Environment submissions database

Throughout the pandemic the University has sought to provide a COVID secure environment and to deliver enhanced and tailored forms of support to its students and staff. The University established Gold and Silver Command to coordinate the operational response to impacts of COVID-19; and in June 2020 created a Campus Re-enablement Group to ensure new ways of working in the learning environment were optimised in the interests of student experience and outcomes, and to support staff in their working environment and career activity. The University has hosted testing and vaccination centres in partnership with NHS and RBK. Regular staff pulse surveys have helped us to respond to concerns and take proactive action. Measures were established to support staff with caring responsibilities: our leave policy allows for 5 days paid leave with discretionary additional days agreed in light of COVID-19 impacts. At the time of lockdown, Human Resources undertook a categorisation and review of staff working arrangements, to identify staff who might be eligible for furlough and to ensure all ongoing processes for temporary and hourly paid staff were managed fairly, in accordance with its procedures. All RBI staff have been expected to work wholly from home since March 2020. We have accelerated the development of our digital infrastructure to support research activity, training and PGR supervision and examination; prioritised access to labs and workshops in support of research; accelerated processes for internal peer review, bid support and ethics approval in respect of COVID-19 research proposals; reviewed internal and post-award support to aid those affected, including deferring the First Grant reporting period. Awardees with grants running were supported to consider alternate methodologies which could be achieved during remote working and to find alternate relevant work for temporary research assistants hired under the funding. Spending deadlines were extended to the end of the financial year as appropriate. In terms of REF preparation, Impact Case Studies with COVID-19 delays or revised expectations for evidence-gathering were identified in March/April 2020. The main areas affected were health and social care-related case studies, and also those with aspects of public engagement. Financial and research assistance for evidence and evaluation was extended to support the new deadline. Scheduled events were held online where possible. Although some aspects of the affected case studies required redesign, in the event no case study has required a request for extension beyond submission date. In September 2020 staff with SRR were asked to identify any forthcoming outputs with COVID-19 related delay, and to provide corroborating evidence from publishers etc. As appropriate, new outputs were selected for inclusion. No support staff with direct REF responsibility were affected by COVID, however we recognise the stress and difficulty caused by the situation and especially during the period leading up to submission. The University’s Strategic Plan (KU22) has undergone review to regear priority actions in light of Covid-19, including those elements which focus on improving the research environment to meet Kingston’s strategic objectives. These elements, planned to report in 2020, have been extended into 2021/22.