Environment submissions database

At the start of the national lockdown in March 2020, staffing resources were directed towards ensuring a high-quality student experience. The University launched an institutional financial review and most internal research funds were temporarily suspended. Exceptions were to continue to support impact work and PGR students. Despite continuation of impact funding, inevitably, some plans were disrupted, including projects involving overseas work (e.g. in the Caucasus and Rwanda) and in the UK with the police and judicial services who had to divert their resources to the pandemic. However, as a values-based University with a strong community focus, we supported researchers where possible to contribute to Covid-19 recovery. Examples include projects on the pandemic’s effects on home-schooling, volunteering and adults’ health and well-being. In March 2020, the University acted quickly to support PGR students, issuing guidance on transitions to online supervision and examining, and providing interventions for students whose studies were disrupted. A key action was to establish a PGR Covid-19 Hardship Fund. To date the University has approved 100% of eligible applications to the Fund (n=11, 5% of PGR population n=205) and will continue to run the scheme in AY 2021-22. The University Vision 2030 outlined plans to increase PGR numbers by 50% over the next decade to 450. Prior to the pandemic, the University was processing 30 PGR applications for start in AY 2020-21. However, a decision was taken to defer entry for the majority and limit new starters to the 9 who had accepted offers. Whilst this disrupted progress towards the strategic goal for PGR growth, the University focused on ensuring that existing students were receiving maximum support. An upward trajectory towards the usual annual intake is anticipated, with 23 new registrations currently confirmed for AY 2021-22. As the pandemic continued to affect institutional operations through 2020, temporary changes to the workload model for academics were made for 2020-21. Hours for Research Centre Leads were suspended and academics on research role profiles had their hours reduced from 400/500 to 300. Hours for Faculty Heads of RKE and UoA Leads remained intact. One consequence of these workload changes has been a reduction in grant bidding activity this year. This academic year has seen 27 submitted to date, comprising only 27% of last year’s total of 99. The majority of these are for small grants, amounting to 41% of the value compared to the amount bid for last year (£2,283,000 compared to £5,846,000). To date this academic year, the University has been awarded £29,752 in research grants, only 3% of last years’ award notifications of £1,017,985. Hence, whilst the year is only part way through, we are anticipating a reduction in grant funding. However, the University plans to reinstate the 400/500 workload hours for eligible staff in AY 2021-22, as well as hours for Research Centre Leads, to facilitate increases in all forms of research activities. Pending confirmation of budgets, the University also plans to increase the amount of internal funding from its current reduced levels, to re-invigorate the research environment.