| Description | Minute books of the Research and Knowledge Transfer committee, split into two separate committees, Research committee and Knowledge Transfer and Engagement committee between 2013 and 2016, and then merged again in a single Research committee in 2016, from 10 November 2005 onwards
Minutes are usually draft or unconfirmed versions and are not signed. Although the majority of supporting papers are included, there are some gaps, and some papers show evidence of editing and review comments. Minutes of meetings held on and after 6 July 2021 have been transferred and preserved in digital format
Minutes are numbered in a yearly numbering system, using the calendar year followed by a consequential numerical sequence beginning from 1 at the start of each year.
The committees were supposed to meet at least twice a year, and in practice usually meet four or five times a year. Occasionally it met less often, though during the 2011-2012 academic session meetings were often held monthly.
The Research and Knowledge Transfer committee was established following a review of the University's committee structure, the disestablishment of the Enterprise Board and the Joint Ethics and Research Governance committee, and the broadening of the Research sub-committee to include appropriate elements of enterprise, and research governance and ethics under a new title of the Research and Knowledge Transfer committee.
The new committee's terms of reference were agreed by the University Strategic Management committee, to oversee the development and implementation of the Research and Knowledge Transfer strategies, and to promote integration and co-ordination between the strategies for Research, Knowledge Transfer, and Enterprise in the context of the overall University strategic framework. The committee would have an overview of research ethics and governance issues, including structures for the ethical approval of research and ensuring compliance with external requirements, and would oversee the development and implementation of the Code of Conduct for Research. It also set benchmarks and targets for research and knowledge transfer performance through annual research performance reviews, and monitored progress towards their achievement. Other responsibilities were to co-ordinate and manage the University's response to research, business and industry funding opportunities where a strategic overview is required; to promote and disseminate good practice in research and knowledge transfer management structures and processes; to supervise and keep under review the effectiveness of research review processes; to consider matters related to the support and training of staff undertaking research and knowledge transfer activities, and to provide advice or make recommendations on action to be taken as a result; subject to available resources, to commission appropriate studies or external advice in relation to aspects of research or knowledge transfer activity which are judged to be in need of strategic attention, and to make recommendations on actions to be taken as a result.
Membership consisted of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer) who chaired the committee; the Vice-Principal; up to three academic members of staff from each Deanery (later Colleges) with expertise or knowledge areas identified as priorities by the committee including collaborative research networks; a representative of Contract Research Staff; and a lay member of University Council with lead governance responsibility for research ethics and governance. The Director of Finance, Director of Research and Enterprise Services, Director of Birmingham Research and Development Limited, or their representatives, and other officers from Research and Enterprise Services as required could also be in attendance.
Minutes include copies of Strategic Research Reviews completed by individual Schools and research centres; papers re submissions for funding and fellowship schemes; reports relating to preparation for RAE 2008; papers on research systems, interdisciplinary research projects, research ethics, and the reports of input groups; comment on research related developments at national level; compilation of a Code of Conduct for Research; preparations for REF 2014; discussion of set protocols for research; discussion of open access to research publications in 2012 and the implementation of an Open Access policy to raise awareness of University of Birmingham research; discussion of the Birmingham Fellowship Scheme. Minutes of the Graduate School Management Board are routinely included, together with substantial research applications and awards data.
minutes of Graduate School Management Board routinely included; substantial research applications and awards data. Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2008 include a substantial set of papers relating to the RAE 2008 submission and outcomes. Minutes of meetings held on 25 March 2010 and 13 May 2010 contain substantial sets of papers relating to research applications and awards data
The Business Engagement Review Report, approved by the University's Strategy, Planning, and Resources committee in January 2012, indicated that the existing Research and Knowledge Transfer committee would be split into two committees; a Research committee with oversight of matters related to research policy and strategy at the University, and a Knowledge Transfer and Engagement committee with oversight of policy matters related to the translation of knowledge and technology generated from research into benefits for the economy, policy and society. This committee would work closely with Alta Innovations Ltd, the University's subsidiary which has responsibility for the commercialisation of the University's intellectual property
Membership of the new Research committee consisted of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer) as chair; the five College Research Directors; up to three other members of academic staff with appropriate expertise; the Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies; the Director of the Graduate School; a lay member of Council with expertise in research; the Director, Research and Innovation Services or another representative of the Research Support Partners Group. The committee reported to Senate. It received reports from the Research Governance and Ethics Group and the Board of Graduate Studies
The final Research and Knowledge Transfer committee meeting was held on 15 November 2012. The new Research committee met for the first time in February 2013, and meetings continued with the same frequency as before. The new Knowledge Transfer and Engagement committee did not hold its first meeting until 21 October 2013. Membership of this committee consisted of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer) as chair; the five College Directors; up to three other members of academic staff with appropriate expertise; the Director of Business Engagement or a representative of the College Business Engagement Partners; the CEO of Alta Innovations Ltd; an external non-executive director of Alta Innovations Ltd; and a lay member of University Council. The committee met at least twice a year and was advised by the Knowledge Transfer and Engagement Executive Group, comprising the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and the five College Directors of Research and Knowledge Transfer and which met regularly throughout the year. The Knowledge Transfer and Engagement committee received reports of the Business Engagement committee.
From October 2013 meetings of both the Research committee and the Knowledge Transfer and Engagement committee were held on the same day and separate sets of minutes were kept. Minutes were merged from September 2015 onwards. Meeting papers of the Research committee for the meeting held in October 2015 include copies of minutes of the Open Research Management Board
A revision of the terms of reference and membership of both committees was discussed by Senate in early 2016, following a recommendation by the Council Effectiveness Review to re-combine the Research committee and the Knowledge Transfer and Engagement committees. REF matters would now come under the purview of the REF Board which reported formally to the University Executive Board and would, where appropriate, refer matters for discussion or information to the Research committee.
The revised terms of reference were effective from March 2016. The new single committee, called the Research committee, would have oversight of matters related to research policy and strategy at the University of Birmingham. Its key responsibilities were to provide Senate and the University Executive Board with leaership and advice, for example through the effective articulation of a powerful and coherent vision in the University's Research Strategy; to work with the Colleges and Professional Services to create the appropriate environment and associated infrastructure (including IT and Library resources) to enable the University's research and impact to be positioned at the forefront of national and international developments; to monitor research funding trends and ensure that new opportunities were being addressed; to promote good practice in the management of research and to advise on the capture and development of intellectual property opportunities; to oversee via the Research Governance, Ethics, and Integrity committee, effective and appropriate research governance at the University; to oversee the development and delivery of the University's Research Communications Strategy and Public Engagement with Research Strategy; to oversee, via the Graduate School Management Board, effective strategies for the recruitment and support of postgraduate students; to oversee the local implementation of Open Research; and to promote collaboration and interdisciplinary research. The committee meets at least twice and up to five times a year, and reports to Senate |