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We are collaborating to improve our research support services
30 July 2019
The TOPS Research Support Transformer and the new Research Operations Committee (ROC) are working together to improve the way we deliver research support and administration.
In order to sustain and advance our position as a world-leading, research-intensive university it is fundamentally important to deliver high-quality research support to our researchers and professional services colleagues.
Satisfaction with our current processes, systems and ways of working is low and the time and effort it takes to get things done is causing frustration. We also need to improve the outcomes of external audits.
Working together to improve research support services
To respond to our current challenges we are adopting a joined-up approach. The TOPS Research Support Transformer is working closely with the Research Operations Committee (ROC), chaired by Professor David Price.
We will be working together to ensure that all researchers at UCL can access high quality and timely research support, throughout the end to end research lifecycle (from idea generation to dissemination of research outcomes).
The Research Operations Committee
The ROC has been set up to provide consistent governance of research operations, which includes any process, service or function that supports or has an effect on research at UCL. This includes oversight of the TOPS Research Support Transformer.
The ROC's role is to set standards for and ensure accountability of all aspects of research operations, on behalf of those engaged with research. It will make recommendations to the Research Governance Committee, the Provost via SMT and other bodies as appropriate.
Working with the ROC, the TOPS team are:
1. Delivering some of the projects and quick improvements arising from the ROC action plan, including:
- Trialling Research Business Partners
We have received approval to trial four Research Business Partners who will be aligned to UCL’s Schools. The Research Business Partners will provide coordination, support and continuity for complex bids, working across the research lifecycle to ensure research support runs smoothly and efficiently.
- Launching Research Support Communities of Practice
We have identified and started setting up a number of Communities of Practice for colleagues who work in research support. These communities encourage collaboration between colleagues working in similar professional areas by bringing them together to share best practice, improve existing processes and expand opportunities for career development. The first two communities have been set up for Technicians. The next community will be established in September for those involved in pre-award management and further research support communities may then follow.
- Developing a Due Diligence Framework and foundation level compliance training
We’re currently scoping and developing compliance-based training and a due diligence framework to support colleagues involved in the research lifecycle so they understand what they are accountable for and to help improve the outcomes of external audits.
- Enhancing research support communication
We’re working together to support the delivery of communications from Research Services. For more information please sign up to receive the Research Services Newsletter.
2. Leading the Research Support Transformer including:
- Understanding the current research lifecycle
Over the summer we are focusing on researching and mapping out the current research lifecycle and related pathways. We are working with the UCL community to understand your needs and experiences and identify existing good practice. We want to ensure that services are designed around the needs of those who use them so have set up a user network of colleagues who are involved in all stages of the research lifecycle. We’ve begun working with this user network, which includes academics and professional services staff from across UCL, as well as with external funders, through a mixture of interviews, workshops and case studies.
- Improving the way we deliver research support
In the autumn, these findings will inform the second stage of the project. This will consist of detailed design activity which will outline how we could change research support processes, systems and ways of working and provide clarity on accountabilities and roles and responsibilities throughout the research lifecycle.