Common use of Research Performance Clause in Contracts

Research Performance. ‌ The University has set ambitious targets to deliver growth in research income, both through its institutional Strategic Plan for 2015-2020, and through milestones set via the OA. The University retains its longer term aim to increase research income from all sources to £65m under the Outcome Agreement, though extends the timeline for achieving this to 2021. In parallel, it aims to increase income from Research Councils UK (RCUK) to just over £16m within the same period (see Appendix 2). This is a more incremental approach which takes account of different environmental factors that have put pressure on performance; in particular, it should be noted that the number of academics at the University has fallen by approximately 8% in recent years, at least in-part as a consequence of restructuring, making it more difficult to achieve the overarching totals. However, conversely, research income per FTE has grown by 4% (from 2015/16 to 16/17), meaning the University is improving performance, at least in proportional terms. As such, while the targets set have and will be challenging to achieve, they will remain ambitious over the coming years, in line with strategic institutional ambitions. To strengthen its commitments and leadership in this area, the University has recently appointed a new Vice-Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange along with three Deans of Research and KE. To achieve its targets for growth, it will pursue the range of strategies and activities outlined in its three-year OA, published in 2017 (please cross refer). Notable developments include: • Internal Research Review: this was led by the Vice-Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange, looking at the structures the University has in place to support interdisciplinary research. The recommendations to emerge include an institutional pump priming fund for interdisciplinary research, and the recognition of interdisciplinary research activity in the institutional promotions criteria. The report recognised the importance of the institutional research facilities in enabling interdisciplinary research and proposed additional support for early career researchers who wish to use the facilities.

Research Performance. ‌ The University has set ambitious targets to deliver growth in research income, both through its institutional Strategic Plan for 2015-2020, and through milestones set via the OA. The University retains its longer term aim to increase research income from all sources to £65m under the Outcome Agreement, though extends the timeline for achieving this to 2021. In parallel, it aims to increase income from Research Councils UK (RCUK) to just over £16m within the same period (see Appendix 2). This is a more incremental approach which takes account of different environmental factors that have put pressure on performance; in particular, it should be noted that the number of academics at the University has fallen by approximately 8% in recent years, at least in-part as a consequence of restructuring, making it more difficult to achieve the overarching totals. However, conversely, research income per FTE has grown by 4% (from 2015/16 to 16/17), meaning the University is improving performance, at least in proportional terms. As such, while the targets set have and will be challenging to achieve, they will remain ambitious over the coming years, in line with strategic institutional ambitions. To strengthen its commitments and leadership in this area, the University has recently appointed a new Vice-Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange along with three Deans of Research and KE. To achieve its targets for growth, it will pursue the range of strategies and activities outlined in its three-year OA, published in 2017 (please cross refer). Notable developments include: • · Internal Research Review: this was led by the Vice-Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange, looking at the structures the University has in place to support interdisciplinary research. The recommendations to emerge include an institutional pump priming fund for interdisciplinary research, and the recognition of interdisciplinary research activity in the institutional promotions criteria. The report recognised the importance of the institutional research facilities in enabling interdisciplinary research and proposed additional support for early career researchers who wish to use the facilities.