Worldwide Universities Network Briefing Session Wednesday 26 June 2013

Programme  Welcome and Introduction, Tom Rhodes  What is WUN? What are RMP and RDF? Karen Tsui  Global Soils and Critical Zone Research - a WUN success story, Steve Banwart  Louise Heery  Questions and answers  Lunch and networking

Welcome and Introduction Tom Rhodes Head of International Relations Office

What is WUN? Karen Tsui WUN Coordinator

WUN at a glance  A global network of 19 research universities across 10 countries on six continents  Four global challenges  Research Mobility Programme (RMP)  Research Development Fund (RDF)  Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRG)  Virtual seminars

19 WUN universities in 2013  Australia University of Sydney University of Western Australia  Brazil The State University of Campinas  Canada University of Alberta  China/Hong Kong Nanjing University Zhejiang University The Chinese University of Hong Kong  Netherlands Maastricht University  New Zealand The University of Auckland  Norway The University of Bergen  South Africa The University of Cape Town  UK The University of Bristol The University of Leeds The University of Sheffield The University of Southampton The University of York  USA The Pennsylvania State University The University of Rochester The University of Wisconsin-Madison

10 WUN countries USA Canada Brazil Netherland China Hong Kong Australia UK New Zealand Norway South Africa

Combining the power of research  Lead a collective voice to address global challenges.  Network top scientists around the globe with individual expertise.  Explore inter-disciplinary and multilateral research collaboration.  Nurture future leaders.

Four Global Challenges  Adapting to climate change  Public health (non- communicable disease)  Global higher education and research  Understanding cultures

What are RMP and RDF?

Research Mobility Programme (RMP) Photo by Kay Beausolei

 Establish new relationships and consolidate current ones.  Share access to rare facilities and unique data sets.  Enhance researcher’s experience and strengthen career profile.  Widen the scope of research. RMP main aims

RMP key facts  Funds visits for up to four months.  Open to academic staff and post graduate research students.  Welcomes applications from all disciplines and fields.  Pays up to £2,500 each (reimbursement for travel, visa, accommodation and subsistence).

 Benefits to the applicant’s research.  Basis for fostering collaboration between home and host universities.  Commitment by both universities to sustain relationships built during the exchange. RMP assessment criteria

Find a WUN partner and speak to Head of Department Prepare application and collate documents Submit pdf to Karen Tsui before deadline RMP application process 1 32

RMP deadline Thursday 1 August 2013 (to be postponed)

RMP decisions and follow-up Committee to make decision within one month and successful awards to be taken up within six months Obtain advice on how best to arrange the trip and get the most out of the visit On return, complete a report within one month and inform IRO outputs beyond the lifetime of the award 1 23

RMP top tips  Find an enthusiastic host colleague  Ensure they are equally committed  Have well-defined and achievable aims  Network  Give a seminar and attend a seminar

Leeds case study videos

Research Development Fund (RDF)

 Bringing together researchers to undertake preparatory work to develop innovative, high quality, sustainable research.  Addressing the four global challenges. RDF main aims

Four Global Challenges  Adapting to climate change  Public health (non- communicable disease)  Global higher education and research  Understanding cultures

RDF key facts  One-year seed funding scheme.  Up to £15k from WUN matched by institution.  Annual network-wide research fund with three applications per member.  Proposals should include at least three partners in two different regions.

RDF assessment criteria 1  QUALITY – high impact, innovative and interdisciplinary.  LEADERSHIP – Team of recognised researchers with track records of excellence. Involvement of early career researchers encouraged.  SUSTAINABILITY – building long-term relationships. Clear and explicit potential to attract external funding.  OUTPUTS – achievable and targeted, joint endeavours particularly encouraged

RDF assessment criteria 2  enhance the international reputation of the University and/or Faculty  consolidate or initiate a strategic relationship with a quality partner(s)  be truly collaborative in nature and global in scope  develop expertise/skills unobtainable outside of the collaboration  allow access to unique facilities/resources  be advantageous to University and/or Faculty Strategic Plan  be innovative in the internationalisation of the curriculum and/or teaching and learning technologies and methodologies

Call for proposals out in August To lead a bid, find at least two other institutions from two regions to work collaboratively Submit pdf to Karen before deadline RDF application process 1 32

RDF deadline Monday 14 October 2013 (Fixed)

RDF decisions Proposals received are assessed and prioritised by an internal panel, then submitted by November 1 Three Sheffield-led applications and other partner projects are then assessed by the central WUN committee Decisions announce in December 1 23

Sheffield RDF 2012/13  Dementia prevalence and impact in low income areas, Hilary Powers, Oncology  Bridging health promotion and sustainability science: transition to the green economy, Michelle Holdsworth, SCHARR  Reducing inequality in oral health, Sarah Baker and Barry Gibson, Dentistry

RDF Pre-call  Call for letters of interest/concept notes by 31 July  Share ideas across WUN to allow a panel to ‘match-make’ and rank priorities.  Academics are informed their initial rankings and further actions needed in August/September 2013.

WUN website

Thank you! Karen Tsui WUN Co-ordinator

Global Soils and Critical Zone Research - a WUN success story Steven Banwart Director of Kroto Research Institute

Leeds’ WUN experience Louise Heery International Networks and Collaboration Manager

Questions?

Questionnaire