Finance Division Hythe Bridge Street Oxford OX1 2EP University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey (AAS)

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Background to the TRAC TRansparent Approach to Costing began in A condition of release of £1.5bn additional funding, and of our ability to charge “top-up” fees. The first compulsory TRAC reporting was in January TRAC is the basis for Full Economic Costing of Research (FEC) TRAC is descriptive not prescriptive Required by HEFCE but also useful more generally

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Use of Public Resources

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Research Expenditure £530m

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Teaching Expenditure £197m

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey University Surplus and Deficits

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey What has AAS to do with all this? AAS covers Academic staff only Academic activity broadly represents University activity £97m of costs (“Core” staff salaries) are directly attributed to activity according to AAS. £244m of costs influenced by the AAS (e.g. Departmental support costs).

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey The Process 140 academics are asked to complete a weekly timesheet per month Sampling based on PINs ensure there is no bias Oxford academics have largely self-determined working practices. So we collect data 52 weeks per year. Not because there is a requirement to work 52 weeks! A rolling Database is maintained. No links to any other individual Records

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Facts and Stats Since July 2005: 5,752 requests have been made resulting in 4,842 responses.. The overall response rate is 84%. 3% of academics have explicitly refused Trinity Term produces the lowest response rate

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Analysis of Termly Response Rates

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Red Tape and Reminders Data Protection Act Letters sent 2 weeks prior to collection week. An is sent just before the collection week to confirm start date. 2 weeks after the collection week, a reminder is sent. 3 further reminders sent if no response is received.

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Anonymity The small Costing team never share AAS returns with anyone Feedback to departments or divisions show aggregated results only. Individual departmental data for small departments are not made available. Annual download provides analysis and informs cost driver creation. TRAC Families – we compare cognate subjects to provide subject families and for internal validation

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Reminder Responses

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Why your co-operation is so important Keeping the database up-to-date to reflect current activities. Maintaining confidence and trust about Oxford’s approach. Recognising the growing importance of TRAC analysis in influencing Government policy.

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Did you know? AAS submissions show that Oxford academics work, on average, a total of 54 hours per working week. Of these hours 27% is Teaching, 52% Research and 8% Other activities. The remaining 13% is Support time. Each hour of lecture time requires 4.3 hours of support time. For every hour of externally sponsored research, academics undertake 1.3 hours of un-sponsored research and 45 minutes of research support. Oxford academics work very hard!

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey How can we improve? How can we improve our response rate of 84% ? Fewer rounds of reminders = reduced response rate? Help us to persuade the 3% who refuse to take part ? Could the form or the website be improved? ( Please let us have your ideas…

University of Oxford Academic Activity Survey Contact details The AAS address is monitored daily: Team members: Alyson Bateman – Costing & Pricing Accountant/TRAC Manager Telephone: ( )16038 Sue Pedersen – AAS scheme administrator Telephone: (01865–6)16008 James Boon – Financial Modeller Telephone: ( )16044