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Research Committees

Various Committees assist in the development of research across all University of Suffolk Schools.

Purpose

The overarching role of the Research and Enterprise Committee is to promote and sustain a culture of research and enterprise within the University, reflecting the University’s ambitions for future involvement in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and the acquisition of Research Degree Awarding Powers (RDAP), alongside KEF (Knowledge Exchange Framework) from the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). The committee plays an important role in monitoring research and enterprise activity at School and institutional level and overseeing the development of research and enterprise initiatives at a strategic level.

Terms of Reference

  1. To develop and ensure the successful implementation of the University’s Research and Scholarship and Business Engagement strategies with reference to associated key performance indicators.
  1. To oversee the development of sustainable research and scholarship within the University, in line with the expectations of the national Research Excellence Framework and other sector initiatives and developments.
  1. To approve and oversee new research centres and institutes within the University.
  1. To promote income generation in research and enterprise and to monitor performance against agreed targets.
  1. To receive reports from relevant sub-committees. 
  1. To lead consultation on new policies and procedures relating to research and enterprise and to monitor implementation of existing policies and procedures, including those relating to research ethics.
  1. To oversee the quality and effective operation of postgraduate research degree activity within the University in accordance with relevant external reference points, including monitoring progress in relation to meeting the criteria for RDAP.
  1. To consider such other issues related to research and enterprise as may be referred to it by Senate.
  1. To have overall responsibility for University’s preparation and submission to REF and KEF (as part of the Business Engagement Strategy) if KEF is appropriate.

Membership

Ex officio

  • Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
  • University Director of Research
  • School Associate Deans – Research (4)
  • School Associate Deans – Business Engagement (3)
  • Director of Business Engagement and Entrepreneurship
  • Knowledge Exchange and Business Engagement Manager
  • Research Development Manager
  • Director of Finance and Planning
  • Director of Learning & Teaching
  • Research Administrator (Committee Secretary)

Notes on membership

  1. The Committee may call upon individuals with particular experience or expertise to be in attendance or present on particular items.
  1. Nominated members may serve unlimited consecutive terms only so long as they hold the offices by virtue of which they became members.
  1. Observers may attend meetings at the discretion and by invitation of the Chair.
  1. Substitutions for members unable to attend a meeting must be agreed beforehand with the Chair.

Quorum - 50% of members

Frequency of meetings - Three meetings per academic year

Reports - to the Senate

Sub-committees:

  • Postgraduate Research Committee (PGRC)
  • Research Ethics Committee (RETH)
  • Research Management Group (RMG)

The Terms of Reference for the Research and Enterprise Committee is reviewed annually at the first meeting of each academic year.

PURPOSE

The Research Management Group’s purpose is to assist in the development of research across all University of Suffolk’s Schools and to ensure that a comprehensive, robust and supportive system is in place for capacity and capability assessment of potential research initiatives at the University of Suffolk.

MEMBERSHIP

The membership of this group includes School’s Associate Deans – Research from each school and their role is to champion research within their respective schools and to provide and updates to this group and feedback from the group to the school specific committees.

The RMG membership consists of:

  • Pro Vice-Chancellor Research (Chair)
  • School Associate Deans – Research (4)
  • All new Research Institute Directors (6)
  • Head of Research Development
  • Finance representative
  • Marketing representative
  • Head of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange
  • Head of Graduate School
  • Research Institute Administrator
  • Research Support Manager

Committee Secretary: Research Administrator/PA to PVC Research

DUTIES

The Research Management Group members are to:

  • To promote and sustain a culture of research within the Research Institutes and Academic Schools, supporting the University’s Research Excellence Framework submission and the acquisition of Research Degree Awarding Powers.
  • To support and monitor the successful implementation of each Institute’s and School’s research strategy, regarding associated key performance indicators.
  • To advise the Research and Enterprise Committee regarding the infrastructure needed to support researchers across the University and promote interdisciplinary research endeavour, in order to meet institutional objectives.
  • To provide a pan university oversight of research activities, including the quality of research outputs, and to exploit opportunities for securing research funding.
  • To monitor the progress, completion and impact of substantial research applications and projects.
  • To consider such other issues related to research as may be referred to it by Research and Enterprise Committee, the Ethics committee or external research developments.
  • Frequency - Meetings should take place at least quarterly or when required to feed into the Schools’ Research Strategies.

Purpose

The role of the Postgraduate Research Committee, reporting directly to the Research and Enterprise Committee, is to ensure the effective delivery and management of postgraduate research degree provision within the University, in partnership with the awarding bodies. The Committee plays an important role in maintaining academic standards and assuring and enhancing the quality of the research student experience, reporting to the Quality Committee on this through the University’s Risk-Based Monitoring and Enhancement (RiME) processes.

Terms of Reference

  1. To ensure compliance with relevant awarding body regulatory frameworks and codes of practice for research degrees, and to consider and approve such matters as are delegated in accordance with them including:
    1. approving the admission of candidates to research degree programmes
    2. recommending the formal appointment of the candidate’s supervisory team and registration of the candidate’s field of study and research
    3. monitoring the individual and collective progression of research degree students
    4. receiving reports on the appointment of examiners, submission of theses and the conferment of awards
    5. approving the appointment of new supervisors and monitoring the uptake of supervisor training.
  1. To consider and advise on matters relating to institutional preparations for Research Degree Awarding Powers (RDAP).
  1. To monitor the activities and development of the Graduate School and the development of postgraduate research degree provision within the University, including progress in relation to key performance indicators for recruitment, progression and completions.
  1. To monitor, review and evaluate the Researcher Development Programme, including consideration of feedback from students.
  1. To consider and advise on academic issues relating to postgraduate research degree students, in accordance with relevant regulatory frameworks and codes of practice for research degrees.
  1. To advise on matters relating to the quality of the research student experience and to maintain oversight of the operation of Risk-Based Monitoring and Enhancement (RiME) processes in relation to postgraduate research degree provision. This includes considering and approving the annual RiME report for submission to the Quality Committee and to the awarding bodies, and monitoring progress in relation to associated action plans.
  1. To promote equality of opportunity for postgraduate research degree students.
  1. To consider matters and respond to consultations relating to postgraduate research degree provision referred to it by the awarding bodies.
  1. To consider matters relating to postgraduate research degree programmes referred to it by students or their representative bodies.

Membership

  • Head of the Graduate School (Chair)
  • PVC Research
  • Head of Quality Assurance and Partnerships (Deputy Chair)
  • Academic Skills Advisor, Directorate of Learning and Teaching
  • Head of Research Development
  • Assistant Director for Student Life (or nominee)
  • Associate Deans for Research from:
    • School of Social Science and Humanities;
    • School of Engineering, Arts, Science and Technology
    • School of Health and Sport Science
    • Suffolk Business School
  • Doctoral College Manager, University of Brighton
  • Partnerships Manager, University of Essex
  • Postgraduate Research Education Manager, University of Essex
  • Associate PVC Doctoral College, University of East Anglia
  • Head of PGR Service, University of East Anglia

Nominated

Four PG student representatives (2-year tenure, current 2020-2022)

Total membership 19

Secretary - Graduate School Coordinator

Notes on membership

  1. Student members shall not be party to any consideration of individual postgraduate research degree candidates or any consideration in which an individual candidate might be identifiable.
  1. Observers may attend meetings of Postgraduate Research Committee at the discretion and by invitation of the Chair.
  1. Substitutions for members unable to attend a meeting must be agreed beforehand with the Chair.
  1. Nominated members may serve unlimited consecutive terms only so long as they hold the offices by virtue of which they became members.

Quorum

50% of members

Frequency of meetings

Normally three meetings per academic year

Reports to:

Research and Enterprise Committee

The terms of reference for Postgraduate Research Committee should be reviewed at least annually, normally at the first meeting of each academic year.

PGRC ToR V10 - October 2021