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Lastest Major Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

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

EPSRC is inviting outline proposals for its call  Novel Manufacturing Instrumentation. This call provides an opportunity for the development of novel manufacturing instrumentation to improve existing processes and develop new capabilities. The principal outputs of research projects funded through this call will be bespoke equipment. The closing date for outlines is 15/05/14. 

EPSRC through the Research Councils UK Energy Programme Supergen Fuel Cells Challenge is looking to support projects that help address the key research challenges that underpin the deployment of Fuel Cell Technologies. These areas are: Degradation and Failure, Electrodes and Interfaces, Sensors and Diagnostics, and Fuel Flexibility. There is up to £5M available to support projects submitted in response to this call. Register by 16:00 on 23/05/14 with applications submitted by 16:00 on 03/07/14.

ESRC has announced the call for outline proposals for their 2014/15 Centres and Large Grants Competition. This competition is aimed at experienced researchers who require longer-term or extended support for research groups, inter-institutional research networks, project-linked programmes, medium-to-large surveys, other infrastructure or methodological developments, or any related larger-scale projects. They welcome applications of excellent quality in any area of social science. This year’s competition also has two specific strategic steers, on ‘The Future of Higher Education’ and on ‘Sustainable Prosperity’, which sit alongside the normal open element of the call. To facilitate the new interdisciplinary relationships and networks that may be required to address the ‘Sustainable Prosperity’ steer, it is strongly advised that potential applicants attend the information and consortium-building event being held in central London on 28 April 2014. The competition is for proposals ranging from £2 million to £10 million. Outline proposals are to be submitted via Je-S by 16.00 on 05/06/14. Invited full applications will be required in late September 2014.

The Energy Catalyst, to successfully address the energy ‘trilemma’ of low carbon, security of supply and affordability, has been established by the Technology Strategy Board, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Funding up to £25m is available for the first round, opening in May 2014. Awards are available for Early-stage award: Technical feasibility , Mid-stage award: Technology development and Late-stage award: Pre-commercial technology validation. The Energy Catalyst welcomes proposals from any sector and is seeking to fund the best concepts and innovative technologies from any UK business or research organisation. Please check the specific award category for deadlines.
 
The Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are investing up to £2.5m in feasibility studies to accelerate commercial applications in the novel material, graphene. It will include related carbon-based, two-dimensional nanotechnologies that have recently emerged from the science base. The competition, Reaslising the Graphine Revolution, will invest in projects that explore the realistic potential of graphene to yield new products that could disrupt markets. The funders expect them to stimulate development of a robust and competitive supply base to support the nascent graphene-using industry. Registration closes on 28/05/14 and the deadline for receipt of applications is noon on 04/06/14. A briefing for potential applicants will be held on 24/04/14.
 

The Technology Strategy Board and the Welsh Government are to invest up to £8m in single-company and collaborative R&D projects to support the UK’s burgeoning regenerative medicine and cell therapy industry. This competition, Advancing regenerative medicines and cell therapies, will focus on the preclinical testing, clinical development and manufacture of regenerative medicines and cell therapies, and the development of associated underpinning tools and technologies. A briefing event and webinar for potential applicants will be held in London on 10/06/14.  Applicants must register by 09/07/14 with the deadline for expressions of interest being noon on 16/07/14.  

The Wellcome Trust scheme, Science Learning+ , aims to make a transformational step to improve the knowledge base and practice of informal science experiences, to better understand, strengthen and coordinate their vital role in science engagement and learning. Phase 1: Planning Grants (2014) is now open. This supports Short-term Planning Grants of up to £70 000 to enable groups of people and organisations in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and/or the USA to meet with each other and develop ideas and strategies. The funder aims to support up to ten Planning Grants in phase 1 and it may be that applicants in receipt of separate grants coalesce to develop collaborations together for application to phase 2, with The Wellcome Trust possibly facilitating this process. The deadline for phase 1 is 10/07/14.

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.

Last week in HE…

Monday

International

Universities across the world fear the “commodification and commercialisation of education”, according to a new survey. “They express concern about equal access to international opportunities for all students and about the commodification and commercialisation of education,” the IAU’s report says. 1,300 universities, one shared fear: the commodification of education (THE)

While Camille Kandiko Howson argues that as “global competition for international students is growing – the UK needs to start treating them as people and learners, not numbers.” Drop in foreign student numbers: are UK universities too complacent? (Guardian HE)

Fees

The Telegraph are a little late in covering this ongoing story. Six in 10 students will have their debts written off (Telegraph)

HE expansion

David Willetts unveils plans to create new university campuses in areas identified as higher education “cold spots” such as Shrewsbury. New universities could revive county towns, says minister (Telegraph)  

Discrimination

Nearly 60 per cent of black and minority ethnic higher education staff and students questioned for a survey feel they have been discriminated against. Race discrimination in universities still a problem, reports survey (THE) 

Tuesday

The Financial Times and City AM have today criticised the Government immigration policy saying that they are ‘closing the door’ on international students. The FT argues, “cutting back student visas as a quick fix to an arbitrary migration target hurts the economy and will ultimately increase costs for domestic undergraduates. This is an act of national self-harm that Britain can ill-afford.”

Disabled students’ funding

NUS’ national conference has got underway today by claiming that David Willetts is “arrogant and out of touch” in seeking “unfair” cuts to disabled students’ funding. NUS blasts David Willetts over changes to disabled students’ support (THE)

Discrimination

More than half of black and ethnic minority lecturers and staff believe they have suffered racial discrimination at university, according to new research. Universities are racist, say ethnic minority staff   (Independent)

Wednesday

Ed Miliband is to promise to put powerful “city-region” government at the heart of a Labour attempt to rebalance growth in the UK, claiming his plan represents “the biggest economic devolution of power to England’s great towns and cities in a hundred years”. Miliband is to write to the leaders of every council, university and LEP asking them to draw up joint plans to boost growth and private sector jobs in their regions. Ed Miliband: Labour will use English devolution to rebalance UK growth (Guardian)

International

Ministers’ efforts to increase education exports comes at a time of intense scrutiny over the appeal of UK universities and schools  to overseas customers, says the FT. Visa rules in the spotlight as overseas student numbers fall (FT) This follows the news that UK skills providers have won contracts, worth more than £1bn, to run 16 further education colleges in Saudi Arabia helped by a government unit designed to boost exports of UK education. Saudis pay over £1bn to enrol British further education expertise (FT)

Moocs

Online university providers, which offered people the chance to study from home, are turning full circle by creating a network of learning centres where students can meet and study together. Online students can’t help being sociable (BBC)

Thursday

Libby Hackett features in today’s Financial Times calling for a return to post-study work visas for international students. She says that, “we are losing international students to competing nations, such as Canada and Australia, due to the UK’s restrictive policy on post-study work visas.” Letters: Bring post-study work visas back (FT)
Yvette Cooper, the shadow Home Secretary, will set out her “progressive” vision for immigration to the UK today, pledging that Labour would safeguard growth sectors such as higher education from any immigration cap. Labour to leave students out of immigration cap (FT)

Student loans

Repayment: The majority of undergraduates now at university will be paying off their student loans well into their 40s and 50s, with three-quarters of them unable to clear the debt before it is written off after 30 years, according to an analysis published today by the Sutton Trust and IFS.

·         Three in four graduates will be paying off student loans until their 50s (Daily Mail)

·         Most students will still be paying off their loans when they are 50 (Guardian)

·         Professionals will be paying off tuition fees for decades (Times)

·         Thunderer: Middle earners will pay most in this student loan mess (Times)

·         73% of today’s students will still be paying off their tuition fees in their 50s  (Independent)

·         Students will be paying off loans into their 50s, study warns (Telegraph)

Change to budgeting rules: The government has changed the budgeting rules for student loans to allow for unpredictability in forecast repayments, saying the change is designed to “incentivise” control over loan spending. One expert suggested that the development showed spending rules could be tweaked, potentially offering scope for a major change such as the introduction of a graduate tax. Budgeting rules adjusted to manage costs of student loans (THE)

Politics

Michael Gove: The minister hopes to sink his teeth into higher education but his political stock is falling, argues Christopher Prendergast. Michael Gove: the wolf of Whitehall (THE)

Sector

Higher Education Academy: The future of the HEA looks uncertain after the UK’s funding councils decided to withdraw support for the champion of university teaching. HEA future unclear as councils cut off the cash (THE)

Marketisation: The THE looks at whether UK higher education is any closer to a genuine market and concluded, not really. There’s still no such thing as a higher education market (THE)

Referendum: Ferdinand von Prondzynski ponders possible outcomes should Scotland opt for independence. Countdown to the Scottish referendum (THE)

Recruitment

Student: Volatile student recruitment in England has benefited more selective universities and “disadvantaged” others with lower entry standards, HEFCE has said. Recruitment trends favour the selective (THE)

Leadership: Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, features in this THE piece looking at the recruitment of university leaders. Beyond naked power (THE)

Connecting research and growth

Research excellence: UK academics could have their research assessed alongside scholars from Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong under plans being considered by HEFCE. Hefce looks at overseas links for research excellence (THE)

Employability and skills

Higher apprenticeships: The growth of higher apprenticeships – where people taken on by employers can simultaneously study to bachelor’s and master’s degree level – could be a “major opportunity” for universities if they grab the initiative but could be a threat if they do not. Universities risk missing out on higher apprenticeships (THE)

Education system: The UK education system has become too focussed on youngsters automatically being channelled towards going to university, the Duke of York told a conference of newspaper editors. Duke of York says education system has become too centred on university degrees (Independent)

Friday

The Science and Technology Committee have released their report into internal STEM students. They have accused the Government of taking a “contradictory” stance towards encouraging international students to study in UK universities. On the one hand, the Prime Minister says there is a need for net migration to “come down radically from hundreds of thousands a year”. Yet, on the other, it has stated that “it is realistic for numbers of international students in higher education to grow by 15 to 20 per cent over the next five years.”

In addition Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, has said yesterday that businesses were unable to access the skills they need and thousands of fee-paying foreign students were being deterred from going to British universities.

 

Drop In Sessions for users of ResearchPAD

Now that ResearchPAD, our new Postgraduate Research online management system is Live, you may have questions about using it.  The Graduate School has organised a number of drop-in sessions, so please come along and speak to Tony Furbank who will be on-hand to answer any questions you may have:

Date Time Venue
Tuesday 15 April 2014 9.30 am – 12.30 pm S103 – Studland House
Wednesday 16 April 2014 9.30 am – 12.30 pm C124 – Christchurch House
Wednesday 23 April 2014 2 pm – 5 pm S102 – Studland House
Thursday 24 April 2014 2 pm – 5 pm C124 – Christchurch House
Wednesday 7 May 2014 9.30 am – 12.30 pm C124 – Christchurch House
Wednesday 8 May 2014 2 pm – 5 pm S102 – Studland House

No booking required.

If you have any questions, please email ResearchPAD@bournemouth.ac.uk

 

PGR Workshop – Developing Professional Researcher Networks

PG research

There are places still available on this workshop……..

Developing Professional Researcher Networks – Facilitated by Margaret Collins

The aim of this workshop is to give PhD students skills to conduct effective professional networking conversations and to use networking as a tool for developing their professional networks. Networking is recognised by established researchers and Academics as an essential tool for career development and professional advancement.  In contrast, research reveals that many Early Career Researchers feel very uncertain about networking, in respect to both the practical “how to do it” issues and the underlying, often values-based questions “Why it is important ?” and “Should I be doing this?”.

We will address various aspects of networking and develop the appropriate physical and mental skills necessary to improve our skill set in confident networking techniques.

Progress will be made through discussions and group exercises to develop essential skills, build confidence and overcome anxiety or blocks to performance.

As a result of this workshop participants will:

  • Increase their understanding of the professional importance of networking
  • Improve their ability to communicate confidently in networking conversations
  • Understand the importance of body language in effective communication
  • Have tools to deal with stress or anxiety related to networking
  • Have strategies to develop collaborations or increase visibility

WHEN: Tuesday 29 April 2014 : WHERE: K103 – Kimmeridge House, Talbot Campus

Registration is via myBU – Graduate School PGR Community – Please remember that you will need to log on with your student username and password.

CEL Seminar – Putting different forms of knowledge to work in practice: conceptual issues, pedagogical strategies and enduring challenges.

A Centre for Excellence in Learning [CEL] Seminar is taking place on Wednesday 18th June 2014, 10:00-12:00 on Lansdowne Campus.

Professor Karen Evans, Chair in Education, Institute of Education, University of London will be facilitating the seminar on Putting different forms of knowledge to work in practice: conceptual issues, pedagogical strategies and enduring challenges.

 For more information and to book on please visit the Staff Development and Engagement Pages on the Staff Internet.

 

Pedagogic fusion bids

Funding opportunities, Fusion

Dear colleagues

Following the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Learning on April 4th, I am pleased to invite colleagues to apply for a pedagogic specific round of fusion investment funding. The projects are a mixture of fair access and CEL themes with the opportunity to bid for a total of 8 projects. The timescale is tight as the money must be spent before the end of July 2014, although the project activity can carry on beyond that. Submission of bids needs to be by 12.00 on May 2nd so the awards can be made by mid-May. For briefing on the scope of the projects and application form, please go to https://staffintranet.bournemouth.ac.uk/fusion/fusioninvestmentfund/centreforexcellenceinlearning/

 I hope to see interest in this opportunity as it is an important demonstration of the value placed by BU on education development, innovation and research.

Gail

Professor B. Gail Thomas

Director of CEL & Dean of HSC

Bournemouth University

 

Media Skills: What Journalists Want Workshop

A Media Skills: What Journalist Want Workshop is taking place on Tuesday 15th April 2014, 14:00-15:30 on Lansdowne Campus.

This workshop is designed for members of staff who are thinking about utilising media as a part of their work.
What sort of stories they are after, what BU has to offer and how you can help to give journalists what they want.
The session will be run by the Press and PR team, who will give examples of previous stories and current practices used to get BU into the press.

 For more information and to book on please visit the Staff Development and Engagement Pages on the Staff Intranet.

BIS Select Committee Inquiry into University-Business Collaboration

Following the Government’s recent response to the Witty Review of Universities and Growth, the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee has announced an inquiry into university-business collaboration.

The closing date for this Call for Evidence is Wednesday 23 April 2014.

If you would like to contribute to BU and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s joint submission to the Committee, please email your thoughts and comments to Colette Cherry by Weds 16 April. They are inviting responses to the following questions:

The strengths and weaknesses of business-university collaboration in the UK and the UK’s performance against international comparators

1. What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the UK’s innovation system in relation to business-university collaboration?

2. How competitive is business-university collaboration in the UK against relevant international comparators?

Effectiveness of Government initiatives to support innovation through business-university collaboration

3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Catapult Centre model of business-university collaboration?  What areas of research should future Catapult Centres focus on?

4. What steps can be taken to improve the uptake of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), particularly among SMEs?

Funding

5. Recent BIS analysis found that the UK exhibits “a sustained, long-term pattern of under-investment in public and private research and development and publicly funded innovation”.   How does this affect business-university collaboration in the UK?

6. Will the changes to Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF), proposed in the Witty Review, be successful in increasing university engagement with innovative SMEs?

7. What has been the effect of including commercial ‘impact’ criteria in REF assessments, and should the weighting increase to 25% as suggested in the Witty Review?

8. Will the Government’s focus on the ‘eight great technologies’, as described in the industrial strategy, help to attract inward investment?

9. To what extent is this focus compatible with and complementary to the European Strategy for Key Enabling Technologies?

Local Growth agenda

10. Are Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) (and their counterparts in the rest of the UK)  investing as much as they could in innovation and R&D?

11. How can LEPs, universities and Government encourage greater regional R&D investment?

12. How should LEPs direct their allocation of European Structural and Investment Funds in order to maximise increases in R&D output?

13. To what extent will the new University Enterprise Zones encourage business university collaboration?

Congratulations and Good Luck

March saw an increase in the level of activity for bids being submitted and awards being won with congratulations due to Schools/Faculty for winning research and consultancy contracts.

For the Business School, congratulations to Dean Patton for his short course with the Guernsey Training Agency, and to Huiping Xian, grants academy member Fabian Homberg and Davide Secchi for their short course with Hubei Star Around Universe Culture Exchange Company.  Good luck to Ke Rong with his ESRC application, and to Milena Bobeva and Richard Berger (Media School) for their contract to the Higher Education Academy.

For HSC, congratulations are due to Caroline Ellis for her short course on appreciative inquiry masterclass, to Peter Thomas for his consultancy with Poole Hospital NHS Trust, and to Bernie Edwards for two short courses both with Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.  Good luck to Ann Hemingway for her application to Alcohol Research UK to carry out a case study on alcohol harm and licensing density, to Clive Andrewes and Sarah Gallimore for their short course with Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to Anthea Innes and Damien Fay (SciTech) for their application to the EPSRC, and to Keith Brown for his contract to Hampshire County Council.

For MS, congratulations to Iain MacRury for his consultancy with Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.  Good luck to Lihua You for his application to the British Academy, to Julian McDougall for his application to UK Literacy Association, to grants academy member Anna Feigenbaum for her contract to NESTA and her application to Antipode Foundation, to grants academy members Jenny Alexander, Caroline Hodges, Dan Jackson and Richard Scullion for their application to AHRC, to Chindu Sreedharan, Ana Adi and Richard Berger for their application to the ESRC on initiating and supporting collaborative learning through community writing for children and teachers in Indian and Nepalese schools.

For the Faculty of Science and Technology, congratulations are due to Paola Palma for three short courses, to Gary Underwood for his consultancy with North Sea Systems, to Siamak Noroozi and Philip Sewell for their short course with EADS, and to Jonathan Monteith for his consultancy with Terence O’Rourke Plc.  Good luck to Feng Tian for his application to the Royal Society, to Lai Xu and Paul de Vrieze for their application to the Royal Society, to grants academy member Emilie Hardouin for her contract to the EC Erasmus Mundus, to Sine McDougall and Kevin Thomas for their application to the British Medical Association to research the impact of patient complications and errors on surgeons, to Hongnian Yu (leading on two) and Shuang Cang (Tourism – leading on one) for their three applications to the EC Erasmus Mundus, to Rob Britton for his application to Interreg, and to Nan Jiang for his consultancy to Grads for Growth.

For ST, congratulations to Jonathan Hibbert for his two consultancies with Bournemouth Borough Council and NHS Dorset, and to Keith Hayman for his consultancy with Corinthian Hotels.  Good luck to Miguel Moital for his EC Erasmus Mundus application.

The Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy

The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, recently contacted Bournemouth University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Vinney, in relation to a Commission on Digital Democracy .

The objective of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy is to consider, report and make recommendations on how parliamentary democracy in the United Kingdom can embrace the opportunities afforded by the digital world to become more effective in:

  • representing the people
  • making laws
  • scrutinising the work and performance of government
  • encouraging citizens to engage with democracy
  • facilitating dialogue amongst citizens 

BU is very keen to engage in this initiative, and we are currently reviewing the calls for evidence with the intention of making a submission over the next month or so. We are also hoping to organise a debate on campus exploring one or more of the Commission’s five themes:

  1. Making laws in a digital age – call launched
  2. Digital scrutiny – call launched
  3. Representation – call pending
  4. Engagement – call pending
  5. Encouraging dialogue among citizens – call pending

We will be setting up an initial scoping meeting to discuss BU’s contribution and if you are interested in participating in the project, please contact Colette Cherry giving your availability for the following dates:

  • Wednesday 23 April 1-3pm
  • Wednesday 23 April 3-5pm
  • Monday 28 April 1-3pm
  • Monday 28 April 3-5pm
  • Tuesday 29 April 1-3pm
  • Tuesday 29 April 3-5pm
  • Thursday 8 May 9-11am
  • Thursday 8 May 11am-1pm

BRAD – Upcoming Opportunities

Fusion, Grants Academy, R & KE Operations

 Public Engagement Workshop Wednesday 23rd April 2014, 11:00-12:30 Talbot Campus
This session will be facilitated by Barry Squires, Public Engagement & Impact Manager, Research and Knowledge Exchange will explore how public engagement is conceptualised,
how it is developing across the higher education sector and why engaging the public with your research is increasingly essential for your career.

 Impact in Research Workshop Wednesday 23rd April 2014, 09:30-11:00, Talbot Campus
This workshop will be facilitated by Dr Rebecca Edwards, Research Development Officer, Research and Knowledge Exchange will explore what we mean by impact and why it is an increasingly important part of your research career.

 Financial Management Workshop Wednesday 14th May 2014, 15:00-16:00, Lansdowne Campus
This workshop will cover several topics ranging from; financial management, income and funding budgeting, financial resourcing and strategic financial planning.
This workshop will be facilitated by Jennifer Roddis and Paul Lynch, Research and Knowledge Exchange.

For more information about the above workshops and to book on please visit the Staff Development and Engagement Pages on the Staff Intranet,

 

Making music

Today was the first session for our rehearsal for the BUDI orchestra. We (BUDI team and the BSO players) had no idea how this would pan out as this is the first time that we are aware of where people with dementia have been given the opportunity to work alongside orchestra musicians and to gain confidence/ relearn or to learn for the first time instruments. It was something of a leap of faith to try to do this based on a hunch I had that if people can come together as a choir could we not also do this as an orchestra? Anyway, I was completely humbled by the successful use of the creative skills of the BSO musicians and BUMusic scholars as they led an initiative for those living with dementia and their family members and support workers today. As a result I have decided to do a regularish piece on my observations of the process (not the actual research which we are doing as part of FIF grant) as the sessions progress that will then culminate in a BU FOL performance on the 14 June at the Winton Life Centre. The photo gives you an idea of what happened, and when our video clips become available I will post these, but it was amazing to experience people with dementia who had lost their musical skills or perhaps more accurately their confidence bringing their instruments – a double bass and mouthorgan and regaining their musical confidence to play alongside the professional musicians. And perhaps more amazing that some of our participants who had never touched a string instrument learn some notes and then play a piece, Bolero, together –  and some other classical piece that I had never heard of before (I am not a musician). I too managed to play a few notes on a violin, or maybe it was a viola, anyway the community musician knows his stuff and directed us all to enable the musicians to get us all to play something – and in relative harmony! Two of our BUMusic scholars, while a little hesitant initially, then took the initiative to lead some of the singing that was part of this initial rehearsal and again their skill in using their talents to engage and encourage the group was amazing to watch. I had the pleasure of being taught how to play a few notes (badly) on the double bass by one of our participants with dementia which was probably the best part of the morning for me. I have a soap box position that many will have heard before about how when someone has dementia it is possible to continue to learn new things and also for people with dementia to help us learn new things. Today was just another inspiring example of that.

BRAD Qualitative Research Workshop

Fusion, Publishing

A BRAD Qualitative Research Workshop is taking place tomorrow Wednesday 9th April 2014, 13:00-16:0 on Talbot Campus.

 This session is an introductory overview of qualitative research, including its background and development.  Immy Holloway will discuss the nature and key features of this approach, the main differences to quantitative research the types of research question which could be answered through it, and its main differences from quantitative enquiry.  

To book on to this event please visit the Staff Develeopment and Engagement Intranet pages.

EU news this week: What funding could you apply for?

Struggling to stay up to date with all the latest on European funding? Then read on for this handy summary of some of the latest resources available….

  • Missed the Horizon 2020 information day in London? Then visit the ESRC website for a raft of presentations!
  • Thinking  about the Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowships? Act now for the best chance of success! The next deadline is in September. Call details are on the EC website and for further support, please contact Becca Edwards
  • What does the EC want to see for its 70.2 billion euros? Get some insights from the update on the progress of the Europe 2020 policy.
  • UKRO is running an information session on the  Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND  call. For further details, please click here. The session will take place between 10.3oam-4pm in London. Further details about the COFUND call can be found on the European Commission website.  The EC says:  “Transnational mobility opens up new horizons for researchers. To encourage their movement across borders, Marie Curie Actions offer additional funding to existing or new regional and national fellowship programmes for research training and career development. This COFUND scheme can also support and strengthen existing and new international programmes”.
  • URKO annual conference. Book now! 26th/27th June in Bristol. They say: “Each year the UK Research Office (UKRO) organises a two-day Annual Conference aimed predominantly at European Liaison Officers, European research managers, Research Councils and policy makers. The conference provides an excellent forum for discussion and networking with key speakers from the European Commission on a range of EU policies and funding opportunities. 2014 is an important year for research organisations as everyone adapts to the changes brought about by Horizon 2020, Erasmus Plus and other new programmes. Furthermore, this year, UKRO is celebrating its 30th Anniversary and a special edition of the Annual Conference will be held on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 June in Bristol”.
  • What to know what the Horizon 2020 evaluators are looking for? Email Becca Edwards for the latest inside view.
  • Finding the online systems of Horizon 2020 a struggle? Then participate in this survey to make it better!
  • Working conditions and career development to be included in the H2020 grant agreement. Further details available from Vitae.
  • Interreg V:Launch of the public consultations. Further details on the Interreg V website

As ever, if you are looking for further support to develop your EU funding proposal, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Lynch or Rebecca Edwards in R&KEO.

Tags:

Does spinal manipulation change cervical inter-vertebral motion? – BritSpine 2014 conference presentation by Jonathan Branney

Awarded & submitted bids, PG research

Jonny, an HSC PhD student based at AECC has recently returned from the University of Warwick where he gave an oral presentation of his PhD findings, at the BritSpine conference. This was an opportunity to present his research on spinal manipulation and neck pain to eminent clinicians and researchers, and field questions from none less than the President of the British Association of Spinal Surgeons and the Chair of the United Kingdom Spine Societies Board – sigh of relief when they appeared to be happy with his answers!

This is the first time Jonny has presented his findings to a spine-research expert audience and this resulted in invaluable feedback that will inform not only future presentations, but his thesis too. It was only through the award of a Santander Mobility Award that Jonny was able to attend this prestigious conference – many thanks to the Graduate School and Santander Universities for making this attendance possible.

Jonny’s thesis is entitled, “An observational study of changes in cervical inter-vertebral motion and the relationship with patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing spinal manipulative therapy for neck pain”. He is supervised by Professors Alan Breen and Jenni Bolton, (AECC) and Dr Sarah Hean at BU, and the thesis is due for completion in the summer.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in whether spinal manipulation changes inter-vertebral motion, you might like to check out the conference abstract which was published in the European Spine Journal 23(Suppl 1): S128.

 

Christine Bosse – The Virtue of Leadership

On Friday 11 April, Christine Bosse will be visiting BU, and all staff are invited to hear her speak.

Christine is widely known in the public for her direct and no-nonsense communication and is enthusiastically engaged in the societal debate for a better and safer world. She is a role model for many aspiring young people as the highest ranking female CEO in Denmark and was appointed the 22nd most influential business woman in the world in 2009 and 2010 by the Financial Times.

During this event, Christine will reflect on her experience as a CEO and now also as chairwoman and board member. She will discuss: 

– How leadership has become more relevant in a complex and fast moving world

– That balancing the stakeholders is key to success 

– Responsibility going beyond law 

– Communication as a special topic

To book a place on this event, please go to the Staff Development and Engagement intranet pages.

Latest Major Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

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

The AAL Association is pleased to launch the 2014 call Care for the future. The 2014 Call Challenge of the AAL Programme aims at funding the development and testing of ICT-based solutions in real life situations which enable and support sustainable care models for older adults. The scope and the application modalities will be presented during the Info Day of the Call, which will take place on 16 April in Brussels. Closing date 26/06/14, 17:00 (CET)

AHRC has announced an open call inviting Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to attend the Connected Communities Festival on 1st and 2nd July and a Research Development Workshop on 3rd July aimed at supporting ECR-led co-produced research projects of relevance to the Connected Communities Programme.  Please note, attendees are normally expected to attend for at least three days, 1-3 July 2014, of the Festival in Cardiff. This call is open to early career researchers of post-doctoral (or equivalent) standing from a range of disciplines both within the arts and humanities and beyond, interested in contributing to the development of the Connected Communities Programme. Closing date 16:00 on 25/04/14

AHRC and the Design Council have been working in partnership over the past two years to demonstrate the key role design plays in creating economic benefits and social value in the UK, and to explore design research in UK universities and its connections with businesses and policymakers. They now wish to test some of these ideas in a study which will examine how businesses and public sector organisations in a particular location use design in their work, and what the impact of this is on their ability to innovate and their economic performance in the Bristol and Bath design research project. Funding of up to £750,000 is available on full economic costs basis with the AHRC meeting 80% of the FEC.  Awards should last between 12 to 24 months and will be overseen by an independent steering group, established by the AHRC and the Design Council.  Closing date 22/05/14.

As part of the BBSRC‘s 20th anniversary programme, the BBSRC is seeking to recognise the excellence of the UK bioscience research base as supported and championed by BBSRC  and to provide a platform to demonstrate their support and pride for the research community. As such the  BBSRC Anniversary Awards for Excellence in Bioscience and Bioscience Communication call is now open. These two awards will be awarded to up to four individual researchers, in recognition of outstanding scientific contributions to UK bioscience in fields within the BBSRC remit. An additional award will be made to an individual scientist or professional science communicator who has made a significant contribution by raising the level of debate about our bioscience research with the public. Up to £2,000 is available. Closing date 15/07/14 at 16:00.

BBSRC‘s FLexible Interchange Programme (FLIP) supports the movement of people from one environment to a different one to exchange knowledge/technology/skills, developing bioscience research/researchers and addressing our strategic priorities. FLIP awards provide flexible opportunities for individuals (“the interchangers”) moving between different organisations, disciplines and sectors at all stages in their career beyond the PhD (or equivalent). Closing date 16/07/14.

The EPSRC are supporting a number of Fellowships. From April 2013, a biannual process has been introduced with guidance in place to publicise the on-going refresh of thematic priority areas, aligned to fellowship start dates and the peer review process. Please refer to the Guidance for further details.

 NERC has announced an opportunity within the UK International Ocean Discovery Program (UKIODP) for Site Survey Investigations (SSIs) and requests outline proposals from the UK science community for Ship-borne Site Survey Investigations (SSIs) and ‘Virtual’ SSIs (desk-based SSIs using already collected geophysical data requiring no extra ship-time). Full proposals will be invited following outline proposal evaluation. Closing date for outline proposals: 02/09/14 and for full proposals: 02/012/14.

The Royal Society‘s Brian Mercer Award for Innovation scheme is for scientists who wish to develop an already proven concept or prototype into a near-market product ready for commercial exploitation. The scheme provides an award of up to £250,000 (including VAT where applicable). Awards are not expected to exceed 24 months in duration. Closing date 23/04/14.

Linked to this is the Royal Society‘s Brian Mercer Feasibility Award, which is a scheme is for scientists who wish to investigate the feasibility of commercialising an aspect of their research. The scheme provides an award of up to £30,000 (including VAT where applicable). Awards are not expected to exceed 12 months in duration. This scheme is currently open to applications.

The Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize 2014, in association with the ‘Guardian’ and the ‘Observer’, is now open. The winning articles from each category will be published in the ‘Guardian’ or the ‘Observer’. Winners will also receive a £1000 cash prize. Closing date 11/05/14.

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.

Last week’s HE headlines

Monday

Labour’s manifesto for next year’s election will include a pledge to scrap the coalition’s £9,000-a-year tuition fees and may replace it with a maximum of £6,000, Douglas Alexander has confirmed. Labour is still, however, to agree a long-term policy.

Information and guidance

A study by the consumer group Which? finds that tens of thousands of students did not attend any university open days before completing applications and half failed to consult lecturers about their course. Thousands of students do not research university before applying (Telegraph)

Private schools

Senior politicians are peddling “ignorant” myths about private schools and creating false barriers between the independent and state education system, the former headmaster of Harrow has warned. Private schools being undermined by ‘lazy stereotypes’ (Telegraph)

Tuesday

The pick of today is a piece in the THE, written by Liam Byrne (Shadow Minister for Universities and Skills). In the comment piece, Liam says that he will be setting out Labour’s funding plan in due course but “Ed Miliband has articulated a clear direction of travel on this: a core goal must be to bring down the levels of debt cancellation that are making the current system unsustainable.” Liam Byrne: ‘Funding system combines worst of a free-for-all and a money pit’ (THE)

Possible Conservative policy

Universities would have to apply new aptitude tests and cut the number of drop-outs in plans for a shake-up of the student loans system. Senior Conservatives are considering reforms that would reduce its cost and crack down on poor quality degrees. They include a new minimum qualification for students who qualify for taxpayer-backed loans and an end to the right to charge fees at institutions which see large numbers of students fail to finish courses or find well-paid jobs. Crackdown on dropouts to cut student loans: Tories consider reforms to reduce costs and tackle poor quality degrees (Daily Mail)

How have tuition fees affected students?

The Telegraph look at what affect the rise in tuition fees has had on students. The article says “fears that the higher rate of fees would put students off applying – particularly the very poorest – appear not to have materialised as degrees retain their value in the jobs market.” The final comment is somewhat surprising given the Telegraph rhetoric on graduate unemployment. How have tuition fees affected students? (Telegraph)

System reform 

Peter Scott argues that tinkering with the tuition fees system will not fix its problems. He says there “should be a fundamental rethink. The high-fees funding regime in higher education is sadly likely to be patched and mended rather than changed.” Opinion: Tinkering isn’t going to fix the failing fees system (THE)

Student representation

A report by NUS – on the changing nature of student leadership and its impact on the student experience – finds student officers now put their role as representatives far above their role as activists. Student union reps- happier in the boardroom than at the sit-in? (Guardian)

Best April Fool of the day (well hopefully it’s an April Fool) 

Students could be asked to wear gowns and mortarboards on campus in plans by education secretary Michael Gove to “restore rigour” to higher education, the THE has learned. Gowns and mortarboards ‘could be compulsory’ under Gove (THE)

Wednesday

As the debate on how we fund higher education continues to rumble on, University Alliance feature in two pieces setting out an alternative vision.
In the Guardian, and responding to the current controversy over the RAB charge, Libby Hackett says, “this is a really important issue that people tend to avoid because it is both technical and highly politicised. We need to consider some intelligent solutions that will deliver a more sustainable funding platform.” Tuition fees blunder: ‘there’s no need for this spiralling public cost’ (Guardian)
Writing in the Times, and responding to Labour’s £6,000 plan, Libby says, “fees of £6,000 may end up as a credible position but it is deeply worrying that Labour sees this as its starting point rather than the result of calculations based on a well-designed student finance and university funding system.” Big picture, small print in student loan jungle (Times)

Design&

Rob Law, Founder of Trunki and graduate of Northumbria University, features in an article promoting our Design& project. Northumbria University hailed as shining example in call for design focus (The Journal)

International students

A new analysis from HEFCE has found that the number of foreign students, recruited by universities, has dropped for the first time in three decades. We have today called for a reintroduction of two-year post study work visas.

Student satisfaction

Student satisfaction does not say much about the quality of education, says Joanna Williams. Labour’s manifesto needs to be more radical and push for intellectual challenge. Students are made to believe that ‘university is all about them’ (Guardian)

HE ‘errors’

Almost one in 10 university degrees claimed by graduates have “errors”, such as wrong grades or subjects, according to the agency which carries out checks for employers. The Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) says they also see degree certificates from bogus universities. Some errors could be honest mistakes, but there is also clear evidence of fraud, says HEDD’s Jayne Rowley. Degree checks ‘uncover grade fraud’ (BBC)

Skills and employability

John Longworth, DG of the BCC, has accused some universities of ‘losing the plot’ when it comes to preparing the future workforce. Britain told to prepare for ‘real austerity’: Warning over future from business leaders (This is Money)

Thursday

In the news today, figures published by UUK today reveal that Universities’ contribution to the UK’s economy has increased by 24%. UK higher education generates £73 billion for the economy and contributes 2.8 per cent of the UK’s total gross domestic product. This is reported in the Times Higher Education (THE), where Sir Christopher Snowden is quoted, “with the 2015 general election on the horizon, this report serves as a timely reminder to policymakers of universities’ growing impact on local communities, jobs and the wider economy” (THE).

University funding                                                       

  • UK universities should be allowed to charge higher tuition fees to students with wealthier backgrounds according to the Morton Schapiro, president of Northwestern University in Illinois (THE).
  • The London Evening Standard features journalist and economist Ann McElvoy criticising Labour’s policy proposal to charge £6,000 tuition fees saying, “everything speaks for the idea – except the facts”.

International students

  • An opinion piece by Ross Clark in The Times criticises the government for pursuing policies which have led to a decrease in the numbers of foreign students coming to Britain to study (The Times).
  • The Times reports that fees from Chinese students are being used by British universities to pay for new campuses and expansions. Vice Chancellors are reported to have said that the popularity of British universities amongst Chinese students is enabling growth during a time of austerity (The Times).

Research Assessment

HEFCE has been asked by David Willetts to review the role of metrics in research assessment. Professor James Wilsdon of the University of Sussex will chair the review, which will look at the role of metric based assessment in determining the quality, impact and other key characteristics of research undertaken in higher education. THE reports that the review could lead to research excellence framework assessments being less frequent (THE).

A report published yesterday by HEFCE looking at decision making has revealed that greater amounts of information does not necessarily mean that people will be better informed or be able to make better decisions. This is reported in THE, overwhelmed university applicants filter out information to cope (THE).

Friday

The main stories from Friday centred on the UUK report on the economic contribution of universities. British universities contribute £73bn to the economy in a year (Independent)

Also, the call by David Willetts to create university campuses in “cold spots”.

Minister proposes university campuses to revive towns (FT) 

N.B. All information is provided by University Alliance.