Understanding the current research community and culture

While the universities have made efforts to understand and improve the research culture within an academic context, there is a need for a landscape analysis and benchmark data that covers the entire regional research ecosystem. To achieve this, we:

• Conducted a landscape review via an independent research consultancy (CRAC-Vitae)

• Drove an awareness-raising campaign using findings from the landscape review

• Developed a regional Research Culture Action Plan

Enabling researcher career development and alternative career exploration

The research community in NI universities possesses high level talent of great value. We aim to dispel the perception that opportunities for career development and advancement are limited by:

• Appointment of a new Research Careers and Employability Officer (at Queen’s, working with UU)

• Aligning with economic priorities and bridge connections with non-academic sectors

• Support and optimise research talent by providing high-quality advisory services

• Enhancing opportunities for research talent through the delivery of career events and employability development programmes

Visit postdoc career support for more information.

Strengthening capacity and networks for research professionals

Aspirations for innovation-led economic growth in NI requires highly-skilled professionals across a range of generalist and specialist functions in HEIs/RPOs. These individuals exist across the R&I ecosystem in NI, however, they are disconnected from each other and broader national/international networks. To address this, we will:

• Establish and evolve ‘NI Research Professionals Network’

• Deliver two events per year to bring together research managers and administrators

• Represent NI in wider development of RMA as a profession

Visit NIRPN for more information and to join the network.

Enabling excellence in ‘Practice as Research’ in NI

Research culture discussions at both universities have identified specific challenges in the area of Practice as Research (or ‘PaR’) which is linked to importance of creative industries for the NI economy. To overcome this, we will:

• Develop a framework to ensure PaR is supported, integrated and nurtured

• Deliver facilitated thematic workshops between Queen’s and Ulster

Visit Practice Research for more information and to join the network.