FACULTY RESEARCH COMMITTEE (FRC)


MEETINGS:
Two meetings held: 17-02-04, 23-04-04
Further details of papers and minutes for meetings available on
Faculty of Engineering Intranet (Engineering Net)


CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS:
Lord Sainsbury visited JN campus to officially open the Harry Ferguson
Engineering Village and to discuss strategy for the future of
nano-technology. Prof. Jim McLaughlin organised the visit. 

  
HEFCE 'RAE 2008 Initial Decisions by the UK Funding Bodies'
report published and on HEFCE website.
 

MEMBERSHIP:
Prof. Elizabeth Hull elected onto FRC.


RESEARCH INSTITUTES:
Research Institute formed for UoA-25; UoA coordinator will
decide membership based on publications and grant income; 
roughly 25 staff eligible for UoA-25


FINANCE:
Faculty total research income (31 March 2004): 6,594,321 pounds, 47 awards).

QAA-AUDIT-2005: 
Dress rehearsal planned for autumn 2004.

Research Studies handbook being updated by Nick Curry.

Faculty working party established 
(includes HoRGS, UoA coordinators or their nominees, 
Director of D.Eng./D.Inf., Director of research division).  


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

UU WebCT system proposed for monitoring of postgraduate student
record of meetings; system being piloted by Faculty of Life and Health
Sciences. 

New route Ph.D. being proposed for international students. 

Tighter monitoring of annual progress monitoring (RS3 & RS4 forms).
   
More detail being required for Leave-of-absence and Extension-of-time 
requests with clearly justified reasons (e.g. medical evidence or similar).

Generic Skills training being extended.

Student numbers:
UoA-25: Magee: 31, Jordanstown: 37, Coleraine: 9

Student progress:
Magee has had success with 5 confirmations, 3 100-day vivas and 3 vivas.

2004 competition:
UoA-25: 46 projects advertised, 63 applications, 29 shortlisted for interview;
7 studentships available.

Student achievements:
Best presentations at Faculty Research Student Conference:
Ammar Belatreche, Minhua (Eunice) Ma

Faculty of Engineering RGS dinner prizes:
UoA-25 best thesis: Dr. Sonya Coleman
UoA-25 best paper: Haiying Wang
UoA-25 best literature review: Damien Coyle

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