Dear Past Self, As an academic, you are constantly driven by the pursuit of knowledge, seeking to make meaningful contributions to your field through rigorous research. However, I know that the journey can often feel…
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In the pursuit of academic excellence, research productivity and impact play a pivotal role. Academic managers, responsible for shaping and supporting research endeavours, sometimes encounter failures in their efforts. This article explores the lessons learned…
In academia, research transformation is a crucial goal for universities seeking to stay at the forefront of knowledge creation. Academic managers, responsible for leading and motivating staff, can face the challenge of dealing with disengaged…
Creating a positive research culture in a teaching-intensive university in the UK requires a multifaceted approach that involves fostering collaboration, providing support, and recognising and rewarding research achievements. Here are some steps you can take…
University academic staff are constantly required to continually improve the quality of their research, while also soliciting income from external funding agencies. Surely it makes sense to focus on research activities so that your performance…
Reward and recognition can be effective strategies for motivating and engaging university research staff. Here are 5 ways managers can utilise these approaches: 1. Establish Clear Criteria For Recognition Develop clear and transparent criteria for…
Research growth is accelerated by acquiring external funding. Both research quality and volume increases as the additional income can fund specialist equipment and staffing to build greater research capability and capacity. However, not every academic…
Teaching academics often struggle to balance their responsibilities for student learning with research activities. With increasing pressure to produce research that leads to articles and successful funding applications, it’s essential to find a balance that…
Being able to communicate the impact of your research is an essential part of a UK research council funding proposals. Get this right and you will significantly increase your chances of success. 1. Identify The…
Research has the potential to make a significant impact on society in a wide range of areas. Thinking about how your research can make impact will help you write stronger funding proposals. There are scores…
Most funding councils have a remit to ensure that their money is spent on research that makes a difference; ideally: “A change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the…
Encouraging university lecturers to write funding bids can be challenging, particularly when they have a high teaching and administration workload. While writing funding proposals is an essential part of academic research, it can be difficult…
Teaching intensive environments are excellent places to develop research that can be directly applied to society. Businesses like to engage with practical academic staff who can deliver innovative, pragmatic solutions to industrial problems. Coaching academics…
Securing funding from external agencies such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is a critical step in the career progression of junior academics in the UK. The EPSRC is the largest funder…
Performance agreements are a crucial tool for research organisations to ensure that they are meeting their objectives and achieving the success they desire. A performance agreement is a document that outlines the goals, responsibilities, and…
Performance review meetings with researchers are an essential part of effective performance management. Traditional managers might place more emphasis on an annual performance review meeting (or ‘appraisal’) and this could be quite a formal affair….
Managing a researcher who is resistant to teaching or supporting university students can be a delicate situation for any academic manager. While the primary responsibility of a researcher is to conduct high-quality research, universities are…
In universities, research is one of the primary areas of focus. Therefore, an under-performing researcher can cause a significant impact on the university’s reputation, funding, and research output. Successfully managing an under-performing researcher is critical,…
Research managers who adopt a coaching approach drive innovation and excellence in academic research. Coaching research staff in higher education can have numerous benefits for both the individual researchers and the institution as a whole….
Performance management in professional working environments is essential. Organisations like universities need staff to collaborate and to continuously improve. Professional staff like academics, professors and researchers often exercise a lot of control over how they…