Forthcoming RENU EVENTS

Research and Enterprise Network for Universities

ROUNDTABLE EVENT: Civic Universities, KEF Update, REF2021 impact case studies

10:15 AM – 3:30 pm Wednesday 22^nd April 2020,

University of Hertfordshire

SPEAKERS

Richard Brabner, Director UPP Foundation

Richard Brabner is the director for the UPP Foundation, which recently founded the Civic University Commission [CUC]. Previously, he joined the University of Hertfordshire in 2009, where he was the university’s senior policy adviser, a job which combined policy and public affairs support to the university’s senior management team. Prior to this, he was a researcher in Parliament for two years after graduating from the University of Essex with a bachelor’s degree in modern history and politics in 2007.

Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive Universities UK

Before taking up his current role, Alistair was Deputy Chief Executive, and prior to that Director of External Relations at Universities UK. Before joining UUK in 2013 he was a Director at the University of Birmingham and has previously held communications, campaigning and political relations roles for national organisations in both the public and private sectors. Alistair is currently a member of the Government’s high-level stakeholder working group on EU Exit, Universities and Research; a member of the Financial Services Skills Taskforce and sits on the steering group of the Industrial Strategy Council prosperity mapping project. He has previously held voluntary roles as Deputy Chair of the board of Wonkhe, a higher education policy media company; as a Commissioner of the UPP Civic Universities Commission; and as a member of the judging panel for both the Times Higher and Guardian University Awards. He was educated at the Universities of Kent, Leicester and the Institute of Education, University of London. Alistair is a fellow of the RSA.

Alice Frost, Director Knowledge Exchange UKRI, Research England

Alice Frost is responsible for knowledge exchange policy and funding at Research England, having previously had this responsibility at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). At HEFCE, Alice had a wide-ranging set of policy roles, heading, at different times, policy, funding and quality assessment for research, learning and teaching and knowledge exchange. On secondment from HEFCE, she experienced research strategy in a university and led a local/regional university collaboration. Over many years, Alice has advised countries across Europe and Asia on following the UK model of a third stream of funding for knowledge exchange. Recently, she has specialized in commercialization policy.

Andy Hepburn, Head of REF Data Verification and Information Management, Research England

Andy leads the development of detailed audit and data verification procedures, managing information management policies and processes and leading other key submission processes for the Research Excellence Framework (REF). He is also responsible for implementing the procedures to verify data and other information contained in REF submissions.

Professor Peter Tyler, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge

Peter Tyler is Professor in urban and regional economics in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge and President and Fellow of St. Catharine’s College. He has an extensive track record in undertaking research with a particular emphasis on urban and regional economics and industrial policy. He has been a Project Director for over seventy major research projects for Government, many involving the assessment of public policy resulting in the publication of forty research monographs of which twenty-four have been of book length. Besides his work in the United Kingdom for HM Government he has also undertaken research for the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on urban, regional and industrial and evaluation policy. He has been an Expert Advisor to the OECD, European Commission and HM Government

Professor Jonathan Morris, University of Hertfordshire

Jonathan Morris is Research Professor in the History group, and Director of the Heritage for Business unit located within the University of Hertfordshire Heritage Hub. He was also a member of the History sub-panel in REF2014 and is a panel member for REF2021.

· Dr Dana Vilistere, Research Impact Officer Oxford Brookes University

Professor Bajram Zeqiri, National Physical Laboratory

Bajram Zeqiri is an NPL Fellow in Ultrasound and is the Science Area Leader for Ultrasound and Underwater Acoustics and is an internationally-recognised leader in the field of ultrasound metrology, specifically supporting its medical and industrial applications. He was also a member of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials sub-panel in REF2014.

Dr Liz Philpots, Health & Care Partnership Manager, University of Sheffield

Dr Philpots is Health and Care partnership Manager across Sheffield at the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University & Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Prior to this, Dr Philpots was the Head of Research at the Associate of Medical Research Charities and was a member of the Clinical Medicine sub-panel in REF 2014.

Terry Warren, Independent Impact Review Panel Member at University of Glasgow

Terry Warren was a member of the Business and Management Studies sub-panel 2014 as an impact assessor. He worked for BAE Systems for 16 years, his last role with them being an adviser on business change.

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Event overview

Morning session: Civic Universities and update on the Knowledge Exchange Framework

This session aims to inform and provide a wide scope for in depth discussion on the concept of civic universities as well as providing an update on the Knowledge Exchange Framework.

The session will start with a presentation by Richard Brabner, Director of the UPP Foundation. The UPP Foundation is a registered charity that offers grants to universities, charities and other higher education bodies and recently founded the Civic University Commission [CUC]. In the final report of the CUC, it stated ‘Civic Universities should enshrine their analysis and strategy in a Civic University Agreement [CUA] that is co-created and signed by other key civic partners. This could include several universities or educational institutions coming together in a single agreement.’ CUAs will be one of the aspects covered during the roundtable discussion as will the impact from civic university knowledge exchange in relation to the KEF.

Alice Frost, Director Knowledge Exchange UKRI, Research England, will then give an overview of the development of the knowledge exchange framework

After the presentations there will be a roundtable discussion, held under the Chatham House Rule, whereby ‘information disclosed during a meeting may be reported by those present, but the source of that information may not be explicitly or implicitly identified.’ The maximum number of delegates at the event will be 35 thus allowing everyone to have sufficient time to discuss all issues.

There will be a panel who will participate in the roundtable discussion, which includes Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, Alice Frost, Richard Brabner and Pete Tyler, Professor in urban and regional economics in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge.

Afternoon session: Impact Case Studies, REF 2021

This session will cover the development and use of impact case studies during REF2014 and applying the lessons learnt to REF2021.

The session will be chaired by RENU Executive committee member, Professor Glen McHale who is Pro Vice-Chancellor (REF) at Northumbria University. The first speaker will be Andy Hepburn, Head of REF Data Verification and Information Management at Research England. Andy will give a brief introduction to impact case studies for REF2021. Following his presentation will be Dr Dana Vilistere, Research Impact Officer at Oxford Brookes University, who will give a university perspective on impact case studies.

There will then be a roundtable discussion on impact case studies. We have invited speakers with panel experience from REF2014 to discuss their own experiences of impact case studies, their reach and significance. Confirmed speakers on impact case studies are:

Professor Jonathan Morris, University of Hertfordshire, member of the History sub-panel in REF2014, who is also a panel member for REF2021.

Professor Bajram Zeqiri from the National Physical Laboratory, who was a member of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials sub-panel REF2014.

Dr Liz Philpots, Health and Care partnership Manager across Sheffield at the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University & Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Prior to this, Dr Philpots was the Head of Research at the Associate of Medical Research Charities and was a member of the Clinical Medicine sub-panel in REF 2014.

Terry Warren, Independent Impact Review Committee member at the University of Glasgow, who was a member of the Business and Management Studies sub-panel 2014 as an impact assessor. He worked for BAE Systems for 16 years, his last role with them being an adviser on business change.

Each speaker will speak for 10 minutes about their own experience of being a panel member in REF2014 and then all delegates will be able to question the speakers and discuss how lessons can be learnt from impact case studies used in REF2014 and applied to REF2021. As per the morning session, all discussion will be held under the Chatham House Rule.

**SPECIAL DELEGATE RATE FOR UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE STAFF**

Registration Fees

RENU Member full day £75

RENU Member half day £40

University of Hertfordshire delegate full day £50

University of Hertfordshire delegate half day £25

RENU non-member full day £120

RENU non-member half day £60

Please complete the registration form on our website and return to murg.admin@ntlworld.com

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AGENDA

Morning Session: Civic Universities and the Knowledge Exchange Framework

10:25 – 10:30 Welcome and Introduction

Professor John Senior, PVC (Research and Enterprise) University of Hertfordshire – confirmed

10:30 – 10:55 Keynote: ‘the 21^st Century Civic University’

Richard Brabner, Director UPP Foundation – confirmed

An overview of the main findings from the ‘Truly Civic: Strengthening the connection between universities and their places’ final report from the UPP Foundation Civic University Commission including the Civic University Agreement

10:55 – 11.20 General update on the Knowledge Exchange Framework

Alice Frost, Director Knowledge Exchange UKRI, Research England – confirmed

11.20 to 11.30 Short break

11:30 – 12:30 Panel discussion: Civic universities and the Research Excellence Framework

Confirmed panel members:

Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive Universities UK – confirmed
Richard Brabner, Director UPP Foundation- confirmed
Alice Frost, Director Knowledge Exchange UKRI, Research England – confirmed
Pete Tyler, Professor in urban and regional economics in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge – confirmed

Panel members will speak briefly at the start of the discussion, which will then be opened up to all delegates. The discussion can be focussed on questions that panellists may be interested in; for example, what do RENU members feel about some of the issues raised in the Civic university commission report; what is the role of universities in conducting research, enterprise and knowledge exchange activities that has real local impact. A further aspect for discussion would include looking at the recognition and funding of civic focussed research as raised in the report statement:

‘We also think that if research is ever going to have a significant civic focus, then government is going to need to address the incentives around its production. It is right that research funding follows excellence wherever that is found. And it is also right that research is about the boundless search for knowledge and application of it, and the strengths of universities are the borderless collaborations that academics participate in. Nevertheless, we think a greater civic focus in some of the major funding frameworks – either strengthening the local focus of REF, or potentially using the new KEF or the UKSPF to focus on targeted local research, could be of huge benefit.’

There will also be the opportunity to discuss the progress of the Knowledge Exchange Framework.

RENU discussions are held under the Chatham House Rule, whereby ‘information disclosed during a meeting may be reported by those present, but the source of that information may not be explicitly or implicitly identified.’

LUNCH 12.30 to 1.30pm

Afternoon session: Development and use of impact case studies during REF2014 and applying the lessons learnt to REF2021.

1:30 – 1:35 Introduction to the session, Professor Glen McHale, Pro Vice-Chancellor (REF), Northumbria University – confirmed

1.35pm – 1.55pm Brief introduction to Impact Case Studies for REF2021

Andy Hepburn, Head of REF Data Verification and Information Management, Research England – confirmed

1:55pm – 2.15pm A University perspective on Impact Case Studies

Dr Dana Vilistere, Research Impact Officer Oxford Brookes University – confirmed

REF2014: User Panel Members’ Experience “My experience of Impact Case Studies and their Reach and Significance” 2.15pm – 2.55 pm

4 x 10 minute panel presentations

Professor Jonathan Morris, University of Hertfordshire, member of the History sub-panel in REF2014 and also a panel member for REF2021 – confirmed
Professor Bajram Zequiri, National Physical Laboratory, member of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials sub-panel REF2014 – confirmed
Speaker from panel C TBC
Speaker from panel A TBC

2.55pm – 3.25 Q&A with panel members and Andy Hepburn Head of REF Data Verification and Information Management, Research England.

3.25pm – 3.30pm wrap up and end of event