Blog Archives

Interested in Impact and Impact Case Studies…

Have a read of the top scoring impact case studies from the last REF (Research Excellence Framework) at: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/top-rated-impact-case-studies

Use of NECTAR…

We are currently in the process of implementing a Current Research Information System, named Pure, which will become the new platform that you engage with to upload your research outputs… And a whole lot more!

As part of this process, whilst the public facing side of NECTAR will remain, your use of it will come to an end!

I realise how busy you are with Waterside… So in a bid to make this an easier transition, from the 1st of August please do NOT put any items into NECTAR.

If you have a journal article or conference proceeding with an ISSN number that is accepted for publication from the 1st of August until Pure is launched, please email it to nectar@northampton.ac.uk and our team will ensure it is uploaded to meet HEFCE’s open access requirments for the REF (Research Excellence Framework). Please email as soon as it is accepted to allow our team adequate time to meet these requirements.

If you have any other research outputs accepted or published during this time, please hold on to them until Pure is launched! (Expected to launch late October).

Don’t be alarmed… Training will be given in how to use Pure – which is a much more user friendly platform than NECTAR in due course.

If you have any questions or concerns relating to this please email pure@northampton.ac.uk

The Research Support team will be wandering over to Waterside on the 1st of August… Our calendars are always up to date and open to all… So feel free to invite us to meetings at locations of your choice!

Many thanks

Dawn Hibbert

Head of Research Support

Research Support Centre – Coffee Morning

This will be our last Coffee Morning of the Academic year, drop in anytime between 10.30am-12pm on Wednesday, 20th June.  The RSB team will once again be on hand to help with any questions you may have and can offer support on funding applications and bidding or researcher development. Charlotte Patrick, Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager and Dawn Hibbert, Head of Research Support, LLS will also be joining the morning.  An ideal opportunity to find out more about working with businesses or LLS topics including the REF, Impact, Open Access and Research Data Management.

We will be hosting in our sunny conservatory in the Top Lodge Building on Park Campus.  Refreshments and lovely biscuits will also be on offer.

Coffee in blue cup and biscuits

 

Research Support Centre – Coffee Morning

Our Coffee Morning this month will be hosted from The Cottesbrooke Hub on the ground floor in the Faculty of Business and Law. Drop in anytime between 10.30am-12pm on Thursday, 17th May for a chat with the RSB team and find out about the funding opportunities and support we can provide. Charlotte Patrick, Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager will be on hand to offer her guidance and experience on working with businesses. Nick Dimmock, Research Information Specialist, LLS will also be available and can help on various topics including referencing and NECTAR.

Refreshments, nice biscuits and friendly advice are always on offer.

Spring flowers and coffee

Research Support Centre – Coffee Morning

Need advice on making that all important connection with businesses? Charlotte Patrick, Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager, will be on hand at our next Coffee Morning to offer her guidance and experience on working with businesses.  The RSB team will also be joined by Dawn Hibbert, Head of Research Support, LLS to answer any questions you may have on open access, research data management and of course, REF 2021 and Impact.  This is a great opportunity to find out more on the kind of support and opportunities that are available.

Please drop in anytime between 10.30am-12pm on Wednesday, 18th April in the Top Lodge Conservatory on Park Campus.  Hot beverages along with lovely biscuits will also be on offer.

Coffee in green cup and daffodils

REF 2021 – Decisions on Staff & Outputs

Yesterday’s lunch was disrupted by HEFCE, who finally announced their decisions on staff and outputs for the next REF… the full document can be accessed at: http://www.ref.ac.uk/media/ref,2021/downloads/REF%202017_04%20Decisions.pdf.

A summary for staff at the University of Northampton can be found in the yammer research support group site.

Any questions – email REF@Northampton.ac.uk

 

Collaborating with Businesses and Delivering REF Impact

Innovate UK have announced additional funding for 200 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) this financial year which will enable collaboration with businesses and deliver a REF impact.  Come along to this event and find out the support available to take advantage of this increase. KTPs provide a rewarding ongoing collaboration with businesses and there are two KTPs currently underway here at Northampton.

Hear from Steve McGonigal (Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer for Product Design in FAST) on the practices and the benefits from the KTP process. Charlotte Patrick (Key Sector and Knowledge Transfer Manager) will also update on the support and benefits dedicated to KTPs.

Wednesday, 8th November from 4-5pm in the Newton Grand Hall on Avenue Campus.

To book your place, please click on the Eventbrite link.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collaborating-with-businesses-and-delivering-ref-impact-tickets-38723384686

 

REF 2021 Consultation: Summary of Responses

Today the four UK funding bodies published a summary of the responses to the ‘Consultation on the second Research Excellence Framework (REF)’. This document summarises our analysis of the 388 formal responses we received, which informed our initial decisions which are set out in a separate document (REF 2017/01). The consultation, published in December 2016, set out proposals for implementing the recommendations of Lord Stern’s review of the REF: ‘Building on success and learning from experience’.

Summary of consultation responses: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rereports/year/2017/ref201702/

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

In order to provide support to our staff in relation to the REF, a dedicated email account has been created.

If you have any questions in relation to the REF please email REF@Northampton.ac.uk

If you have not yet signed up for the REF and Impact Workshop for your panel of assessment please email SDBookings@Northampton.ac.uk

24th May – 09:30 am to 12:30 pm – Mechanical Engineering, Art and Design, Geography, Computing – Avenue Campus – MY120

7th June – 1 pm to 4 pm Allied Health & Psychology – Park Campus – C317

9th June – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm – English and History – Park Campus – C317

9th June – 1 pm to 4 pm – Education, Business and Law – Park Campus – C317

Impact & the REF – Introductory Session

Thank you to all who attended the sessions today on Impact & the REF.  If you were unable to attend today’s sessions, please take the time to have a look over the slides. If you haven’t yet booked for the 3 hour workshop session relevant to your unit of assessment please do as soon as possible (email SDbookings@northampton.ac.uk).

Impact and the REF Standard Sized Screen

If you have any questions please email dawn.hibbert@northampton.ac.uk

Note:  Recommendations from Lord Sterns Review in the REF: (Final guidelines to be published in Summer 2017)

  • Impact – Proposal for impact in REF 2021 is to remain consistent with REF 2014 process
  • Impacts are submitted by the institution or institutions in which the underpinning research has been conducted.
  • Impacts are submitted by the institution or institutions in which the underpinning research has been conducted.
  • Aspects captured by the impact template should be incorporated into the environment statement.
  • Propose to take account of the unit’s approach to supporting and enabling impact as an explicit section of the environment element of assessment – impact template would no longer be required.
  • 100% of the impact sub-profile would be attributed to the impact case studies.
  • Case study ratio should be based on HESA data on research active staff.
  • All institutions should be required to submit some institutional-level case studies which arise from multi- and interdisciplinary and collaborative work.
  • Proposed that case studies are submitted via a web form in REF 2021 that will include a number of mandatory fields.
  • Case studies should continue to be based on research of demonstrable quality, but could be linked to a research activity and a body or work as well as to specific research outputs.
  • Proposed that examples of impact in REF 2021 must be underpinned by excellent research, research activity, or a body of work produced by the submitting unit in the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2020.