Worldwide Universities Network

Briefing SessionWednesday 26 June 2013

ProgrammeWelcome and Introduction, Tom

RhodesWhat is WUN? What are RMP and

RDF? Karen TsuiGlobal Soils and Critical Zone

Research - a WUN success story, Steve Banwart

WUN@Leeds, Louise HeeryQuestions and answersLunch and networking

Welcome and Introduction

Tom Rhodes

Head of International Relations Office

What is WUN?

Karen Tsui

WUN Coordinator

WUN at a glanceA global network of 19 research

universities across 10 countries on six continents

Four global challengesResearch Mobility Programme

(RMP)Research Development Fund (RDF)Interdisciplinary Research Groups

(IRG)Virtual seminars

19 WUN universities in 2013 Australia

• University of Sydney• University of Western Australia

Brazil• The State University of

Campinas Canada

• University of Alberta China/Hong Kong

• Nanjing University• Zhejiang University• The Chinese University of Hong

Kong Netherlands

• Maastricht University New Zealand

• The University of Auckland

Norway• The University of Bergen

South Africa• The University of Cape Town

UK• The University of Bristol• The University of Leeds• The University of Sheffield• The University of Southampton• The University of York

USA• The Pennsylvania State

University• The University of Rochester• The University of Wisconsin-

Madison

10 WUN countries

USA

Canada

Brazil

Netherland

ChinaHongKong

Australia

UK

New Zealand

Norway

South Africa

Combining the power of research

Lead a collective voice to address global challenges.

Network top scientists around the globe with individual expertise.

Explore inter-disciplinary and multilateral research collaboration.

Nurture future leaders.

Four Global ChallengesAdapting to climate

change

Public health (non-communicable disease)

Global higher education and research

Understanding cultures

What are RMP and RDF?

Research Mobility Programme (RMP)

Photo by Kay Beausolei

Establish new relationships and consolidate current ones.

Share access to rare facilities and unique data sets.

Enhance researcher’s experience and strengthen career profile.

Widen the scope of research.

RMP main aims

RMP key factsFunds visits for up to four months.

Open to academic staff and post graduate research students.

Welcomes applications from all disciplines and fields.

Pays up to £2,500 each (reimbursement for travel, visa, accommodation and subsistence).

Benefits to the applicant’s research.

Basis for fostering collaboration between home and host universities.

Commitment by both universities to sustain relationships built during the exchange.

RMP assessment criteria

Find a WUN partner

and speak to Head of Departmen

t

Prepare application and collate documents

Submit pdf to Karen

Tsui before deadline

RMP application process1 32

RMP deadline

Thursday 1 August 2013(to be postponed)

RMP decisions and follow-up

Committee to make decision

within one month and successful

awards to be taken up within

six months

Obtain advice on how best to arrange the trip

and get the most out of the

visit

On return, complete a

report within one month and

inform IRO outputs beyond the lifetime of

the award

1 2 3

RMP top tipsFind an enthusiastic host

colleagueEnsure they are equally

committedHave well-defined and

achievable aimsNetworkGive a seminar and attend a

seminar

Leeds case study videos

Leeds case study videos

Research Development Fund (RDF)

Bringing together researchers to undertake preparatory work to develop innovative, high quality, sustainable research.

Addressing the four global challenges.

RDF main aims

Four Global ChallengesAdapting to climate

change

Public health (non-communicable disease)

Global higher education and research

Understanding cultures

RDF key factsOne-year seed funding scheme.Up to £15k from WUN matched by institution.

Annual network-wide research fund with three applications per member.

Proposals should include at least three partners in two different regions.

RDF assessment criteria 1 QUALITY – high impact, innovative and

interdisciplinary. LEADERSHIP – Team of recognised

researchers with track records of excellence. Involvement of early career researchers encouraged.

SUSTAINABILITY – building long-term relationships. Clear and explicit potential to attract external funding.

OUTPUTS – achievable and targeted, joint endeavours particularly encouraged

RDF assessment criteria 2 enhance the international reputation of the

University and/or Faculty consolidate or initiate a strategic relationship with

a quality partner(s) be truly collaborative in nature and global in scope develop expertise/skills unobtainable outside of

the collaboration allow access to unique facilities/resources be advantageous to University and/or Faculty

Strategic Plan be innovative in the internationalisation of the

curriculum and/or teaching and learning technologies and methodologies

Call for proposals out in

August

To lead a bid, find at least two other

institutions from two

regions to work collaboratively

Submit pdf to Karen before

deadline

RDF application process1 32

RDF deadline

Monday 14 October 2013(Fixed)

RDF decisions

Proposals received are assessed and

prioritised by an internal panel , then submitted by November 1

Three Sheffield-led applications

and other partner projects

are then assessed by the

central WUN committee

Decisions announce in December

1 2 3

Sheffield RDF 2012/13Dementia prevalence and impact

in low income areas, Hilary Powers, Oncology

Bridging health promotion and sustainability science: transition to the green economy, Michelle Holdsworth, SCHARR

Reducing inequality in oral health, Sarah Baker and Barry Gibson, Dentistry

RDF Pre-call Call for letters of interest/concept

notes by 31 July 2013.Share ideas across WUN to allow

a panel to ‘match-make’ and rank priorities.

Academics are informed their initial rankings and further actions needed in August/September 2013.

WUN website

Thank you!

Karen TsuiWUN Co-ordinator

k.tsui@sheffield.ac.uk0114 2226191

Global Soils and Critical Zone Research -

a WUN success story

Steven Banwart

Director of Kroto Research Institute

Leeds’ WUN experience

Louise Heery

International Networks and Collaboration Manager

Questions?

Questionnaire