All members of the academic staff at the College are expected to engage in research calculated to advance and underpin the subject that they teach and to make public the results of that research. The Research Committee monitors the quality and quantity of the research being carried out by each member of staff and ensures that deadlines are met. The Research Committee ensures that research conducted at the RCA does not breach the College’s Research Ethics Code of Practice. The Staff Committee, in consultation with the Research Committee, decides upon the allocation of days released from College activities to enhance the research of individual members of staff.

The following mechanisms have been developed to assist this process: Research Remission; funding through the Research Development Fund (RDF); research supervisor training; and support for external funding applications.

Please contact the Research Office if you require further information on any of these procedures.

Terms of Reference and Membership for the Research Committee, 2011–12

1.   To develop and implement staff and student research policy College-wide and to develop the RCA policy with respect to research degree programmes (MPhil and PhD).

2.   To advise the Senate on the development of a research strategy which will include:

2.1.   The organisation, development and conduct of research and allied activities in the College including strategic planning for the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014)
2.2.   Development of individual, interdisciplinary and collaborative research
2.3.   Development of applied research in collaboration with InnovationRCA
2.4.   Development of strategic research initiatives within the College in accordance with the recommendations of the Council Working Parties.

3.   To deploy internal research funds from the Research Development Fund and to monitor the outcomes.

4.   To encourage the development of sponsored research and to develop external research networks and projects through funding applications to the private as well as to the public sector.

5.   To monitor the research carried out by individual members of staff and by research groups and centres within the RCA and to develop the relationships between:

5.1.   Research and learning, teaching and innovation
5.2.   Research and international strategy
5.3.   Research and business and industry through knowledge exchange

6.   To promote dissemination of RCA research.

7.   To advise the Staff Committee on the allocation of research time in staff contracts.

8.   To create a programme for staff development and equal opportunities, to include the development of a structure for research staff career development (including supervisor training, accreditation for supervisor training and promotion of good practice in research supervision) and to review the funding and career structure of Research Assistants, Research Fellows and Senior Research Fellows.

9.   To advise the Senate on the most effective and economic utilisation of facilities, accommodation and staff for research purposes, including refurbishment and equipment.

10.  To maintain a College-wide record and index of research degree activity and to ensure that the provision offered to research students (including supervision resources, space, equipment and other support) is in compliance with good practice as outlined in the HEFCE/QAA Code of Practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education.

11.   To advise Academic Standards Committee on the development and annual review of research student policy and strategy and of the Research Methods Course.

12.   To review and maintain RCA research publications including the Research Handbook and the staff and student research pages on the RCA website and the ResearchRCA Digital Repository.

13.   To receive reports from the Research Ethics Sub-Committee on the discharge of its responsibilities.

Membership:

• Professor Jeremy Aynsley (Chair), Director of Research
• Professor Naren Barfield, Pro-Rector (Academic)
• Dr Stephen Boyd Davis, School of Design Research Leader
• Professor David Crowley, School of Humanities Research Leader; Head of Programme, Critical Writing and Design
• Dr Nadia Danhash, Director, InnovationRCA
• Dr Jamie Gilham, Senior Research Manager
• Martina Margetts, Senior Research Tutor
• Professor Jeremy Myerson, Director, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design
• Dr Claire Pajaczkowska, School of Material Research Leader; Senior Research Tutor, School of Material
• Professor Susannah Hagan, School of Architecture Research Leader
• Dr Trish Lyon, School of Fine Art Research Leader

Quorum: one half of the total actual membership

Members of the Research Committee are responsible for updating the research staff within their Department/School of all non-confidential Research Committee business.

Research Committee Meetings, 2011–12

10 October 2011

7 November 2011

16 January 2012

12 March 2012

8 May 2012

11 June 2012