1. Lita Denny Head of Research Support Services University of Manchester Research Support Conference June 2011

2. Manchester Overview Total Staff 11,226 Total Academic staff 3,846 Total Research staff 1,829 39,438 students, including 3,573 Post Grad Research Students Total Research Income £278m Total core research funding (QR) £83m Total Research Grants & Contracts Income £195m in 2009/10 RGC SourceAmount £mPercentage Research Council75.640% UK Charities43.822% UK Gov/NHS39.520% UK Industry14.17% Overseas20.510% Other1.11%

3. RSS developments to date Full review of Research Administration and Finance in 2010 (RoRFA) New Directorate set-up and a Head of Research Support Service, Faculty Heads of Res Support and Faculty Research Accountants appointed in early 2011 On-going programme of process harmonisation Plans to develop RPE system further and a REF system. In the longer term a wider research management system under the Manchester Working Environment (MWE) project.

4. Vice President Research & University Research Group Registrar Director of Res & BE Research Support & Strategy Contracts & Governance Graduate Education & Res Careers EU Support Business Engagement Director of Finance HoFRSS / FRA HoFRSS / FRA HoFRSS / FRA Devolved RSS University of Manchester Research Support Structure

5. Research Support Service Campus Wide 73 FTE within Research Support Service colleagues split between the University Research Office and Faculty/School. 57 Research Finance colleagues across campus. Post award management of research retained within the Finance Directorate following the same devolved model. Research Support Service within the Directorate of Research and Business Engagement is now responsible and accountable for the processes and service level delivered throughout the devolved structure.

6. RSS Challenges and Opportunities Challenges Constrained resources and shrinking fundingbase Loss of staff through ERVS and natural wastage Size and complexity of the organisation will never go away Constant change Opportunities Less isolation and more team working for RSS colleagues An identity for Research Support within PSS The chance to make real improvements in process that ease the burden for everyone

7. Next Steps Conclude the implementation phase of RoRFA. Establish KPIs for RSS service. Work towards more cohesion between Research Management and Finance. Reduce the variability of process for academic and RSS colleagues alike

8. Future Gazing Reductions in national investment and increasing competition brings additional challenge to research support colleagues Quality Assurance - a way of illustrating real improvement s Electronic Research Management will play a role for us as it does for many Universities. Constant change is inevitable.