1. Developing Strategic Research
Jen Colley, Union Researcher
Leah Derham, Research Assistant

2. What we are covering Development of a research strategy
Triumphs and tribulations along the way
Lessons learnt and next steps

3. Background Delivering research on an ad hoc basis pre-Summer 2013
NUS Documents such as “Surfing the Wave” stressed the importance of evidence based research
Made contributions to NUS research and working groups when time allowed
Research presented and published in NUS reports and presented at national conferences
Link to NUS project submission

4. Background
Lack of consistency in support and information shared with officers and student activists but when delivered was to a good quality
Organisation opted to create dedicated resource for Research staff role and shortly after a student staff role within new Student Engagement department
Focus on meaningful research that helps us deliver our mission of ‘Making life better for Students’
Link to NUS project submission

5. Our Vision
“To create high quality, ethically sound research that informs the accurate representation of students and our relationships with stakeholders, whilst supporting the Union priorities.”
Link to NUS project submission

6. Our Strategy Research brief before any project is commissioned
Set levels of research projects both in priorities and skill linked to stakeholders and importance to organisation
Ensure sabbatical officers and staff are actively kept up to date with relevant research and presented with good quality research
All High & Medium level research to meet several thresholds:
High quality
Sound ethics
Representative
Links back to the Union Strategic plan

7. Triumphs Research Strategy Day
“Brains trust” across the organisation to establish priorities and perimeters of strategy
Clear enthusiasm and understanding of why we undertake research from a number of colleagues within the organisation
Consensus reached on overarching strategy identifying the types of research and clear plan for a Research strategy

8. Triumphs Research Assistant
Leah joined our team in January 2014 for 6 hours a week which soon increased with ‘leasing’ out to other departments
A second Research Assistant will join us in September 2014
Huge benefit of current students at UCLan working on Research with different background and expertise

9. Triumphs Green Ladder Project
Dedicated support for our NUS Green Fund project for an exhaustive research project on students behavior and attitudes towards sustainability and the environment
Clear research milestones in bid and throughout the project which strengthened original bid and have been beneficial to measure success so far
Interim report presented to students and the Vice-Chancellor as part of Green Week and headline results shared at an on campus Union event with Green Party leader Natalie Bennett

10. Triumphs Research Round up A monthly newsletter
Commitment to keeping elected full and part time officers and staff up to date
Election candidates had round up shared in the lead up to elections
Officers acted on information shared

11. Triumphs
Intervening
Challenged ethically unsound projects which could have put potential subjects at risk
Working with the University to get our research through an ethics panel to ensure participant safety and good practice

12. Tribulations Ethics Panel
A lack of ethics procedure has resulted in some research not being passable for academic publication
Lacking good practice and need this to ensure safety of our students
Although our research has never gone through an ethics panel it has always been kept in mind, and a brief and debrief is always included on any questionnaire

13. Tribulations Survey Monkey culture
13 surveys out in a 2 week period to the same students
Blanket ban on Survey Monkey
All research and surveys have to be approved by Union Researcher

14. Tribulations New Role and Time
Challenging to have people to embrace a research culture that had not previously been at UCLan
Staff unaware of how long data collection, analysis and write-up actually takes to do
Part time role so have been determining what is prioritised and has most value

15. Next Steps
Research brief form tightened up and mandatory for any research that takes place
Embed culture that any research taking place goes through a qualified expert
Biennial Survey to be commissioned to all students about the Union
Additional student staff starting in September 2014
Advance certificate in Social and Market Research to be completed in January 2015

16. Next Steps
Strategy day gave clear steer in April of where we go next and the strategy is being finalised with a vision to deliver high quality research
Sabbatical officers and key staff to approve final Research strategy
Research goes to Ethics Panel to ensure it can be published
Share research findings at conferences and ensure publication in journals

17. Questions?