Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Phase Two Dr James West – Executive Director

Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Background (circa 2007): – Long term decline in Physics UGs and financial weakness in Physics departments in SE England – Physics was vulnerable – Closure of Physics at Reading generated panic in others in a similar state Response: £12.5M from HEFCE to fund collective action to form a network of 6 physics departments in the SE to support the discipline regionally Focus: – Outreach: to boost demand and eligibility for UG Physics places – Employability: internship programme to address careers for Physics graduates – New Bologna compliant PGT offering (“Euromasters”) – Research: to underpin teaching and facilitate collaboration

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Outcomes of SEPnet Whole greater than the sum of the parts in Outreach and employer engagement 90% growth in UG population and 120% growth in applications (2012 vs 2007) New physics UG provision at Portsmouth and elsewhere Strong demand from employers and students for internships Increased research grant income and outputs Euromasters demand and enrolment disappointing

Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Phase Two SEPnet Phase Two should build on this with new activity in three areas: – A SEPnet strategy for enhancing Research Impact – A SEPnet strategy for Diversity in Research to strengthen the Research Environment – A SEPnet programme for developing research students into the leaders of the future (The SEPnet Graduate Network) And continue the SEPnet 1 programmes in an expanded network

Working together to promote excellence in Physics GRADnet SEPnet 2 will develop a regional Graduate Network (GRADnet) built on the strength of current SEPnet research collaborations and Graduate programmes. The primary objectives of GRADnet will be to: – develop and deliver an exemplar programme of PhD transferable and leadership skills training delivered flexibly, on-site and on- screen, to create employment-ready physics doctoral graduates for the economic benefit of the UK; – increase employer engagement with HEIs including PhD internships, visiting studentships, industrially-sponsored CASE studentships and Knowledge Transfer fellowships; – enhance the impact (types, reach and significance) of SEPnet’s research via a clear, collaborative impact strategy; – enhance research environment diversity through engagement with Athena SWAN or the IoP’s Project Juno. – The skills and experience of the expanded network will be marshalled to these goals. The inclusion of the Open University and the University of Hertfordshire broadens the range of postgraduate research in the network.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Employer Engagement and Outreach SEPnet 2 will expand its employer engagement and internship programmes, widening the range of work experiences available to enhance undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) employability and progress to research degrees. The new partners offer increased scope for employer networks across the region. SEPnet 2 will build upon the success of its Outreach Programme, incorporating resources and experience from the OU and Hertfordshire, to disseminate this best practice, apply it to Widening Partcipation and to develop and disseminate effective practices to increasing diversity in the physics UG and PG populations.

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Commitment from the SEPnet partners To the long term provision of physics teaching and research builds upon the success of SEPnet Phase One to deliver quality and accessibility of Physics provision in the region as a strategically important subject for the UK science base and economy. It will offer stability for physics provision through a turbulent period for HEIs (and build on the opportunities that such turbulence may create eg through physics becoming a more popular subject choice for students). It will offer regional, and ultimately, national sustainability. Open University and the University of Hertfordshire committed to join, Reading will join as an associate Collectively they are Contributing £10.3m cash and inkind contributions over 5 years (which needs to be accounted for)

Working together to promote excellence in Physics The partners have agreed to contribute: Maintenance of the current Outreach officers and their programme costs (~£15K/year each) Committed A defined number of Summer UG internships for the employability programme each year. This proposal advises that the partners contribute to a pool of £50,000 per year to fund internships (£54K Committed) Maintenance of the Academic, Technical and Administrative positions Committed At least one PhD studentship per year for the SEPnet Graduate School (with 2 requested from the larger institutions) 1 PhD per partner Committed Share of the SEPnet Central costs Committed (Average of £30K per year over the 5 years)

Working together to promote excellence in Physics HEFCE have agreed to contribute: The SEPnet Graduate Network (£885K) PG Student Representative Body (£50K) SEPnet Research Collaboration, Public Engagement and Knowledge Transfer (£275K) SEPnet Diversity, for enhancing the research environment (£250K) SEPnet Employer Engagement, for graduate employability (£510K) SEPnet Central and shared Costs (£450K) Network expansion to broaden and deepen the reach and impact of the network (£330K) £2.75m over 5 years Matched by ~£10.3m from the SEPnet partners

Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Phase Two

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Expanded Network Gr SEPnet Phase 2 Subject Knowledge Outreach Research Employability Graduate Network Expanded Network SEPnet Governance Prize PhD Studentships Workshops and Conferences Placements and Exchanges Diversity Public Engagement Impact Diversity Employer Workshops and training Mentoring Placements and Exchanges Alumni Advanced Taught PhD Programmes Broad Programme Taught Masters Staff Development Knowledge Exchange

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Diversity and Impact We have agreed 0.5 FTE additional assistance from HEFCE for Diversity & Impact Lead(s), especially to achieve Physics widening participation goals – enhance research environment diversity through engagement with Athena SWAN or the IoP’s Project Juno – to research issues of underrepresentation with IoP and other interested parties – Identify and disseminate best practice within the network – Create a gameplan to address short and long term actions and deliver via the network – enhance the impact (types, reach and significance) of SEPnet’s research via a clear, collaborative impact strategy – Support all departments submitting for or renewing an award by 2016 Agreed funds: £50K per year for 5 years Plus: access to £20K per year for Knowledge Exchange (£100K)

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Employability Contribute to the SEPnet employer engagement programme – Each partner contributes to the central Employer engagement Director position an amount of the costs divided by the number of partners – Each partner funds a number of Summer UG Internship placements with employers. These would typically cost £1.5K for each internship. The existing partners provide a fund of £50,000 per annum (£54K Committed) – Each partner provides at least one research summer placement per year to the scheme. Costed: £3K each – Each partner allocates a named resource to join the employer engagement network – We have negotiated additional support from HEFCE to develop the employer engagement strand further in SEPnet 2 (£510K) Around 0.5FTE each for ~2.5 years £180K each in years 1 and 2; £100K in year 3; £50K in year 4 Will be a key foundation of the Graduate Network proposal – Address UG and PG student opportunity for employability Director to initiate hiring of staff and development of a deliverable plan

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Research Continuation of the SEPnet Research network – Facilitated by £50K per year to run thematic workshops – £175K total: £50K each years 1,2,3; £25K year 4 Each partner allocates at least one PhD studentship per year to the network’s system of SEPnet collaborative PhD studentships. – Use to attract more and better applicants for ALL PhD places – GRADnet Director will manage the recruitment and allocation processes in conjunction with each node Expanded role for Public Engagement linked into Outreach and Knowledge Exchange linked to Employability – £20K per year for Knowledge Exchange (£100K) Facilitated under the umbrella of the Graduate Network

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Graduate Network We have obtained support from HEFCE for the establishment of a regional cohort based Graduate Network of collaborative teaching for Physics PGT and PGR students This is meant to provide a core subject and skills Graduate programme for all SEPnet Physics Grad students Comprehensive focus on employability skills and attitudes A SEPnet wide programme to attract best PhD applicants for all PhD places Use as a platform to obtain CDTs within the network £885K over 5 years – £195K for first 3 years; £100K year 4; £50K year 5 – Training modules: £75K y1; £50K y2; £25K y3 PG Student Representative Panel: – £20K years 1 and 2; £10K year 3

Working together to promote excellence in Physics PG Student Representative Panel the creation of a cross-institutional postgraduate student panel to gather students’ feedback on teaching and courses provide advocacy for the student population on the GRADnet oversight panel and with the Management Group (Heads of Department body), ensuring the student voice is heard in decisions on the curriculum and delivery of the graduate programme and in the operational management of the network. Budget: £50K for 3 years

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Steering Board PVCs/Deans Strategy Employer Liaison Director Veronica Benson Team Collaboration Board (HoDs) Independent Advisory Panel Scientists/Employers Outreach Director Clare Harvey Team GRADnet Directorate Peter McDonald Dawn Duke Pam Denicolo Cristobel Soares-Smith Diversity & Impact Lead(s) Averil MacDonald Independent Chair Bill Wakeham Operations Board Executive Director James West PG Student Panel Informal Structures

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Governance PVC Steering Board – Meet 2/year HoDs – 4/year Operations Board – Monthly Independent Advisory Panel – 1/year

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Mailing Lists Distribution ListsAll hosted on JISCMAIL Address SEPNET-HODSAll the SEPnet Heads of SEPNET-PVCAll SEPnet PVCs, deputies and RESEARCHSEPnet Research Theme SEPNET-ADMIN Admin contacts at each partner SEPNET-FINANCEFinance Contacts at each SEPNET-GRADNETGraduate Network contacts at each SEPNET-IAPIndependent Advisory SEPNET-OUTREACHSEPnet Outreach SEPNET-SEPNETSEPnet central staff SEPNET-EMPLOYMENTSEPnet Employer Engagement SEPNET- SEPNET-PGSRPPG Student Representative SEPNET-VIDEOCONVideoconference Technical SEPNET-GRADNET- DIRECTORATEGRADnet SEPNETAll the

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Independent Advisory Panel Membership (a pool structure) – Scientists – Employers – Professional bodies – Employee bodies – Other regional networks – Other stakeholders Meet 1/year

Working together to promote excellence in Physics PG Student Panel Contacts Hertfordshire Nancy Kent Jimmel OU David Portsmouth Anthony c.uk QMUL Nicholas RHUL Toby c.uk Southampton Sophie Surrey Michael Sussex Djuna Lize

Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Calendar – Aka Can be viewed: e/ /SEPnet%20Events%20C alendar e/ /SEPnet%20Events%20C alendar Please add in key events as an optional invitee

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Social Media On Facebook: SEPnet LinkedIn YouTube Wiki How to make better usage?

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Role of PGSRP Chair Elect a chair and secretary – To run and organise meetings Chair to attend Operations Board and the Independent Advisory Panel meetings Panel to organise means of hearing and representing the “Voice of the Students” Budget: £50K for 3 years

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Meetings How often? How? – Skype? – Google Hangout? – Telephone – Face to Face?

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Issues Problem of sustaining costs as HEFCE contribution tapers down Sustainability of: – Research workshops, KE External funding? – Conferences Recommend rotating around network – Employability Absorb into careers offices (but likely to lose impact) – Student Panel Subscriptions? – Grad Network Director Merge role with Exec Director and/or top slice fees We will defer closure of this risk until before the 3 year review point (but start agreeing it from Spring 2014)

Working together to promote excellence in Physics Summary SEPnet is to continue and expand The priorities are agreed – Outreach, Employability, Research, Graduate Network, Diversity Graduate Network needs us to converge on a plan to implement The longer term funding environment remains uncertain – SEPnet 2 provides a stable anchor for 3-5 years