FACULTY RESEARCH COMMITTEE (FRC)


MEETINGS:
Two meetings held: 22-11-04, 17-02-05
Further details of papers and minutes for meetings available on
Faculty of Engineering Intranet (Engineering Net)


CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS:
Total of 13 Research Institutes established within the University,
3 of which are in the Faculty of Engineering. 
UoA coordinators appointed as Acting directors. 
  

MEMBERSHIP:
Mr. D. Coyle elected as Research Student Rep.
Prof. P. Maguire appointed as Professorial rep. for
Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Research Institute.   

FINANCE:
Faculty total research income 2003/04 financial year: 8.25M. 
UoA-23: 12,192,190 (current RAE period) 

Research recurrent and strategy budget distributed to new cost
codes for the Research Institute.


RESEARCH INSTITUTES:
Computer Science Research Institute (UoA-25):
Publications good and being improved/added

Research income currently assessed at ~12M but level of
Research Council funding needed to be increased

Research student numbers on target but better
distribution across Institute Members needed.

 
RESEARCH GRADUATE SCHOOL (RGS):
Two meetings held: 01-11-04, 01-02-05

Regulations for MPhil & PhD 2004/05:
Implementation of formal assessment at the 100 day/3-4 month
period for full-time students (and part-time equivalent). 

Transfer/confirmation process to be held prior to 12 month
point for full-time student (and part-time equivalent). 

Introduction of final assessment of progress.

Pilot programme for entrepreneurship training to be made core
element of training programme. 

Revised version of Faculty Research Student Handbook circulated, Nov. 04.

Faculty Research Student Conference held, Jan. 05.

Draft student and research student charter available for comment.

Possibility of full fees kicking in during 4th year of Ph.D. 

GRST being moved to Staff Development (Dr. Michael Davidson).

Problem of attracting suitably qualified local Ph.D. students.
 
Student numbers:
total of 192 research students, 106 full-time & 86 part-time.
UoA-25: 89 Ph.D. students currently enrolled.

Student progress since 27-10-04:
16 students completed transfer/confirmation & 20 their viva.

Quality issues:
Students registered from October 2004 required to produce a journal paper
in addition to Literature Review and Oral Presentation for Confirmation of
Registration. 

WebCT to be used for monitoring the outcomes of meetings between
students and supervisors, launched January 05.  

Annual research dinner, Europa Hotel, 24-03-05.
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