Environment submissions database

The University of Roehampton launched a new Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategy in January 2020. As an institution we remain committed to the delivery and implementation of this strategy, which is reflected in the institutional environment statement and the strategic objectives of each Unit of Assessment. However, we also recognise that there have been a number of impacts on our collective and individual research performance, and delays to the implementation of this strategy. A series of short-term consequences have disrupted research performance over the course of 2020 and 2021. We transitioned to delivering VIVAs online from May 2020, however there were delays to a number of examinations and the availability of external examiners owing to personal health complications. Our research income was adversely affected in 2019/20 by delayed expenditure; likewise our grant capture has also been affected by the delay in being notified of outcomes. An EDI review was undertaken in Summer 2020, and a number of interventions have been put in place to support long-term research careers, including a culturally competent individual risk assessment to understand the needs of staff and PGRs, followed by appropriate support initiatives. A particular challenge was faced by women (54% of our research staff) and those with caring responsibilities, who faced significant disruption to research programmes. Approximately two thirds of scheduled sabbaticals in 2020/21 were postponed owing to the difficulties of conducting archival research, travel, and work with non-academic partners. The remainder have been able to take place, with a focus on supporting EDI. Our Arts and Humanities research has been particularly affected – at PGR and staff level – where access to external resources (e.g. archives, international research sites) and partners (arts organisations and creative SMEs, who focused on survival and utilising furlough) has necessitated fundamental changes to research programmes, although we continue to aim to support the production of high-quality associated outputs. We have implemented a range of initiatives to address the anticipated long-term impact of COVID-19 on research and knowledge exchange performance. To ensure financial sustainability, a voluntary severance scheme was launched in 2019/20 and 2020/21, through which 26.3FTE research staff have left the University, both before and after the census date. The impact on individual research units is variable, and is addressed in each Unit of Assessment environment statement where appropriate. We have also moved to protect research workload allocations, by implementing a ‘no detriment’ policy for all staff, ensuring that research allocations remain unchanged or will increase in 2021/22. We anticipate significant delays to research programmes, in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, where social distancing measures will significantly impact the availability of external resources, partners, their financial sustainability and capacities for collaboration, and safe access to international field sites. Our concern about the career disruption experienced by some groups is being addressed by the longer-term interventions we are considering including redistributed research time, dedicated coaching to support the return to the research track, and mechanisms to support a no-detriment approach to promotion applications.