Research and Enterprise Committee

Terms of Reference 2024-25

Role

Oversight of matters related to research and enterprise strategy, policy, culture and performance at the University.

Responsibilities

1. To develop the Institutional Research and Enterprise Strategies for incorporation within the University’s Strategic Plan.
2. To progress and monitor the implementation of the University’s Research and Enterprise Strategies and to promote integration, coordination and interaction between College and Institute research and enterprise strategies.
3. To identify institutional research strengths and weaknesses and strategic research priorities.
4. To embed a culture of Research Excellence (including Research Integrity), Impact, and Knowledge Exchange (KE) within the University, by encouraging and promoting appropriate initiatives in education, development and training, and public engagement.
5. To develop and monitor the strategic coherence and alignment of the University’s research and enterprise ecosystems.
6. To monitor the research and enterprise performance of the Colleges and Institutes, to undertake reviews of research activity and to coordinate and integrate enterprise activity in the Colleges and Institutes and determine and agree appropriate actions to be taken in respect of future research and enterprise activities. 
7. To inform direction on research and enterprise marketing and communications.
8. To oversee the development of the University’s reputation for research and enterprise, including the impact of research and enterprise on league table position.
9. To inform institutional policy in respect of preparations for external assessment and evaluation of University research and enterprise activities.
10. To inform approaches for proactively increasing research and enterprise income at institutional and College level and to provide oversight as appropriate for strategic initiatives and bids.
11. To ensure that the University has in place appropriate policies, processes and support for Postgraduate Research Students and Early Career Researchers.
12. To review and mitigate risks relating to research and enterprise at the University.
13. To consider institution-wide issues, provide appropriate institutional responses and receive reports from and consider the work of Committee sub-groups in areas relating to research and enterprise.
14. To ensure the University has in place appropriate policies and procedures to meet the requirements of research and enterprise funders, and institutional needs.
15. To determine research infrastructure and equipment priorities and the allocation of resources to fund these priorities where appropriate. 
16. To determine the appropriate allocation of  available resources from time to time.
17. To consider, record and address the potential equal opportunity impacts of decisions made by the Committee (in accordance with the ‘due regard’ provisions of the Equality Act 2010).

Membership

• Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) (Chair): Philip Baker - Ex officio
• Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor Research & Enterprise/Dean of the Doctoral College: Richard Thomas - Ex officio
• Dean for Research Excellence (Interim): Clare Anderson - Ex officio
• One lay member of Council, appointed by the Nominations Committee: Kevin Nagle - 3 years*
• College Deans of Research & Enterprise:
  • Andrea Cooper (CLS) - Dates as per term of appointment
  • Simon Gill (CSE) - Dates as per term of appointment
  • Teela Sanders (CSSAH) - Dates as per term of appointment
  • TBC (CoB) - Dates as per term of appointment
• One representative of the Research Institute Directors Group: John Schwabe - 3 years*
• One representative of the Key Funder Working Group (KFWG): Dan Smith - 3 years*
• One representative of the Research Impact & Knowledge Exchange Committee: Sue Page - 2 Years*
• Director of Research and Enterprise Division (RED): Ian Forristal - Ex officio
• Deputy Director (Strategy, Governance & Operations), RED: Rebecca Draper - Ex officio
• Deputy Director (Research, Innovation & Impact) RED: William Wells - Ex officio
• University Librarian: Steve Williams - Ex officio
• One early career/research staff member with experience of Research & Enterprise (to rotate attendance):
  • Ed Brown (CLS) - 2 Years*
  • Victoria Lane (CSE) - 2 Years*
  • Anna Davies-Barrett (CSSAH) - 2 Years*
  • TBC (CoB) - 2 Years*
• One Post Graduate Researcher (PGR) with experience of Research & Enterprise (to rotate attendance):
  • Katie Baumber (CSE) - 2 Years*
  • Chandini Subramanyam (CLS) - 2 Years*
  • Fatmata Daramy (CSSAH) - 2 Years*
  • TBC (CoB) - 2 Years*
• Other members of the University whom the Committee may wish to co-opt or invite to specific meetings or to attend for individual items - 2 Years*
• Secretariat: Head of Research Strategy & Policy, RED: Steve Loddington - Ex officio

* in the first instance, renewable. Maximum length of service is six years.

Modus Operandi

The Committee will normally meet at least four times in each academic year

Quorum

7 members, including academic representative from all three Colleges

Reports to

Senate

Receives reports from

• University Ethics and Integrity Committee
• College Research and Enterprise Committees
• Postgraduate Research Sub-Committee
• Open Research & Scholarship Leadership Group
• Research Institutes Oversight Board (RIOB)
• Space Park Leicester (SPL) Oversight board
• Key Funder Working Group (KFWG) Advisory Group
• Research Impact and Knowledge Exchange Group 
• ECR & Research Staff Career Enhancement Sub-Committee