FACULTY RESEARCH COMMITTEE (FRC)


MEETINGS:
One meeting held: 17-02-06
Further details of papers and minutes for meetings available on
Faculty of Engineering Intranet (Engineering Net)

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS:
Chair to attend UKIERI workshop in India to discuss possible collaborations.

Human Resources would shortly be issuing guidelines on management
of fixed-term contracts and extensions, with regard to the EU
Directive on Fixed-Term Work which would come into effect in June 06.

RESEARCH & INNOVATION COMMITTEE
Working Group would be convened with members from non-Science/Engineering
disciplines to look at criteria for Distinguished Research Awards.
Faculty's nominee for the Senior Distinguished Fellowship award had
been unsuccessful.

Scheme for 2006/7 to top slice budget available for RI's in the
coming year to fund Visiting Scholar Scheme.

Proposals ranked by VCAG for RCUK Fellowships with Computer Science
ranked 4th and submitted to RCUK 18th Jan. 06.

Faculty Financial Statements would show Research Institute activities
separated from School activities.

For research student training courses any suggested Faculty
specific training must be validated by the Head of Research Graduate
School assisted by members of the Working Group before commencement.
Working Group's progress would be reviewed at last meeting of
FRC in current academic year.

Committee discussed necessity of a formalised procedure for requesting
funding support for attending conferences and hosting workshops.
Web page would be developed providing details of all sources of
funding for both staff and Ph.D. students.

Faculty policy on Research Institute Membership with proposed
policy where there would be membership changes twice per year
but with consequent changes in teaching duties once per year.

RESEARCH INSTITUTES:
For the Computer Science Research Institute (CSRI) (UoA-25):

scenario of 35 staff submitted to RAE-2008 was considered
most appropriate as result of last meeting with PVC for Research
and Innovation.
profile of 4*(5%), 3*(60%), 2*(20%), 1*(5%).

9 funding awards totalling 1.2M pounds had been secured in
last 6 month period.

3 RAs funded by CSRI and a Clerical Officer
funded by the Research Office appointed to support work of CSRI.


RESEARCH GRADUATE SCHOOL BOARD (RGSB):
no meetings held.

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