Category / Training

New pilot Research Council Development scheme – membership open

BU research, Research Training, RKE development framework, Training

BU is introducing a new Research Council Development scheme which is a coordinated, targeted set of activities designed to inspire and equip BU researchers to achieve greater success with Research Council funding.

The aim is to:

  • Increase awareness of the Research Councils opportunities
  • Equip researchers with the confidence and skills to apply for the Research Councils funding in line with their career stage
  • Fast-track the development of a portfolio of proposals by facilitating proposal writing, setting next steps and allocating support

Due to the wide range of opportunities offered by Research Councils, the RCDS will feature a range of activities which may be generic in scope or targeted to a cohort as follows.

  • E cohort – early career researchers and those new to Research Councils (learning aims: first grants, fellowships, general mind-set and approach)
  • M cohort – mid-career researchers and those with some Research Councils experience (learning aims: project leadership and moving up to larger grants/collaborations)
  • P cohort – professorial level and those with significant Research Council experience (learning aims: high value, strategic and longer-larger funding)

As the RCDS is being piloted, this first cohort will have access to the ‘gold standard’ of a mix of development activities:

  • As a group and within targeted cohorts: training, workshops, structured proposal writing sessions and opportunities to build peer-to-peer support.
  • 1:1 support for scoping/identifying funding streams and planning/starting proposals.
  • Hands-on work to develop proposals through the scheme, including bid surgeries.

We will evaluate what’s been offered after the first pilot and tailor the requirement for future cohorts. The criteria for membership, expectations of membership, and the training and development timetable for the pilot of the RCDS can be found in the scheme document. Those wanting to participate in this great opportunity will need to submit an expression of interest to: researchdev@bournemouth.ac.uk stating:

  • Why they are applying to the RCDS
  • What (if any) Research Council Bidding experience they have to date
  • Which targeted cohort they consider themselves to be in: E, M or P
  • Do they have a funding proposal in development? If so, to provide details of the proposal (this is not essential to be a member)

Please submit your expression of interest by 9th February 2018. RKEO will then send a membership agreement form to potential members, where they will agree to attend the training sessions and submit proposals to the research councils. At this stage, potential members will need to seek approval from their line manager and Faculty DDRPP.

Please read through the Scheme document and if any clarification is required then contact Jo Garrad, Funding Development Manager, RKEO. This pilot is a fantastic opportunity to accelerate your research council funding track record.

 

 

The Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework is changing!

BU research, Events, Research Training, RKE development framework, Training

To enhance the researcher development workshops available to BU’s academics, the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office is making some changes to the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework (RKEDF), in consultation with senior faculty staff.

BU academics wishing to find out more about these exciting developments should refer to their internal Faculty Blogs for more details.

Make sure that you don’t miss out on these career-enhancing opportunities!

SPSS Training in early 2018 – Book now to secure your place

Events, Research Training, RKE development framework, Training

At the core of all quantitative research at BU are skills with mathematics and statistics.

In these introductory two-day workshops, we will learn the fundamental concepts of statistics and quantitative analysis with the help of SPSS.  This is a hands-on programme with statistical analysis designed to help you make the most of the SPSS application to aid your own research and facilitate support of student researchers. You will not need any previous experience with SPSS or statistics.

The RKEO ‘Statistical Analysis with SPSS’ two-day programmes are aimed at faculty staff who would like to learn more about quantitative statistical analysis for their own research purposes or are supervising students undertaking a quantitative research project.

The introductory 2-day programme is designed to assist faculty staff who have no prior knowledge of quantitative statistics and do not have experience with a statistical application like SPSS, or who do not routinely work with this type of data.

Depending on attendees prior experience, planned content includes the following:

  • Introduction to SPSS and statistical analysis.
  • Managing and manipulating data in SPSS.
  • Introducing null hypothesis significance testing and p-values.
  • Normality testing.
  • T-test analysis.
  • ANOVAs
  • Correlation and Regression (time allowing)

The course comprises two sessions:

  • A two day beginner session – 12th and 13th February 2018
  • A two day intermediate session – 23rd and 24th April 2018

Please book onto the session which is most appropriate for your needs or both. If you are unsure of which route is best for you, please contact the session facilitator, whose details are given on the internal booking information page.

Each session is limited to 20 attendees but there will be a reserve list maintained so that demand for future sessions can be demonstrated.

These sessions are for BU academics and researchers only.

Students who are studying for a PhD/MRes should not use these workshops, but rather book places on the dedicated PhD quantitative analysis and SPSS workshops via the Doctoral College Researcher Development Programme.

 

Opportunity for a BU academic to lead an internal networking group

Research Training, RKE development framework, Training

As part of the RKEDF, RKEO are setting up a new networking group for BU’s Early Career Researchers. As part of this initiative, there is an opportunity for two experienced and research-active BU academics to provide the academic leadership for this new group, as lead and deputy. The network will be fully supported by RKEO.

The network has a number of indicative delivery aims:

  • Cross-disciplinary and cross-Faculty networking opportunities
  • Peer support
  • Dissemination of pertinent information (e.g. relevant funding opportunities)
  • A new annual ECR research showcase event allowing ECRs to present their research and develop further collaborative opportunities, to be hosted by the lead and deputy

This initiative will further support academic citizenship, as part of BU’s commitment to the Vitae Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.

If you believe that you have the attributes and experience as well as the desire to help encourage and develop the next generation of research-active academics at BU, please email your brief expression of interest to RKEO by Thursday, 25th January. The final selection will be made, collectively, by the DDRPPs.

Further information about this new BU network will also be forthcoming for those who wish to participate as members.

 

RKEDF Event – Intellectual Property considerations when approaching industry to undertake a research collaboration

BU Challenges, BU research, RKE development framework, Training

This workshop will cover what should be considered about Intellectual Property (IP) when establishing links with industry for research purposes.  Included in the conversation will be background IP, protecting work by copyright and techniques and available tools for sharing future (foreground) IP that may result from research.  A pragmatic view will be presented and informal advice will be offered to attendees.

The intended learning outcomes of this session are:

  • Attendees will learn more about IP and why it is important
  • Attendees will learn methods to engage with industry in relation to IP
  • Attendees will gain insight into the implications of not having formalised agreements in place
Title Date Time Location
Intellectual Property considerations… Wednesday 31st January 2018 12.00 – 13.00 Talbot Campus

To book a place on this event please click here. If you wish to find out more about this event, do get in touch with Ehren Milner (emilner@bournemouth.ac.uk).

SPSS Training in early 2018 – Book now to secure your place

Events, Research Training, RKE development framework, Training

In these introductory two-day workshops, we will learn the fundamental concepts of statistics and quantitative analysis with the help of SPSS.  This is a hands-on programme with statistical analysis designed to help you make the most of the SPSS application to aid your own research and facilitate support of student researchers. You will not need any previous experience with SPSS or statistics.

The RKEO ‘Statistical Analysis with SPSS’ two-day programmes are aimed at faculty staff who would like to learn more about quantitative statistical analysis for their own research purposes or are supervising students undertaking a quantitative research project.

The introductory 2-day programme is designed to assist faculty staff who have no prior knowledge of quantitative statistics and do not have experience with a statistical application like SPSS, or who do not routinely work with this type of data.

Depending on attendees prior experience, planned content includes the following:

  • Introduction to SPSS and statistical analysis.
  • Managing and manipulating data in SPSS.
  • Introducing null hypothesis significance testing and p-values.
  • Normality testing.
  • T-test analysis.
  • ANOVAs
  • Correlation and Regression (time allowing)

The course comprises two sessions:

  • A two day beginner session – 12th and 13th February 2018
  • A two day intermediate session – 23rd and 24th April 2018

Please book onto the session which is most appropriate for your needs or both. If you are unsure of which route is best for you, please contact the session facilitator, whose details are given on the internal booking information page.

Each session is limited to 20 attendees but there will be a reserve list maintained so that demand for future sessions can be demonstrated.

These sessions are for BU academics and researchers only.

Students who are studying for a PhD/MRes should not use these workshops, but rather book places on the dedicated PhD quantitative analysis and SPSS workshops via the Doctoral College Researcher Development Programme.

SPSS Training in early 2018 – Book now to secure your place

Events, RKE development framework, Training

At the core of all quantitative research at BU are skills with mathematics and statistics.

In these introductory two-day workshops, we will learn the fundamental concepts of statistics and quantitative analysis with the help of SPSS.  This is a hands-on programme with statistical analysis designed to help you make the most of the SPSS application to aid your own research and facilitate support of student researchers. You will not need any previous experience with SPSS or statistics.

The RKEO ‘Statistical Analysis with SPSS’ two-day programmes are aimed at faculty staff who would like to learn more about quantitative statistical analysis for their own research purposes or are supervising students undertaking a quantitative research project.

The introductory 2-day programme is designed to assist faculty staff who have no prior knowledge of quantitative statistics and do not have experience with a statistical application like SPSS, or who do not routinely work with this type of data.

Depending on attendees prior experience, planned content includes the following:

  • Introduction to SPSS and statistical analysis.
  • Managing and manipulating data in SPSS.
  • Introducing null hypothesis significance testing and p-values.
  • Normality testing.
  • T-test analysis.
  • ANOVAs
  • Correlation and Regression (time allowing)

The course comprises two sessions:

  • A two day beginner session – 12th and 13th February 2018
  • A two day intermediate session – 23rd and 24th April 2018

Please book onto the session which is most appropriate for your needs or both. If you are unsure of which route is best for you, please contact the session facilitator, whose details are given on the internal booking information page.

Each session is limited to 20 attendees but there will be a reserve list maintained so that demand for future sessions can be demonstrated.

These sessions are for BU academics and researchers only.

Students who are studying for a PhD/MRes should not use these workshops, but rather book places on the dedicated PhD quantitative analysis and SPSS workshops via the Doctoral College Researcher Development Programme.

 

 

Wanted! External Bid Writers

Research Training, RKE development framework, Training

As part of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework, Bournemouth University is expanding its pool of external research funding application expertise.

If you have worked with a good bid writer or, as an external subscriber to this blog, you have written successful research funding applications, please contact us in the Research & Knowledge Exchange Office.

We are particularly interested in those who can provide short courses, one-to-one support, bid writing retreats, application review or a range of these, and related, activities.

Examples of key funders include:

  • British Academy
  • European Commission funds including Horizon 2020
  • Innovate UK
  • Leverhulme Trust
  • National Institutes of Health and other US Federal funders
  • Research Councils
  • Royal Society
  • Wellcome Trust

We look forward to hearing from you.

Academics! Book your place now for the ‘Engaging with policy makers’ session next Thursday

BU research, Events, policy, Research communication, RKE development framework, Training

Need any help with understanding how to use your research to influence public policy? Looking for support and guidance on how to effectively engage with policy makers?

Policy-makers often use research evidence to help inform policies and solutions for issues that affect everyone on a daily basis. They can incorporate a range of individuals, including those who are elected into political positions, civil servants who work in government departments or those working in professional governing bodes, meaning there are a variety of ways in which research can lead to influencing policy.

Research can be particularly influential in policy making as it could provide the basis for an evidence-based change or amendment to legislation. This can be a very powerful way of developing research impact, but it can also be a very complex process.

Join us at next week’s session with BU’s Policy Advisor, Jane Forster, who will help you develop an understanding of the process of influencing public policy and how to use your research to influence policy makers as part of the Research & Knowledge Exchange Development Framework.

Title Date Time Location
Engaging with policy makers Thursday 16th November 2017 10.00 – 12.00 Talbot Campus

By the end of the session, you should have a good understanding of and feel confident to use your research to engage and influence policy makers effectively in order to develop your research impact.

Book your place here!

#Vitaechat 19 October, 12-1pm – ‘What every researcher needs to know’

BU research, PG research, Research Training, Training

Focus-on: Getting started – ‘What every researcher needs to know’

Join the #vitaechat on Thursday 19 October from 12 until 1pm and find out more about:

  • what first steps should be taken when undertaking your PhD or starting a new postdoc role
  • managing supervisor/PI relationships
  • planning your research project
  • identifying your typical milestones
  • prioritising your development opportunities
  • when best to start thinking about your post-PhD career

This is a good opportunity to gain essential tips and understand what to expect next from experts who have been on a similar journey.  What’s even better is that you don’t even have to leave your desk!

Register here.

Vitae Mentoring for Researcher Developers Pilot

Research Training, Training, Vitae

Call for mentors and mentees

Do you want to enhance the career and professional development of researcher developers? Would you like to be a mentor for other researcher developers? If so, please sign up below.

Or perhaps you have identified areas you wish to develop to take your career one step further? Are you spending all your time developing others and not thinking about your own career and development needs? If so, why not sign up to be a mentee?

If you wish to be either a mentor or a mentee in Vitae’s Mentoring for Researcher Developers pilot please fill in your details by going to our sign up form: https://sumac.ac.uk/account/vitae/scheme/202  

Purpose of the scheme:

  • To enable researcher developers, or those with a role in developing researchers, to enhance continuing professional development opportunities, consider their careers in a broader context or focus on particular areas they would like to develop further. 

Benefits for mentors, mentees, the organisation and the sector

  • Mentors can share their expertise and experience with mentees to help in reviewing their individual competency levels using CFRD
  • Mentors can help mentees in identifying and working on areas for development
  • Increasing mentor and mentee organisation’s capacity to provide researcher development
  • Enhancing the quality of researcher development provision
  • Improving professionalism in researcher development
  • Broadening mentor and mentee networks
  • Informing individuals, organisations and the sector of training needs of researcher developers

The pilot mentoring programme will run for approximately 12 months and although it officially started in mid June 2017, the call is still active.  You would be expected to be in contact for approximately 6-12 hours during the duration of the programme – times to be agreed with the pairing once a match is made.

If you have any queries about the pilot please contact Jen Reynolds at: jen.reynolds@vitae.ac.uk

REF & TEF: the connections – 11th October 2017

BU Challenges, BU research, Centre for Excellence in Learning, conferences, Events, Guidance, Info Days, Publishing, REF Subjects, Research assessment, Research communication, Research news, Training

The outcomes of this year’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the direction for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) as set out in the 2017 consultation response are likely to have significant implications for the higher education sector.  The links between research and teaching are likely to become ever more important, but set against the context of increasing emphasis on student experience, how should the sector respond and where should it focus?

REF & TEF: the connections will be hosted at Bournemouth University and will bring together some of the leading experts in higher education in both research and teaching policy.  During the morning, attendees will have the opportunity hear from experts from across the higher education sector, as they share their insights into the importance of the links between teaching and research.  The afternoon will feature a number of case studies with speakers from universities with a particularly good record of linking research and  teaching.

Speakers confirmed to date include Kim Hackett, REF Manager and Head of Research Assessment, HEFCE and John Vinney Bournemouth University, William Locke University College London, Professor Sally Brown Higher Education Academy.

For more information or to book on visit: https://reftef.eventbrite.co.uk

British Council Research Links Workshops

Events, international, Research news, Research Training, Training

As well as the opportunities to apply for funding from the Researcher Links Programme, there is also the possibility of attending the workshops that are supported by this funding.

Current opportunities are:

Enhancing regional water security in semi-arid regions through improved metropolitan design

  • Date of workshop: 14–17 November 2017
  • Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
  • Application deadline: 18 August 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here.   

Developing an agenda for Fintech research in emerging economies

  • Date of workshop: 31 October-2 November 2017
  • Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Application deadline: 20 August 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here .

Role of small holder agroforestry systems in the arid and semi-arid region in combating climate change

  • Date of workshop: 18-21 December 2017
  • Location: Kisumu, Kenya
  • Application deadline: 30 August 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here

India-UK Workshop on Thermoelectric Materials for Waste-Heat Harvesting

  • Date of workshop: 8-10 January 2018
  • Location: Bangalore, India
  • Application deadline: 1 September 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here.

Workshop on Increasing Climate Resilience of Urban Infrastructure 

  • Date of workshop: 15-17 January 2018
  • Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Application deadline: 14 September 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here . 

India-UK Workshop on Working at the Chemistry Microbiology Interface to Develop New Antibiotics   

  • Date of workshop: 14-18 December 2017
  • Location: Bengaluru, India
  • Application deadline: 15 September 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links match-funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here .  

Phytomedical Compounds For Diabetes And Diabetes-Related Complications (DRC)

  • Date of workshop: 12-16 December 2017
  • Location: Mexico City, Mexico
  • Application deadline: 18 September 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here  

Localising strategies for making cities resilient to disasters

  • Date of workshop: 22-26 January 2018
  • Location: De La Salle University, Philippines
  • Application deadline: 30 September 2017
  • Programme: Newton Fund Researcher Links
  • Eligibility and further information can be found here  

 

Further workshops will be promoted by the British Council.

 

 

 

RKEO Academic and Researcher Induction

BU research, Events, Research Training, Training

The Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) invite all ‘new to BU’ academics and researchers to an induction.

Signpost with the words Help, Support, Advice, Guidance and Assistance on the direction arrows, against a bright blue cloudy sky.This event provides an overview of all the practical information staff need to begin developing their research plans at BU, using both internal and external networks; to develop and disseminate research outcomes; and maximising the available funding opportunities.

Objectives

  • The primary aim of this event is to raise participants’ awareness of how to get started in research at BU or, for more established staff, how to take their research to the next level
  • To provide participants with essential, practical information and orientation in key stages and processes of research and knowledge exchange at BU

Indicative content

  • An overview of research at BU and how R&KEO can help/support academic staff
  • The importance of horizon-scanning, signposting relevant internal and external funding opportunities and clarifying the applications process
  • How to grow a R&KE portfolio, including academic development schemes
  • How to develop internal and external research networks
  • Key points on research ethics and developing research outputs
  • Getting started with Knowledge Exchange and business engagement

For more information about the event, please see the following link: https://staffintranet.bournemouth.ac.uk/workingatbu/staffdevelopmentandengagement/rolecareerdevelopment/academiccareerdevelopment/rkeoinduction/

The seventh induction will be held on Wednesday, 27th September 2017 on the 4th floor of Melbury House.

Title Date Time Location
Research & Knowledge Exchange Office (R&KEO) Research Induction Wednesday 27th September 2017 9.00 – 12.00 Lansdowne Campus

9.00-9.15 – Coffee/tea and cake/fruit will be available on arrival

9.15 – RKEO academic induction (with a break at 10.45)

11.25 – Organisational Development upcoming development opportunities

11.30 – Opportunity for one to one interaction with RKEO staff

12.00 – Close

There will also be literature and information packs available.

If you would like to attend the induction then please book your place through Organisational Development and you can also visit their pages here. We will directly contact those who have started at BU in the last five months.

We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you.

Regards,

The RKEO teamRKEO