

10 October 2012

British Academy info session: 21st November – all welcome

On 21st November, The British Academy is coming to BU to host an information session.

The purpose of the session is to:

give participants an understanding of the British Academy and its range of activities
increase awareness of the Academy’s research funding opportunities.
give some insight into evaluation criteria and what assessors are looking for in applications to the Academy.

Dr Ken Emond and Kate Kenyon will be hosting.

Dr Emond is the Head of Research Awards at the British Academy. Ken is a graduate of the University of St Andrews with a doctorate in Scottish History, for a thesis on the Minority of King James V, 1513-1528. After working in the Department of Transport, Ken joined the Academy in 1992. As Head of Research Awards since 2008, Ken is responsible for the administration of all of the Academy’s UK grants and fellowship schemes, and he has extensive experience in advising on research funding matters.

Kate Kenyon is an International Officer within the International Department of the British Academy. Kate is a Modern Languages graduate of University College London, and joined the Academy in 2011 following periods at the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the London Deanery. Kate is responsible for the administration of the International Department’s International Partnership and Mobility Scheme and the Academy’s involvement in the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa route.

Important info:

When: Wednesday, 21st November
Time: 1.15 – 2.30pm
Place: Allesbrook Lecture Theatre, Talbot campus
How to book: Please click here to book your place.

Information about funding opportunities with the British Academy: http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/index.cfm

For more information please contact Caroline O’Kane

10 October 2012

Fusion Investment Fund Launch Week – Focus on Study Leave strand

The Study Leave (SL) grants are designed to buy individuals out of one semester/term of teaching and provide support for overseas travel and subsistence or for expenditure associated with distance working within the UK. Opportunities for paid study leave include undertaking or participating in:

A period(s) of business or industrial secondment.
International staff exchange or periods of overseas research, professional practice or educational activity.
In staff exchange or periods of research, professional practice or educational activity at other Universities or Government research establishments in the UK.
Secondments within different parts of BU, for example within different Schools.

Study Leave was the most undersubscribed strand of the Fund in round one with 5 applicants taking the £45,661.50 allocated in July. To give some clarity on what will be funded by the committee please see the FIF Study Leave policy Sept V1

Matthew Bennett writes in his blog piece ‘Jumping Trains’ how Study Leave can help in building networks. Periods of study leave need not be contiguous but can consist of a series of short visits or secondments at one or more institutions. An application for Study Leave may be combined or linked to a bid to the Staff Networking and Mobility Strand where additional travel and subsistence costs are required. Periods of Study Leave are normally between 2 or 6 months, but some flexibility for both shorter and longer periods will be exercised by the committee where there are good reasons for doing so.

The normal cycle of applications is two per year – June and December – however the Committee recognises that opportunities arise at other times and is prepared to take out of cycle applications at any point during an academic year.

I hope you will see the diversity of possibilities available from this strand – by reading the Dr Lai Xu post on securing the maximum £15,000 funding. The project ‘Strengthening Service Computing Research in BU’ is enabling inward mobility into the School of Design, Engineering and Computing.

As part of the intervention programmes in October and November the committee members are all contactable for help, please details on intervention activity here.

Good Luck!!

9 October 2012

Fusion Investment Fund – 2012/13 December Round opens today!

Funding opportunities, Fusion, Guidance, R & KE Operations Sam Furr

The Fusion Investment Fund (FIF) is again opening the three strands currently available to staff!

At c. £3m per annum for the first three years the FIF represents the significant investment that BU is making in the development of staff and students, and the embedding of the Fusion philosophy.

New Fusion Investment Fund online application form and general FAQ’s can be viewed on the FIF website www.bournemouth.ac.uk/FIF

Also launching today is the Erasmus Staff Mobility scheme which has been merged into the Existing Staff Mobility and Networking strand, please see Erasmus Application and Guidance (Word 2010)

Follow the links below to be directed to the new strand policy documents as well as the new Application Form:

Details of the intervention sessions can be seen here. Apply before the deadline on 1^st December!

If you have any questions about the fund do not hesitate to contact Sam Furr FIF Administrator.

8 October 2012

Fusion Investment Fund – Intervention Programmes in October / November 2012

Fusion Investment Fund Intervention Sessions

Applications to the December round of Fusion Investment Funding is now open. To support academics in making applications two series of interventions are now available!

Grant Writing Development here at Talbot! – Book now onto the “Strengthening your FIF Proposal” workshop led by Martin Pickard

Two half day sessions are running on Tuesday 6^th November with Martin Pickard from Grantcraft visiting Talbot. To book click here and fill out the booking form, numbers are limited to 12 in each session so do hurry!

Tuesday 6^th November 2012, 09:00-12:00 – The Octagon, Talbot Campus

Tuesday 6^th November 2012, 13:00-16:00 – The Octagon, Talbot Campus

This session will be led by Martin Pickard from Grantcraft and will provide academics who have drafted their FIF proposals with the opportunity to have their proposals reviewed by Martin and to identify areas that could be strengthened. Max of 12 attendees per session.

The session includes a one hour introductory presentation Martin calls ‘Grantmanship’, followed by a group workshop. Lunch included for both morning and afternoon attendees from 12:00 – 13:00.

Max of 12 attendees per session.

Hear it direct from the horse’s mouth! – Individual one-to-one advice from FIF committee members

For the December round of Fusion Investment Funding the committee members from all three strands (open to staff) are available to contact to arrange advice and guidance on completing your applications, from today right up to the 1^st December deadline.

Please note the CCCP committee members will be available by phone or email only.

To contact members from one of the panels send an email to a member, names found clicking on the following pages:

Co-Creation and Co-Production strand CCCP

Staff Mobility and Networking strand SMN

Study Leave strand SL

Don’t forget to apply by the 1st December deadline!

8 October 2012

Daiwa Scholarships 2013

The Daiwa Scholarship is a unique 19-month programme of language study, work placement and homestay in Japan.

Daiwa Scholarships offer young and talented UK citizens with strong leadership potential, the opportunity to acquire Japanese language skills, and to access expertise and knowledge relevant to their career goals. No previous experience of Japan or Japanese is necessary.

As of April 2012, 135 Daiwa Scholars – including scientists, artists, academics, lawyers and architects – will have benefited from the Daiwa Scholarships. Daiwa Scholarships are provided by the Foundation to encourage better understanding between both countries. Successful applicants will be based in Tokyo form September 2013 until the end of March 2015. They will receive intensive language training; have opportunities to network with decision-makers in their field; and undertake work-placements at organisations relevant to their career goals.

The closing date for Daiwa Scholarship 2013 applications is Thursday 6 December 2012. The online application will be available from September 2012. For more information about what is involved in the programme, please visit the web site here.

The Foundation is also happy to provide advice about possible applications – please contact scholarships@dajf.org.uk.

8 October 2012

New Funding Programme on Quantitative Methods Training

Funding opportunities, PG research nbaines

The Nuffield Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) are launching a £15.5 million funding programme in October 2012 aimed at promoting a step-change in quantitative methods training for UK social science undergraduates.

This 5-year programme will fund the creation of a network of up to 15 Quantitative Methods Centres to develop new approaches aimed at embedding the acquisition and application of quantitative skills to substantive issues in disciplines across the UK social science undergraduate curricula.

Centres will be able to apply for funding of up to £350k per year to develop and deliver a wide range of fundable training activities, including bursaries for students attending holiday courses or in relevant work placements, recruitment of new staff and the development of new courses and pathways to careers requiring skills in quantitative methods.

Centres are expected to be within single Higher Education Institutions, with limited scope for any consortia arrangements. Single departments or groups of departments within an Institution may apply, but only one application per Higher Education Institution will be allowed.

We expect that competition for funds will be intense. Applying Institutions should therefore already have demonstrable expertise in and commitment to developing quantitative skills in the social sciences.

More information about the programme can be found on the Nuffield Foundation website www.nuffieldfoundation.org from October 15th. They will also be holding two launch events in London and Manchester to present this initiative:

Friday 19th October @ 11.00am British Academy, London

Thursday 8th November @ 11.15am Manchester University

If you are interested in applying, they hope that you will be able to attend one of these events. This is an open invitation, but all who wish to attend must register so that they can plan for numbers. Initially, no more than 2 attendees per HEI, but if they have room they would be happy to allow more.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by e-mail using the attached form to QMEnquiries@nuffieldfoundation.org by Monday 8th October. They will send further information about the events to registered attendees.

RSVP form

8 October 2012

Update: PGR Development Fund – additional competition deadline

In response to feedback from PGRs, there will now be two competitions this year for the Scheme to allow for activities taking place later in the academic year. PGRs wishing to apply must submit an application form (below) to the Graduate School by the scheme deadlines:

2 November 2012 – primarily for activity taking place between October 2012 and March 2013
28 February 2013 – for activity taking place between March 2013 and July 2013.

The Graduate School PGR Development Scheme is open to all BU postgraduate researchers (PGRs) irrespective of the mode of study (full-time / part-time) or funding status (BU studentships / externally funded / self funded).

Individual awards will provide financial support of normally up to £2,000 (and exceptionally £5,000) for research activities related to an individual PGR’s research project or personal development. It is envisaged that this year approximately 15 awards will be made.

Examples of research activities covered by the Scheme include:

Research Activities

Conference attendance
Additional fieldwork
Other activities required to advance research e.g. visiting major libraries, museums, other research institutions (UK, EU or International)
Preparation of specialist material or data
Research consumables and equipment (providing it is clear these would not normally be purchased by the School as part of the research degree)

Developmental Activities

Research development e.g. attending external training events specific to research activity
Personal development e.g. attending external personal development training events

Networking

Organisation of an academic conference at BU with external participants
Attendance at external networking events leading to advance of the research
Publications or dissemination of research

You should also map the proposed activity onto the relevant sub-domains of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF):

Knowledge & Intellectual Abilities	A1 – Knowledge base	A2 – Cognitive abilities	A3 – Creativity
Personal Effectiveness	B1 – Personal qualities	B2 – Self-management	B3 – Professional & career development
Research Governance	C1 – Professional conduct	C2 – Research management	C3 – Finance, funding & resources
Engagement, Influence & Impact	D1 – Working with others	D2 – Communication & dissemination	D3 – Engagement & impact

Awards will only cover direct costs including travel; subsistence; training or development costs and all applications will need to include a precise breakdown of costs. Applications should be supported by the Supervisory Team and the relevant Deputy Dean (Research & Enterprise) of the relevant Academic School.

PGRs wishing to apply must submit a completed GS PGR Development Fund Scheme – Application Form to the Graduate School (graduateschool@bournemouth.ac.uk) by the following deadlines:

2 November 2012 – primarily for activity taking place between October 2012 and March 2013
28 February 2013 – for activity taking place between March 2013 and July 2013.

Applications to the Scheme will be reviewed independently and all decisions on funding will be made by the Graduate School.

For further information please read the GS Researcher Scholarships Scheme – Policy.

3 October 2012

Joseph Rowntree Foundation – visit next week!

This is a reminder that on 10th October, Tony Stoller, Chair of Trustees for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and of the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust is coming to BU.

Tony will be hosting a lunchtime session all about the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and how best to apply for JRF funds.

Tony will be talking about:

What is the JRF?
What kind of work does JRF fund?
What does JRF look for in a proposal ?
What can you do to maximise your success when you are applying to JRF?
How do you apply for JRF funds?

Why should you attend? If your work is broadly concerned with poverty in the UK, communities and our aging society, then JRF will be worth knowing about. Come along and find out more about research funding opportunities.

The detail:

Time: 1-2pm
Date: 10th October 2012
Place: PG146, Talbot campus

To attend: click here

For more information please contact Caroline O’Kane

1 October 2012

Register Now – CI KTN Events for £600K TSB Convergence Funding in October 2012

Funding opportunities, PG research nbaines

£600K Funding Available for Cross-Media Content projects

Register your place at a Creative Industries KTN event near you to find out more about the Challenge 3 stage of the £1.8M Technology Strategy Board convergence funding competition available for cross-platform content projects.

The Convergence in a Digital Landscape challenge 3 competition seeks projects that investigate the potential of Cross-Platform analytical metrics and feedback tools to help content producers better understand the consumption of their products in a converged landscape.

Why Attend?

Find out about the Technology Strategy Board’s convergence funding competition & how to apply
Take part in a debate with leading industry figures on the value of understanding audience behaviour
Hear about the experience of a successful Technology Strategy Board applicant
Network with potential partners and collaborators

Event Times: 10:30 – 13:30

Liverpool: Mon, 15 October 2012 – http://creativeindustriesktn.org/beacons/events/view/434720

Belfast: Tues, 16 October 2012 – http://creativeindustriesktn.org/beacons/events/view/434721

London: Tues, 23 October 2012 – http://creativeindustriesktn.org/beacons/events/view/434719

Register Now and more details to follow!

1 October 2012

BU Studentships Competition 2013 – Project Proposal Writing Workshop

The 2013 BU Studentships internal competition is open with opportunities for up to 50 matched funded PhD projects.

To support academics in seeking matched funding and in preparation of their project proposals, the Graduate School will be following up on the two workshops run over the summer with a further two one day project proposal writing workshops delivered by John Wakeford, Director of the Missenden Centre

There will be two workshops to help supervisors to develop and strengthen their project proposal applications to the internal competition on:

Tuesday 23 October (9:15am – 16:30pm, in Studland House – S217 + S219)
Friday 2 November (9:15am – 16:30pm, in Tolpuddle Annexe – TAG20)

It is an excellent chance to glean some expert advice from John on bid writing in general as well as honing your application for the 2013 Studentships Competition. Participants will be expected to submit a draft proposal to the Graduate School one week in advance of the workshops in order to get bespoke feedback as part of the workshop.

A provisional programme for both days will be as follows:

9:15	Coffee and Registration
9:30	Institutional context – information on the studentships and the support of the Graduate School. Questions. Prof Tiantian Zhang – new Head of Graduate SchoolDr Fiona Knight – Graduate School Manager
10:00	Agenda sharing (participant introductions and identifying concerns and priorities to be covered).
10:30	Introduction – National policy and recent developments. Questions and discussion.
10:45	Coffee break
11:00	Reviewing good research bid. Teams act as reviewers and prepare outline of comments. Plenary feedback from John Wakeford and teams.
12.00	What to do before applying.
12:30	Lunch. (Groups discuss bidding narrative)
13:15	Plenary discussion of points arising from narrative.
13:30	Advising colleagues on draft applications. Teams act as critical colleagues and prepare advice on drafts direct at different agencies. Plenary feedback. Questions and discussion.
14:30	Coffee break
14:45	Writing a good application.
15:30	Reflecting after having an application turned down.
16:00	Action planning: individual participants draw up plans for progressing own research. Participants make suggestions to the university to help those bidding for funds.
16:25	Evaluation
16:30	Close

Similar sessions have been very well attended previously and spaces are limited. To book a place on either session, please email the Graduate School: graduateschool@bournemouth.ac.uk

28 September 2012

TSB competition – Internet of Things Ecosystem Demonstrator