Environment submissions database

COVID-19 disrupted research progress, outputs, impact activities, research funding, infrastructure investment and increased career uncertainties for PGRs and research staff. The University established a COVID-19 Research Rapid Response group to coordinate and initiate research, working with the NHS and industry. (Eight projects, £4.2m funding to date). The crisis response had these effects: •Staff diverted to health and medical service delivery. Particularly for clinical and health professionals to support the NHS (REF Panel A), but also in other UoAs, e.g. to coordinate medical and modelling responses across the world (UoA 25: Area Studies, UoA10: Mathematical Sciences). •Academic time diverted to teaching, PGR and PDRA supervision and pastoral care. Research capacity was squeezed by the need to prioritise rapid set-up of online teaching and the challenges of providing remote project supervision and pastoral care to support wellbeing. •Laboratory research. Following Government guidelines, on 17 March 2020, all laboratories closed except those doing COVID-19 medical research, resulting in the loss of long-term cell and animal-based experiments. Phased re-opening at reduced operating capacity to ensure a COVID-secure environment, commenced on 15 June 2020. •Non-laboratory research. Many research projects had to be paused or redesigned in line with COVID-19 restrictions on in-person contact and travel. •Outputs. Delayed completion of REF-eligible outputs due to the above pressures combined with the challenges of remote working. •Impact case studies. Many had to cancel stakeholder and public engagement events which undermined the impact, and evidence thereof. •Research funding. Research income (measured as spend) fell below forecast and prior year performance. •Industry research collaborations were disrupted. Where necessary, staff were furloughed, project milestones reassessed and contract extensions put in place. •Research infrastructure and maintenance delays. Estates work was paused where possible to mitigate financial uncertainties. Those which proceeded were slowed by COVID-19 operating restrictions. The Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD £420m) is the largest project; completion now delayed to 2021. This delayed the development of our Innovation District (ID Manchester £1.5bn) which depends on decant into MECD. Staff wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion were supported through: •Additional investment to support wellbeing. Wellbeing, personal development, counselling and mental health services were expanded online. Information about the fast changing environment and support for staff was channelled through a comprehensive COVID-19 website. Staff feedback was enabled through more frequent open meetings with senior leaders and pulse surveys. ‘Zoom-free Fridays’, ‘meeting-light’ periods, additional annual leave and leave for emergency care were introduced. Equipment was made available to support remote working. •Additional investment to support research staff and PGRs. Research staff contracts finishing in the immediacy of the lockdown were extended (£1.2m). We matched the UKRI PGR studentship additional funding to extend support to all other PGRs whose stipend is processed through UoM (£2.5m in phase 1). •Mitigation of research disruptions on early and mid-career researchers. Provision was made for PGRs to submit a COVID-19 impact statement for their thesis examination, probation periods to be extended, and for significant research disruptions to be considered in promotion and pay-reviews.