Environment submissions database

At Leeds Beckett University, particular Covid-19 effects on research have been experienced by almost all areas of the university, from the limited usage of labs for science subjects to the closure of archives for arts and humanities, loss of performance and exhibition spaces and cessation of much face-to-face social science research. In many cases, like all HEIs, we moved quickly to enable new means of doing research – including increased library subscriptions, investment in additional equipment and software for remote interviewing, and so forth. But in some cases, we simply had to accept suspension or modification of activity. For example, we had to suspend our various guest lecture series’. Arts and Health subjects were particularly affected as several impact case studies were relying on activities/exhibitions in 2020. The extended date for impact collection was not helpful in the face of repeated lockdowns. Covid-19 impacted delivery across all research and enterprise projects in 2019/20 and has resulted in no cost extensions, costed extensions, a switch to online delivery, project pauses, and cancellations. Despite this research continued, with PIs developing new ways of working to limit the impact on project income and outputs. All ongoing Erasmus+ projects co-ordinated at LBU (5) have requested, and been granted, extensions to mitigate impact on international collaboration. UKRI projects have also been granted extensions to allow them to deliver on their original objectives. We established a Covid-19 committee, chaired by DVC Research, to oversee the distribution of the UKRI Covid Allocation to support affected research grants and maintain staff and capabilities. At the end of July 2020, we had 73 PGRs who had been granted suspensions and 22 requesting extensions (although this figure has increased significantly since then). At the beginning of lockdown, we cancelled six PGR training sessions before we were able to pivot to online delivery. All interim assessment points and vivas moved online, taking place on digital platforms (e.g. MS Teams). Whilst this has been a success, it took time and resource to develop. The Graduate School, supervisors and support services have needed to deliver high levels of pastoral support, particularly around mental health. We committed to ensure that no student would be disadvantaged by the loss of time, at least as far as it was in our power to assure this (hence, no-cost extensions, continued support for bursary holders, giving permission to modify elements of projects etc.). Our REF submission has unquestionably been impacted by Covid-19 in both quantifiable and intangible ways. There is no doubt that the submission is different in a number of aspects than the one that we would have made if Covid-19 had not happened. However, we have endeavoured to mitigate and minimise impacts wherever possible and are confident it is the best it could be in these difficult circumstances.