Research Committee

Objectives

Objectives

University Research Committee (URC) oversees research activity at the University, reporting to the University Senate which oversees all academic matters. URC advises Senate and the University Executive Board on strategy, approves internal policy and monitors the research performance of the institution.

URC is responsible for:

1. Considering and approving proposed University policy with relation to research;
2. Advising upon the University Strategy and, as appropriate, approving strategies with relation to research;
3. Assessing research performance and monitoring progress against key internal and external indicators;
4. Identifying priority areas for research support and advising on a framework in which to support the effective provision of this; and
5. Supporting engagement with key internal and external stakeholders.

Remit

Remit

The remit of the Committee under the following core, agenda-aligned headings, is: 

2 a) Strategic Development, Planning, Performance Monitoring and Resourcing

Items for consideration and/or decision:

1. To advise Senate and the University Executive Board on all matters relating to the research strategy of the University; to support the development of the University's Research Strategy and to support the Vice-Chancellor, the University Executive Board and Pro-Vice-Chancellor(s) in driving the strategy forward. 
2. To identify priority areas for research support and to advise the University Executive Board on organisational structures for research, on the selective distribution of resources within the University in order to ensure appropriate  alignment of resource allocation with research strategy, and where other initiatives within the University have implications for research activity. 
3. To monitor the research performance of the institution and its academic departments, entities and faculties in terms of research quality, sustainability of research income, and impact, drawing on national and international benchmarking data.
4. To advise the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research on areas where  improvements could be made, where there are significant risks and/or where new opportunities may be pursued.
5. To support the University in its engagement with key external stakeholders relating  to research, including business, industry, the government, cultural institutions and  funding agencies. 
6. To influence the development of research policy and strategy of key national and  international agencies in the interests of the University (eg UKRI, Research Councils, Research England, European Union).

2 b) Policy and Regulatory Matters 

1. To set internal policy in response to external requirements (eg peer review  processes, external research assessment), and to make recommendations and report in these areas to the University Senate and University Executive Board. 
2. To monitor policy concerning research in relation to external requirements, ensuring that regulatory needs are met.  
3. To champion and promote research excellence and integrity, and to oversee the  development and maintenance of the supporting policy framework, reporting annually to Senate and Council. 
4. To receive annual updates from departments on research activities and performance including research impact, in order to advise the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research on areas where improvements could be made, where there are significant risks and/or where new opportunities may be pursued.

Authority

Authority

On behalf of Senate, URC is empowered to make decisions relating to research and to seek assurance relating to the quality of these activities as set out above. It can also make recommendations and/or refer items to Senate, UEB, UTC, UPEC and other University committees as appropriate.

URC has no direct budgetary control but is able to endorse and support proposed activities in relation to research support. URC is able to review and/or set strategic priorities for research funding.

Reporting and frequency

Reporting and frequency

The following groups report to University Research Committee: 

• Faculty Research Groups 
• University Research Priming Committee 
• Clinical Trials Sponsorship Committee 
• York Graduate Research School Board 
• Research Reputation Strategy Group 
• Open Research Strategy Group 
• Mental Health Research Strategy Group 
• Centre for Future Health Steering Group 
• Academic Ethics and Compliance Committee 
• Research Systems Steering Group

Meeting frequency: a minimum of six times per year, with the facility to transact and record  decisions by written resolution or, where necessary, Chair’s Action.  

Meeting modes: Meetings in 2022/23 to be primarily held online, via Zoom.

Constitution and membership

Constitution and membership

The membership of URC is a combination of ex officio appointments, including academic  leaders, representatives of professional services, and representatives of academic staff  appointed by Senate.

In contributing to the business of URC, members represent the  offices against which they are listed in the Committee’s constituency. In the case of  elected academic members, these members represent the broad academic community at  the University of York, rather than the interests of their individual departments. The Faculty Deans and Associate Deans (Research) provide the link between the Faculties and the Committee. 

Academic staff representatives should be drawn from each of the three Faculties, with no two members from the same department, and should between them have sufficient experience to be able to speak to Committee activities. 

Proxy or alternate members are not permitted. Individual colleagues may be invited to attend for select items as and when the need arises. 

In order to ensure that the Committee’s business is conducted robustly and transparently, members are required to identify and report any pertinent potential or actual conflicts of  interest, both via an annual exercise, and on an ongoing ad hoc basis should such conflicts become apparent in the interim.

This enables the conduct of the Committee’s work to be adapted accordingly and the conflicts mitigated. Details of procedures for handling  conflicts of interest are set out in a separate document, available from the Policy, Integrity and Performance Office. 

Members may be required from time to time to undertake additional activities, for example (i) membership of review panels, (ii) membership of the Research Priming Fund committee and (iii) representation on working groups.  

Quorum: 50% of members, or 50%+ one member where the number of members is not even.  

Membership review: membership will be periodically reviewed by the Committee itself for Senate approval. Membership is otherwise co-terminous with the individual’s appointment term. Gender balance and wider EDI considerations should be factored into  the Committee’s reflection on its own size and composition. 

Membership

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Chair) 

• Professor Matthias Ruth

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Engagement (ex officio)

• Professor Kiran Trehan 

The Dean of the York Graduate Research School (ex officio) 

• Dr Kathryn Arnold 

The Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (ex officio) 

• Professor Sarah Thompson 

The Deans of Faculty (ex officio) 

• Professor Andy Dougill (Sciences) 
• Professor Duncan Petrie (Arts and Humanities)
• Professor Karen Rowlingson (Social Sciences) 

The Faculty Associate Deans (Research) (ex officio) 

• Professor Jane Hill (Sciences) 
• Professor Richard Ogden (Arts and Humanities) 
• Professor Yvonne Birks (Social Sciences) 

The Director of Research and Enterprise (ex officio) 

• Dr Andy Jackson 

The Associate Director and Head of Research Services (ex officio)

• Position vacant

The Head of Policy, Integrity and Performance (ex officio) 

• Dr Andrew Taylor 

Three academic members from each Academic Faculty, normally with experience on Departmental Senior Management Teams. No two of these members should be from the same department.  

History of Art

• Professor Michael White (until September 2025) 

Archaeology 

• Professor Julian Richards (until September 2024) 

English & Related Literature

• Professor Mary Fairclough (until September 2024) 

Biology/Mathematics

• Professor Jamie Wood (until September 2025) 

Chemistry

• Professor Lucy Carpenter (until September 2024) 

Health Sciences

• Professor Karen Bloor (until September 2024) 

Law

• Professor Charlotte O’Brien (until September 2025)

Centre for Health Economics

• Professor Andrea Manca (until September 2024)

Sociology

• Dr Merran Toerien (until September 2024)

In attendance

Policy, Integrity and Performance Officer (Secretary) 

• Ms Zoe Clarke

Representative of CITY College, Thessaloniki to be invited by Professor Ruth to be in attendance for two meetings of URC per year (with these meetings featuring specific discussion of CITY). High priority items can be brought as relevant outside these allocated meetings.

• Professor Panayiotis Ketikidis, Vice President for Research and Innovation