Our Research Strategy
At Birmingham City University, we are passionate about research. Following our success in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise we have developed our new five-year Research Strategy that commits us to increase both the quality and quantity of our research. Research is now a mainstream component of our institutional mission and our Strategy will invigorate and cultivate research across the University. Research is essential for the continued success of our learning and teaching programmes; to underpin the development of our work with employers and for the intellectual well-being of a modern University.
Our Top Level Strategy
Our strategic vision, as outlined in our five-year research strategy document, is to become a “research-engaged University” by 2014. Research is now an integral professional commitment across the entire University in partnership with all faculties and specialist service teams, rather than being a niche activity. Our strategy is to create a more inclusive research culture and to drive the expansion of our research infrastructure.
Together, these changes will encourage and support greater numbers of staff and students to undertake high quality research, laying the foundations for even greater success in the future. The Research Excellence Framework, which replaces the RAE, will inform Higher Education research funding allocation from 2015 onwards.
Research ensures that our teaching programmes include the most up-to-date knowledge, increases our capacity to undertake third-stream activities with business and the community such as knowledge transfer and enterprise engagement, and contributes to the intellectual, academic and cultural well-being of the University. Our research is informed by national and international priorities and professional practice and the need to extend our knowledge base with the aim of applying it – either through our own actions or by those who take up the outcomes of our research.
Our Five-Year Research Strategy
The University has developed an ambitious five-year strategy for research which will build on the success of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008) results and make research a key component of the institution’s mission.
Professor David Maguire, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Corporate Development, presented the new five-year Research Strategy to over 180 research staff at the University’s first annual research conference RESCON, telling them, “From today we are a research-engaged University”.
In late 2013, the University will make a submission to the Research Excellence Framework , a new system of assessing research which will replace the RAE and inform research funding from 2015 onwards. REF will assess the quality of our research outputs, our research environment and the real world contribution of our research to external stakeholders. New for REF, under the banner of “Impact”, academically excellent research must also evidence contribution to the economy, society, public policy, culture and quality of life.
The University will consolidate and focus its research efforts through up to 15 Research Centres of Excellence which reflects its research capabilities and external priorities. It also aims to increase the impact and exploitation of its research by doubling the number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs).
Time and effort will be invested into developing a more supportive and inclusive culture for research. It will assist the additional staff and postgraduate researchers, and encourage more interaction between research staff and the development of mentoring and development programmes for researchers.
A further focus for the strategy is to enhance the learning and teaching experience for both undergraduates and postgraduates through incorporation of up-to-date research findings and interaction with research active staff. The University will also seek to establish partnerships with national and international organisations to improve its research visibility and profile. Our Research Strategy Document is available here.